Article 18255 of rec.aviation.military:
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From: jfb@usgp1.ih.att.com (Joe Baugher)
Subject: Bomber Series--Martin B-26 Marauder (10 of 18)
Message-ID: <D6BJxq.AIL@ssbunews.ih.att.com>
Summary: B-26F
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Organization: AT&T
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 1995 19:10:38 GMT
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The next production version of the Marauder was the B-26F.  The B-26F 
differed from the B-26B/C primarily in having the angle of incidence 
of the wing increased by 3.5 degrees.  This was yet another attempt to 
decrease the takeoff run and to lower the landing speed.  This 
increased angle of incidence resulted in a distinctly canted-up engine 
nacelle, which gave more ground clearance for the propellers and 
provided a more level cruising attitude.  Previous Marauder models had 
cruised with a slight nose-high attitude.  However, the increased 
angle of incidence resulted in a reduction of maximum speed to 277 
mph.  

The fuel system of the B-26F was slightly modified, with a total 
capacity of 2500 US gallons.  As in the later B-26B and Cs, the fixed 
forward-firing nose gun was omitted, but there was a slight increase 
in the ammunition capacity of the remaining eleven 0.50-inch guns.  
The provision for the under-fuselage carriage of a torpedo was finally 
deleted (it had not been used very successfully in any case).  Maximum 
offensive load was now 4000 pounds.  

The first B-26F was produced in February of 1944.  Only three hundred 
B-26Fs were built.  One hundred of these were B-26F-1-MAs.  The other 
two hundred were B-26F-2s and F-6s, all of which were delivered to 
Great Britain as the Marauder III.  The Marauder III carried the RAF 
serials HD402 through HD601 (ex-USAAF serials 42-96329/96528).  


Serials of B-26F:

42-96229/96328		Martin B-26F-1-MA Marauder
42-96329/96528		Martin B-26F-2/6-MA Marauder
				Al to RAF as Marauder III HD402/HD601

Sources:

   Famous Bombers of the Second World War, William Green,
   Doubleday, 1959.

   The Martin B-26 Marauder, J. K. Havener, TAB Aero, 1988.

   Me & My Gal--The Stormy Combat Romance Between a WW II Bomber
   Pilot and His Martin B-26, Charles O'Mahony, Wings, 
   December 1994.

   The Martin B-26B and C Marauder, Ray Wagner, Aircraft in
   Profile, Doubleday, 1965.

   Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century,
   Michael J.H. Taylor, Mallard Press.

   American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner,
   Doubleday, 1982.


Joe Baugher			  **************************************
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