The B-26 Goes to War

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.