Details
MARAUDER MISSION
by Robert Taylor
Overall Print Size: 27" x 21½"
Edition Size: 1250
The B-26 Marauder, dubbed the 'Widow Maker' by its detractors, was developed by the Glen L. Martin Company beginning in 1939. The first B-26 was completed in November of 1940. The early models had very high wing loading, and were tricky to fly. Added armament increased the weight even further leading to an alarming accident rate during training, thus the nickname. Increasing the engine power, wingspan, and rudder height solved many of the problems. The B-26 was capable of speeds in excess of 320-MPH, and with a normal crew compliment of six and a bomb load of 4,000 pounds, the aircraft had a range in excess of 1100 miles. Despite the controversy surrounding the B-26, the aircraft served admirably during WW II, and in fact had the lowest loss ratio of any American aircraft. The 386th Bomb Group was organized on December 1, 1942 under the command of Lt. Col. Lester J. Maitland. The 386th, known as The Crusaders, trained at MacDill Field near Tampa Florida. With improved training methods for both flight and maintenance crews, and with improvements to the B-26s engines and electrical systems, the accident rate began to decline, and the 386th attained 10,000 flight hours of training without an accident. The Crusaders went to Lake Charles, Louisiana for the second phase of their training. On April 20, 1943 the Crusaders completed their training and crews were dispatched to either Selfridge Field in Michigan or the Martin plant in Omaha to pick-up their B-26Bs and Cs for the long flight to England. The 386th had an incredible combat record, flying 409 combat missions against Axis targets such as bridges, railroad yards, and other tactical targets. Most bombing missions were done at an altitude of 10,000-13,000 feet.
In "MARAUDER MISSION," B26 Marauders of the 386th Bomb Group 9th Air Force are shown returning from a strike against VI, rocket sites in the Pas de Calais (Northern France), January 1944. Featured is "Yankee Guerrilla." The 9th Air Force became one of the most effective forces in the destruction of VI rocket sites, railroad yards, bridges and other enemy position in northern France and by May 1944, was dispatching more than one thousand aircraft a day against targets in Normandy and the Pas de Calais.
In addition to the artist this print was individually signed in pencil by:
General JON MOENCH
Colonel ROLAND SCOTT
Colonel ASHLEY WOOLRIDGE
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
