The B-26 Goes to War

About the Book

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar Chantilly, Virginia Two complete and separate design cycles chronicles our story – The B-26 Goes to War. War fever caused authorities to forego prototype testing – the B-26 went straight from drawing board to battle. The 22nd Bomb Group, with short 65 ft. wingspan B-26s entered combat in the Southwest Pacific. The Army’s Torpedo Challenge chronicles exploits in the realm of pure fantasy. Getting-it-right – Navy torpedoes on Army bombers – is intense, vivid and entertaining. Flying the “straight” uncovered deficiencies. A modified B-26B emerged with a 71 ft. wingspan. These were earmarked for combat in North Africa and Europe. For the Flak-Bait story see Appendix H. The ultramodern Martin B-26 prototype medium bomber first flown 25 November 1940 achieved a top speed of 315 mph, fastest of any U.S. bomber and narrowing the gap between its speed and that of existing Army pursuit planes. Innovations include: self-sealing gas tanks, armor plating and a full bomb load of two tons.

About the Author

1st Lt. Bombardier, Stan joined “Chief”, Lt. Col. Frank Allen’s 598th Squadron, 397th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force Bombardment Division in 1944 and completed 65 combat missions over enemy held Europe. In the 1930s his young eyes were on the sky watching the Navy dirigible USS Akron and German zeppelin Hindenburg maneuver over the pine forests of New Jersey. A 1951 graduate of the University of Southern California, with a Civil Engineering degree his career included planning and construction of Dulles Int’l Airport in Virginia and aviation oriented projects in Asia, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. A photographic hobby turned into a second career, he produced documentary film lecture programs ranging from the Andes to the Alps including: Bolivia; the Philippine Islands; Italy’s Lakes; Spain; Sicily; French Riviera and Corsica. Previous publication was First Over the Front, letters from France during World War One by Lt. “Billy” Schauffler, pilot First Aero Squadron and friend of the other “Billy”, General William Mitchell. They learned to fly together in 1916-17. Stan is a Member Emeritus of the Explorers Club. He is at home in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.