Martin B-26 41-18285

Martin B-26B-10-MA Marauder, s/n 41-18285, "Lady Katy", 319th Bombardment Group, 417th Bombardment Squadron, Rufisque Airfield, Rifisque, French West Africa, June 1943

 

 

Nose art

Martin B-26, 41-34868

B-26C-10-MO, 41-34868, s/n 41-34868, "Zero-4", 437th Bomb Squadron, 319th Bomb Group, Corsica

 

 

Crew from left to right:

Capt. Richard C. Bushee - pilot
Capt. Robert S Whitten - bombadier
1Lt Blake H. Palmer - co-pilot
T/Sgt. Leo F. Walker - engineer/cerw chief/gunner
T/Sgt. Al J. Rosenblum - radio operator/gunner
T/Sgt. Charles A. Vannoy - tail gunner

 

 

This aircraft survived 146 missions, shot down 5 enemy aircraft and destroyed one surface ship

Martin B-26, 41-31773

B-26B-25-MA, s/n 41-31773, "Flak Bait", 449th Bomb Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group, Belgium

 

Here we see the crew after the B-26 has come back from its 200th mission

From left to right, standing

Col. John S Samuel (322nd BG CO) - co-pilot

Capt. William G Fort - pilot

T/Sgt. William J Hess - tail gunner

sitting

1st Lt. William D Brearly - bombardier

T/Sgt. Cecil Fisher - radio operator/gunner

T/Sgt. Kenneth Locke - engineer/gunner

1st Lt. Arthur D Perkins

 

 

Crew Chief S/Sgt. Clair G. Goodrich receives congratulations from Squadron Commanding Officer Maj. John C. Ruse after the aircraft returned from its 200th mission

 

 

 

"Flak Bait" returns after its 200th mission

 

During the course of its service life of 202 missions, with bombing runs over France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany, it was shot with over 1000 holes, twice returned with only one engine operating, once with an engine on fire and twice with the complete loss of its electrical and hydraulic systems. Its nose section is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum