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B26 Marauder, US Air Force medium bomber. Aviation art print by Robert Taylor
showing B26 Marauder bombers of 386th Bomb Group,. Aviation art print available
from Cranston Fine Arts.
The
B-26 Marauder, dubbed the widow maker by its detractors, was developed
by the Glen L. Martin Company beginning in 1939. The first B-26 was
completed in November of 1940. The early models had very high wing
loading, and were tricky to fly. Added armament increased weight even
further leading to an alarming rate of accidents during training.
Increasing engine power, wingspan and rudder height solved many of the
problems. The B-26 was capable of speeds in excess of 320-MPH, and with
a normal crew compliment of six and a bomb load of 4,000 pounds the
aircraft, had a range in excess of 1100 miles.
Despite the controversy surrounding the B-26, the aircraft served
admirably during WW II, and in fact had the lowest loss ratio of any
American aircraft. The 386th Bomb Group was organized on December 1,
1942 under the command of Lt. Col. Lester J. Maitland. The 386th, known
as The Crusaders, trained at MacDill Field near Tampa Florida. The
accident rate during training of earlier B-26 units was alarmingly high,
leading to the phrase one a day in Tampa Bay.
With improved training methods for both flight and maintenance
crews, and with improvements to the B-26s engines and electrical
systems, the accident rate began to decline, and the 386th attained
10,000 flight hours of training without an accident. The Crusaders went
to Lake Charles, Louisiana for the second phase of their training. On
April 20, 1943 the Crusaders completed their training and crews were
dispatched to either Selfridge Field in Michigan or the Martin plant in
Omaha to pick-up their B-26Bs and Cs for the long flight to England. The
386th had an incredible combat record, flying 409 combat missions
against Axis targets such as bridges, railroad yards, and other tactical
targets. Most bombing missions were done at an altitude of 10,000-13,000
feet. On 11/29/43 the Crusaders flew a mission which was very memorable
for the crew of Sexation. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting,
appropriately entitled Mauled by Marauders, the Sexation was attacked by
several German Fw-190 and Bf-109 fighters. With the loss of one engine,
significant wing damage, and hydraulic system failure, Sexation was a
sitting duck. However, Bill Norris, the tail gunner on the B-26, kept
the fighters at bay, shooting down 3 enemy fighters and one probable on
the mission. This made Norris the top gun of the 386th. The crew was
able to nurse the aircraft back to England where they made a belly
landing. Both Norris and the aircrafts commander, Pete LaFramboise,
received the Silver Star for this mission. This print is dedicated to
the memory of Col. Maitland and the 191 Crusaders who made the ultimate
sacrifice for their country during WW II.
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| Marauder Mission by Robert Taylor B26 Marauders of the 386th Bomb Group 9th Air Force, returning from a strike against VI, rocket sites in the Pas de Calais, January 1944. The 9th Air Force became one of the most effective forces in the destruction of VI rocket sites, railroad yards, bridges and other enemy position in northern France and by May 1944, was despatching more than one thousand aircraft a day against targets in Normandy and the Pas de Calais. Signed limited edition of 1250 prints. Paper size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £175.00 Signed by General John Moench, Colonel Roland Scott and Colonel Ashley Woolridge.
Limited edition of artist proofs. Paper size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £295.00 Signed by General John Moench, Colonel Roland Scott and Colonel Ashley Woolridge.
Multi Signed edition of 100 prints. Paper size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £275.00 Signed by General John Moench, Colonel Roland Scott, Colonel Ashley Woolridge, Major Carl Oates, Captain Earl Slanker and Colonel Richard Dick Denison.
ITEM CODE DHM2072 |
| Misty Marauder by John Young. One secondary market print available, numbered 152 / 650. Signed limited edition of 650 prints. Image size 25 inches x 19 inches (64cm x 48cm). Price £180.00
ITEM CODE AX0049 |
| Mauled by a Marauder by Stan Stokes. The B-26 Marauder, dubbed the widow maker by its detractors, was developed by the Glen L. Martin Company beginning in 1939. The first B-26 was completed in November of 1940. The early models had very high wing loading, and were tricky to fly. Added armament increased weight even further leading to an alarming rate of accidents during training. Increasing engine power, wingspan and rudder height solved many of the problems. The B-26 was capable of speeds in excess of 320-MPH, and with a normal crew compliment of six and a bomb load of 4,000 pounds the aircraft, had a range in excess of 1100 miles. Despite the controversy surrounding the B-26, the aircraft served admirably during WW II, and in fact had the lowest loss ratio of any American aircraft. The 386th Bomb Group was organized on December 1, 1942 under the command of Lt. Col. Lester J. Maitland. The 386th, known as The Crusaders, trained at MacDill Field near Tampa Florida. The accident rate during training of earlier B-26 units was alarmingly high, leading to the phrase one a day in Tampa Bay. With improved training methods for both flight and maintenance crews, and with improvements to the B-26s engines and electrical systems, the accident rate began to decline, and the 386th attained 10,000 flight hours of training without an accident. The Crusaders went to Lake Charles, Louisiana for the second phase of their training. On April 20, 1943 the Crusaders completed their training and crews were dispatched to either Selfridge Field in Michigan or the Martin plant in Omaha to pick-up their B-26Bs and Cs for the long flight to England. The 386th had an incredible combat record, flying 409 combat missions against Axis targets such as bridges, railroad yards, and other tactical targets. Most bombing missions were done at an altitude of 10,000-13,000 feet. On 11/29/43 the Crusaders flew a mission which was very memorable for the crew of Sexation. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting, appropriately entitled Mauled by Marauders, the Sexation was attacked by several German Fw-190 and Bf-109 fighters. With the loss of one engine, significant wing damage, and hydraulic system failure, Sexation was a sitting duck. However, Bill Norris, the tail gunner on the B-26, kept the fighters at bay, shooting down 3 enemy fighters and one probable on the mission. This made Norris the top gun of the 386th. The crew was able to nurse the aircraft back to England where they made a belly landing. Both Norris and the aircrafts commander, Pete LaFramboise, received the Silver Star for this mission. This print is dedicated to the memory of Col. Maitland and the 191 Crusaders who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during WW II. Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00  Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £94.00 Signed by Tail Gunner William Norris. Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE STK0092 |
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