Martin B-26 Marauder

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

41-7443

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton)

MSN:

7443

YOM:

1941

Location:

Ohio

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

After touchdown at Wright-Patterson AFB, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All seven crew members were able to leave the cabin before the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Failure of the nose gear on landing.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Reid River: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

40-1390

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1390

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on take off from Reid River Airport, in unknown circumstances. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Port Moresby

Date & Time: May 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

40-1486

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

National Capital District

Schedule:

Port Moresby - Port Moresby

MSN:

1486

YOM:

1940

Location:

Port Moresby

Country:

Papua New Guinea

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While bombing Rabaul, the aircraft was hit by enemy. The crew was able to return to Port Moresby Airport but and touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While the aircraft was wrecked, all eight crew members were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Port Moresby: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

40-1534

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

National Capital District

Schedule:

Port Moresby - Port Moresby

MSN:

1534

YOM:

1940

Location:

Port Moresby

Country:

Papua New Guinea

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to Port Moresby following a bombing mission in Rabaul. On approach to Port Moresby Airport, the aircraft was shot down by the pilots of three Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. The twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed few hundred yards short of runway and was written off. The tail gunner was killed, three other crew members were seriously injured and four others uninjured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Deboyne Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

40-1402

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

1402

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

En route, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Deboyne Island. All seven crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder on Trobriand Islands: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Trobriand Islands (Kiriwina Islands)

Operator:

Registration:

40-1426

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1426

YOM:

1940

Location:

Milne Bay

Country:

Papua New Guinea

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a flight from Rabaul to New Guinea, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing on an Island located in the Trobriand archipelago. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, overturned and came to rest upside down. Two crew members were killed while all five other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Townsville: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

40-1473

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1473

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on take off from Garbutt AFB, near Townsville. The crew was en route to Papua New Guinea. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Palm Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

40-1419

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Port Moresby – Townsville

MSN:

1419

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, while flying along the northeast Australian coast, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and the captain attempted to ditch the aircraft off Palm Island. The twin engine aircraft contacted the water and sunk quickly, causing seven crew members to be killed.

Probable cause:

Technical problems.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Rabaul: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1942

Type of aircraft: