B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces

B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces PDF Author: Jerry Scutts
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781855326378
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The medium bomber 'workhorse' of the Ninth Air Force, Martin's much-maligned B-26 Marauder recovered from its poor start with the Eighth Air Force to go on and equip no less than eight bomber groups in the ETO. Although initially dubbed 'the widow maker', a change of tactics from low- to medium-level bombing for the Marauder soon improved the crews' chances of survival – indeed, by war's end it boasted a lower loss-per-sortie ratio than any other twin-engined bomber in the USAAF. This volume covers all aspects of Marauder operations in Western Europe during World War II (1939-1945), featuring first hand accounts from surviving B-26 crews, plus an analysis of the tactics employed.

B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces

B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces PDF Author: Jerry Scutts
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781855326378
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The medium bomber 'workhorse' of the Ninth Air Force, Martin's much-maligned B-26 Marauder recovered from its poor start with the Eighth Air Force to go on and equip no less than eight bomber groups in the ETO. Although initially dubbed 'the widow maker', a change of tactics from low- to medium-level bombing for the Marauder soon improved the crews' chances of survival – indeed, by war's end it boasted a lower loss-per-sortie ratio than any other twin-engined bomber in the USAAF. This volume covers all aspects of Marauder operations in Western Europe during World War II (1939-1945), featuring first hand accounts from surviving B-26 crews, plus an analysis of the tactics employed.

B-26 Marauder Units of the MTO

B-26 Marauder Units of the MTO PDF Author: Mark Styling
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781846033070
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Osprey's examination of the B-26 Marauder Units' participation in World War II (1939-1945). The revolutionary design of the B-26 and its associated flight characteristics initially gained it a reputation as a 'widow maker' receiving nicknames such as 'The Baltimore Whore' and 'The Flying Prostitute' - both a reference to its short wingspan, i.e. no visible means of support! Gradual improvements to the design and the development of effective combat tactics enabled these units to make the B-26 a very effective and safe combat aircraft; it went on to play a major role in the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. The bombing accuracy of the B-26s was unrivalled and they were therefore selected to bomb targets such as the Florentine rail network. Lt General Eaker MAAF CO said. 'When we teach the B-17s to bomb like the B-26s we will have accomplished our job'. Hastily trained on an airplane with a bad reputation and rushed into combat in North Africa, the MTO B-26 groups went on to gain an enviable reputation for bombing accuracy and low combat loss rate. Performing the dangerous close support and interdiction roles, the units played a major role in the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, Italy and Germany. They proved the B-26 to be a highly reliable, effective medium bomber - indeed, an MTO-based B-26 was the first ever USAAF bomber to reach the 100-mission mark. It was the three MTO Bombardment Groups that established the Marauder as one of the USAAF's truly great aircraft of World War II.

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF Author: Maurer Maurer
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1428915850
Category : United States
Languages : en
Pages : 520

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Book Description


B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Eighth Air Force (part 2)

B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Eighth Air Force (part 2) PDF Author: Martin Bowman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472800524
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 209

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Book Description
The Boeing B-17, which has come to epitomise the American war effort in Europe, took the fight to Germans from the late summer of 1942 through to VE-Day. Its primary operator in Western Europe was the 'Mighty Eighth', who controlled 27 bomb groups for much of the war. This second of two volumes covers the 14 Bomb Groups of the Third Air Division. First hand accounts, period photography, profile artworks and nose art scrap views bring to life aircraft from each of the groups within the Third Air Division.

Martin B-26 Marauder

Martin B-26 Marauder PDF Author: Martyn Chorlton
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1780966075
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
A definitive technical guide to one of the most underrated medium bombers of the Second World War. The Martin B-26 Marauder never fully managed to shake off an undeserved early reputation as a dangerous aircraft to fly. Deemed superior to all other designs on the table at the time, almost a 1,000 had been ordered before the aircraft first took to the air November 1940. From late 1941 the first B-26s became operational in the Pacific, followed by the Mediterranean, but it is in the European theatre that the type was most prolific. It was particularly during the Normandy Landings and later the advance beyond 'the bulge' into Germany, were the B-26s medium level tactical ability shone through. This compact volume charts the full history of this aircraft, from serving with the RAF, SAAF and Free French Air Force in the Mediterranean to the little credited Balkan Air Force in support of Tito's Partisans in Yugoslavia. Sadly the B-26 was unfairly treated at the beginning of its career and even more so at the end as many of the 5,200+ aircraft built were scrapped only days after the end of the war. Alongside stunning artwork including technical illustrations, Martyn Chorlton shows why, as a great aircraft in many respects, the B-26 deserves to be in a better place.

The Army Air Forces in World War II: Men and planes

The Army Air Forces in World War II: Men and planes PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic government information
Languages : en
Pages : 920

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Book Description


The Mighty Eighth

The Mighty Eighth PDF Author: Donald Nijboer
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472854241
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
The perfect companion to Masters of the Air on Apple TV+, this is a superbly illustrated examination of the aircraft, pilots, crews and operations of the US Eighth Air Force. The US Eighth Air Force-known as the “Mighty Eighth”-was a combat air force activated in Georgia, USA on January 28, 1942. Its bomber command soon moved to Northern Europe to conduct strategic bombing missions, seeking to destroy Germany's ability to wage war. Among the major operations it participated in were “Big Week” in February 1944; the D-Day landings in June 1944; and the defeat of the Luftwaffe and destruction of German industry. Eighth Air Force was the largest of the deployed combat Army Air Forces in numbers of personnel, aircraft, and equipment. At peak strength, Eighth Air Force had 40 heavy bomber groups, 15 fighter groups, and four specialized support groups. This work provides a superbly illustrated and fully comprehensive exploration of the Mighty Eighth's bomber and fighter planes, its incredibly brave pilots and crew, and its daring and dramatic operations. It also explores the careers of key personalities associated with the Mighty Eighth, such as Earle Partridge, James Doolittle, and William Kepner. Packed with hundreds of color aircraft profiles, battlescene artworks, and period photographs, The Mighty Eighth provides a truly comprehensive look at the illustrious history of the US Eighth Air Force.

Marauder

Marauder PDF Author: Louis S. Rehr
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 9780786473021
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The B-26 Marauder was a formidable weapon in the campaign to defeat Hitler's armies, and, in the words of his first copilot, "Louis Rehr "was the best there was" flying it. This memoir, which benefits from forty years of research on the combat history of the B-26, contributions from comrades, and an extensive collection of rare photographs, describes Rehr's experiences, including five night-bombing missions he volunteered to fly in 1944 and accounts of attacks by Me-262 jets in late April of 1945. Rehr, a squadron commander with the 323rd Bombardment Group, earned 12 air medals, five battle stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star.

Fighters and Bombers of World War II

Fighters and Bombers of World War II PDF Author:
Publisher: PediaPress
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 589

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Book Description


American Warplanes of WWII

American Warplanes of WWII PDF Author:
Publisher: PediaPress
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 763

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Book Description