Saturday 2 September 2017

Martin B-26C Marauder, Free French and South African Users

The B-26C was the name given to those B-26 manufactured in Omaha, Nebraska, instead of Baltimore, Maryland that included all the improvements made to the B-26B-55. As such it served with the Free France Air Force and the South African Air Force during the World War II. When serving with the South Africans, it received the denomination of Martin Marauder Mk.II.
The last squadron of the Free France Air Force to receive the B-26 was the GBM 1/22 Maroc that together with its flights VB-109 and VB-125 was detached from the 31éme Escadre de Bombardement Moyen (31st Medium Bombing Wing). After operation Torch, it was decided to re-equip it with the B-26C Marauder replacing the old Lioré et Olivier LeO.45. So the were retrained in Rabat, Morocco and were officialy formed on 1st September 1943. On January 1944 they operated from Châteaudun-du-Rummel, Algeria and later, in March 1944 they moved on to Villacidro, Sardinia, where they remained until the end of the war performing bombing missions against Italy and supporting troops in southern France during operation Anvil-Dragoon.

In South African hands, the B-26C was operated by two squadrons, the No.12 and No.24. They were received in 1943 and were employed in bombing missions on the Aegean Sea, Crete and Italy. The No.24 Squadron received the B-26C in December 1943 when based in Algeria, later in 1944 they were rebased in Pescara, central Italy before moving on, later to Iesi, also in Italy where they remained until the end of the war. When the war was over, the B-26C were employed as transport airplanes, moved to Egypt in October 1945 and were disbanded in November 1945.
In the case of the No.12 Squadron, they replaced their Douglas Boston in December 1943 at Algeria and were rebased to Southern Italy in February 1944 where they remained until the end of the war.










Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_B-26_Marauder
2. https://www.enpa-capmatifou.com/Enpa2/Aero/EVENEMENTS/66_seconde_guerre_13.pdf (translated)
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Squadron_SAAF
4. http://www.b26.com/page/south_african_air_force_saaf.htm
5. Signal Squadron - Aircraft in Action 50 - Martin B-26 Marauder in Action

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