[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Ara1

.

I have a small reference on the B-26, Osprey's Combat Aircraft #2, "B-26 Units of the 8th and 9th Air Forces" by Jerry Scutts.

Ara1,

I also have that B.26/Osprey book, having purchased it at a North Weald airshow when it was first released (I actually bought it from Tony Holmes, the Cheif Editor of Osprey books & author of the Hurricane volume).

He was really suprised when we told him that he was (on that day), quite literally, on the doorstep of most of the B.26 airfields that are littered around that part of the County of Essex.

The book is an excellent starting point for those that want to study the B.26
though it tends to relate to certain Bomb Groups, far more than others.

[Ara1]

Thanks Hornchurch. Good info to know about the B-26 airfields in England. Did you get your book signed?

I really enjoy the Osprey series. It is very relaxing curling up with unit histories and discovering the incredible sacrifices those young people made in the war years.

I am also reading RAF bomber raids over Germany (sporadically). Such great reading. Cannot learn enough about the pilots and crews.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Delta Zulu

. Lack of natl. insignia was not a criticism but new to me.

Profile 201 shows shots of a 387BG plane but perspective doesn't show wing markings.


B-26's and One a Day in Tampa Bay, I need your expert sources on this. Pilot trainees were upset with crashes and morale was bad. Hap Arnold sent 2 WASPS who had trained as ferry pilots of B-26's to the field and they put on a demo, there were no more complaints. I cannot for the life of me find the source I got this from, how about you guys?

D.Z.

There is no a/c in my life, that I have studied more than (my dearly-beloved)
Martin B.26 Marauder.

Gotta say that the lack of National insignia is a new one on me too - consider it the exception & not the rule.

I plead ignorance to your (highlighted quote above), referring to "Profile 201 shows shots of a 387th B.G. plane".

What does that refer to exactly ????

I've expressed an interest, as I've spent so much of my life, on & around the 387th's old base (Willingale/Chipping Ongar) & it's always been of maximum interest for me (Hallowed ground - like a Football-fan & their home stadium).

A local stately home (Blake Hall) used to have an utterly superb display of 387th related material, incuding crashed B.26 parts, original wartime 387th painted flying jackets (donated by ex-crew & widows) & most importantly for me, Private & un-published photo's of almost every 387th B.26 & their associated nick-names, nose art & serial No's (& crew, where known) = the kinda stuff that you can only usually get in an expensive & well researched book.

I contacted Blake Hall via E-mail (since we'd moved 130 miles North) about an enquiry someone was asking me about one of their a/c - only to find (sickeningly) that the museum display (privately run) had ceased to exist & been sold-off or broken up.

Luckily, back in '93, my mate Gary & I had gone there & spent the day writing down the details of every B.26 photo present...... how that collection should be shared with the general public & not hidden away for a single enthusiast's selfish pleasure ??? - they should be featured in a book, for the benefit of all interested parties.

Regarding the famous quote; "One a day in Tampa Bay" from where the B.26 derived all her (initial) derogatory nicknames, such as "Widow-maker" & "Baltimore-Whore"......... your best bet is to check out the B.26 records website that used to be run from the 'University of Akron' OHIO, (B.26 Mecca) IF it's still going/in existence (I used to use it when I lived in London & was reserching B.26's then).

Alternatively, there is a book available called.......

The Martin B.26 Marauder/A Bibliography & Guide To Research Sources,

by Oyster & Moench - ISBN 1-877597-03-1

Features every known published source (20th Century) on B.26's, books, Unit Histories, mag'z articles, videocassettes, broadcasts, B.26 manuals etc.

Afraid it is the heavy-duty (nutter ) end of the market

[Delta Zulu]

Hornchurch-Profile Publications Ltd, Berkshire printed 15 vols. of Aircraft in Profile from 1967 thru 1975?. Beautiful color plates in 3 view plus numerous shots in b/w. Shots I reffed are in b/w and say, "The diagonal yellow and black stripes in the tail indicate a machine of the 387BG". Tks for the interesting sources.