Aircraft
Background:
The
Marauder, a medium-range bomber, posted the lowest loss rate, about 1%,
of USAAF combat planes during World War II. The B-26 was used most
effectively for bombing raids on railroad depots, bridges, and
airfields, and it developed an excellent reputation as a dam buster
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Restored B-26 40-1464
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40-1459 before MAPS
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Our
Aircraft's History:
MAPS's
B-26, the 99th Marauder built, crash landed in British Columbia, Canada,
on January 16, 1942, five weeks and five days after Pearl Harbor was
bombed. Efforts are being made by several members of the MAPS Air Museum
to restore it to flying condition. A book about the crash landing,
including a personal account by co-pilot Lt. Howard Smiley, is available
in the MAPS gift shop. Out of the Wilderness: Restoring a Relic
was written by Lee B. Morrison of New Philadelphia, Ohio.
Crew Chief Update 2/27/07
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1) Work has been completed on the exterior of the aircraft fuselage.
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2) Work on the starboard wing is continuing with several areas of repair being completed.
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3) Work has begun on the starboard horizontal stabilizer with new ribs and a new tip.
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4) Nose gear doors are in the process of being repaired
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5) Aft Bombay doors have been repaired and installed
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6) The following interior projects have been completed.
• Aft section of airplane cleaned. new floor installed.
• missing panels replaced.
• tail gunner seat built from scratch and installed
• Camera rack removed ,cleaned and painted
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7) Bombardier station has received a new seat and all appropriate gauges
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8) The cockpit has received a rebuilt floor entry hatch.
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9) Work has been completed on the Main Gear door actuators.
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Span:
65 ft
Length:
56 ft
Height:
19 ft 10 in
Weight:
21,735 lbs empty, 32,000 lbs max
Armament:
6,000 lbs of bombs, up to six .50 cal. machine guns.
Wing
Area:
602 sq ft
Engines:
2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-5 radial engines of 1,850 hp each.
Crew:
Seven
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 315 mph at 15,000 ft
Cruising speed: 265 mph
Range: 2,200 miles
Service Ceiling: 25,000 ft.
Rate
of Climb:
1,200 fpm
Crew Chief: Dave Pawski
