Allied Bombers: B-26 Marauder

Published on
Review Author(s)
Book Author(s)
Michael John Claringbould
ISBN
978-0-645-70049-7
E-Book ISBN
0645700495
Other Publication Information
Square Softbound, (7.0” x 9.875”), 104 pages
MSRP
$42.95
Provided by: Casemate Publishers - Website: Visit Site

Raised in Port Moresby, pilot Michael Claringbould is a globally recognized expert on the New Guinea air war and Japanese aviation in particular. In 1976 he conducted numerous surveys of crash sites in Papua New Guinea while based at Lae. The following year he continued his survey of crash sites in the Solomon Islands. In 1984 he was a key member of a RAAF salvage team, which recovered an intact Douglas A-20G "Hell'N Pelican II". From 1995 to 2001 he conducted fourteen surveys of crash sites in the Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. Michael is an established author in this field as well. His books include Helluva Pelican, The Forgotten Fifth, Forty of the Fifth, and Black Sunday.

The front cover features five color side profile illustrations of Martin Marauders that are included in this book. The rear cover has a color illustration of Martin B-26 Marauder, s/n 40-1411, returning from her first combat mission over Rabaul on April 6, 1942. She was later named “Martin’s Misscariage” and was later part of the 19th Bombardment Squadron’s “Silver Fleet”. I counted 84 color side profiles all with a paragraph describing each Marauder. Many of these side profiles include additional scrap color illustrations describing nose art and squadron badges. Michael John Claringbould also contributes 7 color illustrations, one color table, and four-color maps. There are also 51 period black and white period photographs, 3 color photographs.

Michael John Claringbould kicks off this latest volume in the Pacific Profiles on the early Martin B-26 Marauders. This 15th Volume follows the format of earlier editions with a few pages of color maps where the aircraft were active in the Pacific theatre. A two-page Introduction along with a color unit deployment timeline table also are standard before leading into a chapter on Markings and Technical Notes. The Introduction here discusses a January 7, 1943, mission in “Boomerang”, a B-26 from US Allocation 1 [40-1536]. This airframe, normally operated by the 19th Bombardment Squadron, was flown by members of the 33rd Bombardment Squadron.The first Martin B-26 Marauder off the Martin production line is shown on Page 12. The top photograph shows the Baltimore factory production lines of Marauders from early 1941. The Marauder served early on as a torpedo bomber, shown on Page 25, with a B-26, 40-1373, in the Aleutians in November 1942. The top photograph from the rear of a B-26B shows off the twin .50-caliber tail guns, dorsal turret, two .50-caliber waist guns and a single ventral gun.

The majority of the rest of this volume [Chapters 2 through 10] addresses the Marauder service in the Pacific Bombardment Squadrons. Each chapter addresses a specific Bombardment Squadron’s history. Color side profile illustrations are accompanied by a paragraph of each aircraft illustrated, often with scrap details of markings. Chapter 5 addresses the 2nd Bombardment Squadrons with four Marauders profiled on Page 50. Notable is that three of the Marauders depicted have the tail side plexiglass rolled down into the bottom of the tail. Crew chief Tony Chunis added a female version of the Greek God Mercury, but never finished the American flag she was intended to be waving. The 33rd Bombardment Squadron is featured in Chapter 7. A color painting at the top of Page 64 shows off B-26 40-1393 on final approach with one engine out of fuel on November 2, 1942. Captain Edward Gammon managed to land her, but she ended up being written off. The bottom black and white photograph is Martin B-26 40-1404 that made a wheels up landing after taking damage from 20mm shells.She ended up being written off and used for spare parts.

The Navy version of the Martin Marauder, the JM-1 and JM-2 is addressed in Chapter 10. These Marauders had their guns removed and were painted orange yellow [some say chrome yellow] overall. They served as gunnery trainers, target tows, and fast transports. A few were modified to be photo reconnaissance birds, but marking information is contradictory. Were the JM-1P Marauders in the Navy’s two-tone blue over grey scheme or in the chrome yellow. It is also not apparent if the JM-1P saw any action outside of the US. A color photograph is at the bottom of Page 89 showing the bright yellow the JM-1 carried.

  • The Chapters include:
  • About the Author
  • Maps
  • Glossary & Abbreviations
  • Introduction [Page 012]
  • Chapter 1 Markings & Technical Notes
    • Torpedo-Bomber
    • Torpedoes in SOPAC
    • The US Navy JM Series Marauder
    • Markings & Modifications
    • B-26B
    • Stripped NMF “Silver Fleet” B-26
    • Airframe Markings
    • Markings Transition
    • SWPA Crew Positions [Page 025]
  • Chapter 2 69th Bombardment Squadron
  • Chapter 3 70th Bombardment Squadron
  • Chapter 4 22nd Bombardment Squadron and Headquarters Squadron
    • Headquarters Squadron
  • Chapter 5 2nd Bombardment Squadron [Page 050]
  • Chapter 6 19th Bombardment Squadron [Page 064]
  • Chapter 7 33rd Bombardment Squadron
  • Chapter 8 408th Bombardment Squadron [18th Reconnaissance Squadron]
  • Chapter 9 19th Bombardment Squadron “The Silver Fleet”
  • Chapter 10 US Navy Utility Squadrons
    • Markings [Page 089]
  • Chapter 11 Squadron Commanders
  • Chapter 12 Unique Marauders
  • Chapter 13 The Four Lives of 40-1549
  • Sources & Acknowledgements
  • Index of Names

What I liked about this book are the mini-histories for each color profile and with 84 color side profiles there is a treasure trove of reference information. The Squadron histories were also quite revealing, many with a nice mission synopsis. Michael Claringbould’s color illustrations and color side profiles enhance the period black and white photographs to this tome. This was an easy read over three nights that was hard to put down. I am looking forward to subsequent volumes in this series.

As with past Pacific Profiles books, I highly recommend this volume. A terrific resource for the scale modeler and historian, it fills a niche for the medium bomber program in the Pacific Theatre. The recent release of the ICM 1/48 B-26B Marauder will address some of the Pacific Theatre Marauders, but hopefully, ICM will release an early B-26 Marauder for many of these profiles.

My thanks to Casemate, Avonmore Books, and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great book.

Highly recommended!

Frank Landrus, IPMS# 35035

Avonmore Books is an Australian publisher specializing in military and aviation history, with a particular interest on the early period of the Pacific War. Avonmore prides itself in being the only mainstream Australian military history publisher producing full colour, illustrated books. While expensive to produce, we strive to produce titles that are a pleasure to own and read, and which incorporate first-class profiles, illustrations, and maps. To date, Avonmore Books has published over 40 aviation books.

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