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B-26 Marauder Units of the MTO (Combat Aircraft)

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Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
List Price: $22.95
Our Price: $13.84
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The revolutionary design of the B-26 and its associated flight characteristics initially gained it a reputation as a 'widow maker' receiving nicknames such as 'The Baltimore Whore' and 'The Flying Prostitute' - both a reference to its short wingspan, i.e. no visible means of support! Gradual improvements to the design and the development of effective combat tactics enabled these units to make the B-26 a very effective and safe combat aircraft; it went on to play a major role in the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. The bombing accuracy of the B-26s was unrivalled and they were therefore selected to bomb targets such as the Florentine rail network. Lt General Eaker MAAF CO said. 'When we teach the B-17s to bomb like the B-26s we will have accomplished our job'.
Hastily trained on an airplane with a bad reputation and rushed into combat in North Africa, the MTO B-26 groups went on to gain an enviable reputation for bombing accuracy and low combat loss rate. Performing the dangerous close support and interdiction roles, the units played a major role in the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, Italy and Germany. They proved the B-26 to be a highly reliable, effective medium bomber - indeed, an MTO-based B-26 was the first ever USAAF bomber to reach the 100-mission mark. It was the three MTO Bombardment Groups that established the Marauder as one of the USAAF's truly great aircraft of World War 2.


DESCRIPTION:

Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.544973
EAN: 9781846033070
ISBN: 1846033071
Label: Osprey Publishing
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 96
Publication Date: 2008-11-18
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Release Date: 2008-11-18
Studio: Osprey Publishing


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CUSTOMER REVIEWS:

Customer Rating:
Summary: The B-26 Marauder in Action over the Med!
Comment: Author-illustrator Mark Styling presents the history of the three B-26 bomb groups that served in the MTO in this Osprey 'Combat Aircraft' volume, #73 in the series. Though initially branded a death trap, Martin's stylish, twin-engined wonder established a combat record second to none not just in the Med but in other theaters as well.

The three Marauder bomb groups that saw combat in the Med - the 17th, 319th and 320th BGs - were assigned to the 42nd BW. After several disastrous missions flown at low level in November/December 1942, 12th AF CO Jimmy Doolittle ordered future missions be flown at altitudes of 10,000 feet or more. By war's end 42nd BW Marauders had hit targets in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany; the various missions being nicely described in Styling's narrative. As recounted in B-26 MARAUDER UNITS OF THE MTO, flak was the B-26's deadliest enemy; the strongest AAA surprisingly being encountered during the invasion of southern France!

Along with a clear, concise text, Styling contributed 16 pages of gorgeous color artwork; 13 showing profiles of various B-26s flown by the groups aong with three pages of close-up, nose art views. The book also features over 60 black and white photos.

To be honest, I would have given Styling's book 4 1/2 stars if possible. He did a good job of describing/summarizing 42nd BW missions, his narrative including a few - 3? - first-person narratives. I would have liked more. Likewise the book tails off with the postwar scrapping of the B-26s. I would have liked some sort of summary of what the 42nd BW accomplished - targets bombed, tonnage dropped, losses, awards, etc. But that's just me.

In any case, Marauder and air combat fans won't be disappointed by Styling's book. It's a nice summary and tribute to the men who flew Martin's twin-engined marvel in combat in the MTO with some great artwork to boot. Recommended.

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