Martin B-26 Marauder
Martin · Medium Bomber · USA · WWII (1939–1945)
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a U.S. twin-engine medium bomber that earned both a fearsome early-war reputation ("Widowmaker", "Flying Coffin", "One a day in Tampa Bay") and the lowest combat loss rate of any USAAF bomber of WWII (less than 0.5% per mission). Martin built 5,288 B-26s between 1941 and March 1945. After the early-1942 training-accident crisis was resolved through redesigned wing extensions and improved pilot training, the B-26 became the European Theater 9th Air Force's principal medium bomber and flew with distinction through the Italian and Western European campaigns.
The B-26 was a high-performance medium bomber with a torpedo-shaped fuselage and short stubby wings. Power: two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radials (2,000 hp each). Maximum speed 282 mph; range 1,150 miles; service ceiling 23,500 ft. Bomb load: 4,000 lb internal. Defensive armament: 12 .50-cal Browning machine guns. The early B-26's small wing area gave it a high wing loading and high landing speed (~135 mph) that proved difficult for novice pilots — leading to the early training-fatality crisis. The B-26B-1 onward had wing extensions adding 6 ft of span, dropping landing speed to a more-manageable 120 mph and ending the training-fatality problem.
The B-26's combat record was exceptional. 9th Air Force B-26s in England and Western Europe flew about 130,000 sorties between 1942 and 1945 and lost only 911 aircraft to combat causes — a 0.5% mission loss rate, the lowest of any USAAF bomber. The aircraft proved tough, with the R-2800 engines tolerating significant battle damage and the airframe surviving extreme manoeuvres without structural failure. Major operations included the Operation Cobra St. Lô breakout (1944), bridge attacks in Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge close-air-support missions December 1944 - January 1945.
The B-26 was retired immediately after WWII as the U.S. Army Air Forces consolidated medium-bomber missions onto the A-26 Invader (which the new USAF redesignated as B-26 in 1948 — a confusing rename that creates ongoing nomenclature confusion). Martin B-26 production ended in March 1945; the last operational airframes were retired by 1947. About 5 B-26 airframes survive worldwide; the Commemorative Air Force's Carolyn is the only currently-airworthy example.
For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version
The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American medium bomber from World War II. It had a short, fat body and small wings. That made it fast, but it also made it tricky for new pilots. Early on, so many crashes happened in training that crews nicknamed it the Widowmaker.
The Air Force fixed those problems with longer wings and better training. After 1942 the Marauder became one of the safest bombers in the war. By the end, it had the lowest combat loss rate of any American medium bomber.
The B-26 carried up to 4,000 pounds of bombs and had 12 machine guns to defend itself. Two big Pratt and Whitney engines, each as heavy as a small car, pushed it to 287 mph. That was fast for a bomber, which helped it dodge enemy fighters.
From 1941 to 1945, Martin built 5,288 Marauders. They flew bombing raids over Europe and the Pacific. By 1947 they were all retired, replaced by jet bombers that flew higher and faster.
Fun Facts
- The Marauder's early small wings made the wings work very hard, like a fan spinning fast.
- The famous song 'One A Day in Tampa Bay' came from a B-26 training crash every day at one base.
- After the wing fix, the B-26 had the lowest loss rate of any American medium bomber.
- Each Marauder cost about $192,000 in 1943, the price of a small house today.
- The B-26 'Flak Bait' flew 207 missions, more than any other American bomber in Europe.
- France used some Marauders after WWII before switching to jets.
- The B-26 had 12 .50 caliber machine guns to fight off enemy fighters.
Kids’ Questions
Why was it called the Widowmaker?
Early B-26s had short wings that needed very fast takeoffs and landings, so many new pilots crashed in training. The nickname Widowmaker came from those early crashes. After the wings were made longer in 1942, the plane became safe.
How big were its bombs?
The B-26 could carry up to 4,000 pounds of bombs, about the weight of two small cars. It usually dropped a mix of 500 and 1,000 pound bombs, depending on what target it was hitting.
How is it different from the B-25?
The B-25 Mitchell and B-26 Marauder did the same job, but came from different companies. The B-25 was a little slower but easier to fly. The B-26 was faster and harder to spot in the air, but trickier for pilots.
Variants
- B-26 / B-26A / B-26B (early)
- Early production 1941-1942. Short-wing variants with high landing speed; difficult to fly for novice pilots. About 1,800 built.
- B-26B-1 / -10 / -25 / -50 / -55 (mid-war)
- Wing extension added (6 ft of span). Standardised armament, better avionics. About 2,000 built.
- B-26F / G (late)
- Final production. Increased wing incidence for better takeoff performance. About 1,488 built.
- Marauder I / II / III (RAF)
- British and South African Lend-Lease variants. About 522 delivered. Served Mediterranean theatre.
Notable Operators
- U.S. Army Air Forces
- Largest user. 9th Air Force in England and Western Europe; 12th Air Force in Mediterranean / Italy. About 130,000 sorties flown 1942-1945; only 911 combat losses (0.5% mission loss rate).
- Royal Air Force / South African Air Force
- About 522 Marauder I/II/III delivered under Lend-Lease 1942-1945. Operated 2 Group Bomber Command and Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force.
- Free French Air Force
- About 100 B-26s operated 1944-1945 in Mediterranean and Western European theatres. Final retirement 1947.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the B-26 called "Widowmaker"?
Early B-26 training in 1941-1942 had high fatality rates because the short-wing aircraft had a high wing loading and 135 mph landing speed — too fast for novice pilots transitioning from slower trainers. The phrase "One a day in Tampa Bay" reflected the rate of training crashes near the MacDill Field training base. The B-26B-1 wing extensions (6 ft added span) and improved pilot training together solved the problem.
What was the B-26's combat loss rate?
0.5% per mission — the lowest of any USAAF bomber in WWII. 9th Air Force B-26s flew about 130,000 sorties between 1942 and 1945 and lost only 911 aircraft to combat causes. The aircraft proved tough; the R-2800 engines tolerated significant battle damage; the airframe survived extreme manoeuvres without structural failure.
Why are there two B-26s?
Confusing nomenclature. The Martin B-26 Marauder (this aircraft) was retired in 1947. The newly-formed USAF redesignated the Douglas A-26 Invader as B-26 in 1948 because USAF doctrine had reclassified "attack" aircraft as "bombers". So "B-26" 1948-onward refers to the Douglas A-26 Invader — a completely different aircraft. The Martin B-26 Marauder is the WWII original.
How many B-26 Marauders were built?
5,288 airframes between 1941 and March 1945. Production was at Martin's Middle River, Maryland and Omaha, Nebraska plants. Production ended in March 1945; no post-war production.
Are any Martin B-26 Marauders still flying?
The Commemorative Air Force's Carolyn is the only currently-airworthy B-26 Marauder in 2026. About 5 other airframes survive in static-display condition, including airframes at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the Pima Air & Space Museum, and the Imperial War Museum Duxford.
Sources
See Also
- North American B-25 Mitchell — Sister U.S. WWII medium bomber
- Douglas A-26 Invader — Successor U.S. medium bomber (later redesignated B-26)
- Douglas A-20 Havoc — Sister U.S. WWII attack/medium bomber
- Consolidated B-24 Liberator — Sister U.S. heavy bomber
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress — Sister U.S. heavy bomber