Due to a high number of accidents suffered during training, the Martin B-26 Marauder was initially given the nickname "widow-maker." By the standards of its day, it was a "hot" ship with a high wing loading and was not very forgiving of mishandling. It demanded discipline to fly and was critically under-powered on one engine. The young, inexperienced American pilots being pumped out of training were not always able to handle it. As the war continued, and as pilots and crews gained experience with the Marauder, their respect for it as a war machine grew. Though power-limited, it was a fast airplane and well protected with machine guns. The B-26 was initially used for low altitude attacks in small groups, but it was found to be vulnerable to light flak and fighters in that role. Switched to flying in fixed formations like the heavies, but flying at lower altitudes, the B-26s found they could fight off German fighters quite effectively. Not unexpectedly, the chief eliminator of Marauders, which flew in formations at 10,000 to 12,000 feet, was German flak. While not as versatile as the Ju88 or B-25, the Marauder was a respectable medium bomber. When employed correctly, it brought its crews home more often than not.
MODELS:
B-4: October 1942 version.
B-10: Adds cockpit armor and has bigger wings for safer handling.
