B-26 Goes To War : Army's Torpedo Challenge

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar Chantilly, Virginia Two complete and separate design cycles chronicles our story - The B-26 Goes to War.

War fever caused authorities to forego prototype testing - the B-26 went straight from drawing board to battle.

The 22nd Bomb Group, with short 65 ft. wingspan B-26s entered combat in the Southwest Pacific.

The Army's Torpedo Challenge chronicles exploits in the realm of pure fantasy.

Getting-it-right - Navy torpedoes on Army bombers - is intense, vivid and entertaining.

Flying the "e;straight"e; uncovered deficiencies.

A modified B-26B emerged with a 71 ft. wingspan. These were earmarked for combat in North Africa and Europe.

For the Flak-Bait story see Appendix H. The ultramodern Martin B-26 prototype medium bomber first flown 25 November 1940 achieved a top speed of 315 mph, fastest of any U.S. bomber and narrowing the gap between its speed and that of existing Army pursuit planes.

Innovations include: self-sealing gas tanks, armor plating and a full bomb load of two tons.