As you say, this aircraft came through with a fine combat (as distinct from teething) record. I note it was shorter range than the heavies and wonder …
– did it operate with fighter cover more often than not?
– were shorter range (tactical) missions opposed less heavily by Luftwaffe fighter forces (when compared with “heavies” on longer range strategic sorties)
– did it enter combat in different theatres and/or later or in some other way different from its tactical contemporaries (especially B-25)
There’s a film (and maybe video) out there that perhaps sheds some light on this.
http://b-26mhs.org/b26/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=360&Itemid=116
Don
All of the above, I believe.
It was usually tasked to attack “soft” targets nearer the fronts, ones with lighter ground-based AA capacity.
Luftwaffe aircraft nearer the front were usually attacking Allied targets or getting into combat with Allied fighters… after all, the P-47s, Tornados, late-model Spits, P-38s, etc were usually prowling the same airspace as the B-26s used.
The B-26s were not (after the first few raids) used on heavily defended B-17/ B-24/ Lancaster type targets, but on less permanent targets… rail marshalling yards, fortified ground positions (a certain Italian monastery comes to mind), large vehicle-parks, supply dumps, etc.
From the air these look much like factories, etc… but they had fewer gun/aircraft defenses assigned.
The B-25 saw far more use in the Pacific than in Europe, the reverse was true for the B-26 (except for the North African campaign, where the B-25 was used more).
Reasons include (both models cited were produced early 1942-early 1944):
range (3,000 lb bomb load): B-25C 1,500 miles; B-26C* 1,150 miles.
Over the long stretches of water in the Pacific theatre, those 350 miles were very important.
speed (14,000 feet): B-25C max 284 mph, cruise 233 mph; B-26C max 282 mph, cruise 214 mph.
In those long-range flights, crew fatigue mounted, and faster cruise meant shorter flights. The small-wing B-26Bs reached 315 mph max, thus the Marauder’s rep as faster than the Mitchell, but all B-26s from Jan 1943 on had the larger wing.
ceiling: B-25C 24,000 feet; B-26C 21,700 feet.
In the Pacific, the air at high altitudes was usually warmer than in Europe, so crew comfort was similar (this usually did not impact missions), but the higher altitude did help cruise speed/range.
payload was the same for both: B-25C & B-26C 3,000 normal, 5,200 lb max.
* includes B-26Bs produced from Jan 1943-Jan 1944.
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