List of units using the B-26 Marauder during World War II

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A B-26 Martin Marauder during a training operation.
A B-26 Martin Marauder during a training operation.

This is a, believed to be comprehensive, list of military units to use the Martin B-26 Marauder during World War II. This list was created using the public content located at B26.com, the content from the B-26 Martin Marauder Historical Society, and data from the United States Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Verification of this list with records supplied by the United States Air Force and Royal Air Force is ongoing.

Contents:
U.S. Army Air Corps U.S. Navy U.S. Marine Corps
5th Air Force
8th Air Force
9th Air Force
11th Air Force
12th Air Force
13th Air Force
USAAF support units
Tow target squadrons		 Utility Squadrons
Photographic Squadron		 VMJ-1
VMJ-2
VMJ-3

French Air Force • Royal Air Force • South African Air Force

Other units • References
Logo of the US Army Air Corps

[edit] United States Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces

From the date the first B-26 Marauder was shipped to the United States War Department in 1939, the B-26 began operation for the United States Army Air Corps. It would remain in operation for them until 20 June 1941 when it was renamed the Army Air Forces; it would operate for them until the end of World War II. During this period the B-26 Marauder and its many variants were operated by many units on many continents and serving in many different theaters of conflict. Amazingly the B-26 which had a poor reputation among pilots would end the war with the lowest casualty rating of any medium range bomber flown by these forces.

Logo of the Fifth Air Force

[edit] Fifth Air Force


9 June 1942, B-26 Marauder, #40-1363, of the 33d Squadron, 22d Bomb Group based at Woodstock, experienced undercarriage problems, and belly landed at Jacksons field, in New Guinea.
9 June 1942, B-26 Marauder, #40-1363, of the 33d Squadron, 22d Bomb Group based at Woodstock, experienced undercarriage problems, and belly landed at Jacksons field, in New Guinea.

[edit] 22nd Bomb Group

Reference Link: [1]

Location: US & SW Pacific

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 2d (1941-1943)
  • 19th (1941-1944)
  • 33d (1941-1943)
  • 408th (1941-1943)

Stations:

Decorations:


Logo of the Eighth Air Force

[edit] Eighth Air Force


[edit] 25th Bomb Group

Reference Link: [2][3]

Location: European Theater (OSS Reconnaissance Unit)

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 654th

Stations:

  • Station 376, at RAF Watton, Norfolk, England - Apr '44 - Jul '45

Decorations:

Logo of the Ninth Air Force

[edit] Ninth Air Force


[edit] First Pathfinder Squadron

Reference Link: [4]

Location: European Theater, England and France. Provisional, flew last ever B-26 Mission May 3, 1945.
Bomb Squadrons: 1st Pathfinder Squadron (Provisional), detached.(1944-1945)
Stations: Great Saling (Station #485), England (Feb. 1944 - Sept. 1944);
Beauvais-Tille (Station #A-61), France (Sept. 1944-1945)

Decorations:

[edit] 322d Bomb Group

Reference Link: [5]

Location: European Theater (Originally part of the Eighth Air Force, Transferred Oct. 1943)

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 449th (1942-1945)
  • 450th (1942-1945)
  • 451st (1942-1945)
  • 452d (1942-1945)

Stations:

  • MacDill Field, FL - 17 July 1942
  • Drane Field, FL - 22 September.- Nov. 1942
  • Rougham, England - 1 December 1942
  • Great Saling, England - Jan. 1943
  • Beauvais/Tille, France - Sept. 1944
  • Le Culot, Belgium - March 1945
  • Fritzlar, Germany - June-Sept. 1945
  • Camp Kilmer, NJ - 14-15 December 1945

Decorations:

See also:

B-26s of the 323d Bomb Group taking flak over France in 1944
B-26s of the 323d Bomb Group taking flak over France in 1944

[edit] 323d Bomb Group

Reference Link: [6]

Location: European Theater (Originally part of the Eighth Air Force, Transferred Oct. 1943)

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 453d (1942-1945)
  • 454th (1942-1945)
  • 455th (1942-1945)
  • 456th (1942-1945)

Stations:

Decorations:

[edit] 344th Bomb Group

Reference Link: [7]

Location: European Theater

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 494th (1942-1946)
  • 495th (1942-1945)
  • 496th (1942-1945)
  • 497th (1942-1945)

Stations:

Decorations:

  • Distinguished Unit Citation: France (24-26 July 1944)
B-26 Marauder of the 555th Bomb Squadron returning to England after a raid over Germany 1944
B-26 Marauder of the 555th Bomb Squadron returning to England after a raid over Germany 1944

[edit] 386th Bomb Group

Reference Link:[8]

Location: European Theater (Originally part of the Eighth Air Force, Transferred Oct. 1943)

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 552d (1942-1945)
  • 553d (1942-1945)
  • 554th (1942-1945)
  • 555th (1942-1945)

Stations:

Decorations:

[edit] 387th Bomb Group

Reference Link: [9]

Location: European Theater (Originally part of the Eighth Air Force, Transferred Oct. 1943)

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 556th (1942-1945)
  • 557th (1942-1945)
  • 558th (1942-1945)
  • 559th (1942-1945)

Stations:

Decorations:

[edit] 391st Bomb Group

Reference Link: [10]

Location: European Theater

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 572d (1943-1945)
  • 573d (1943-1945)
  • 574th (1943-1945)
  • 575th (1943-1945)

Stations:

Decorations:

[edit] 394th Bomb Group

Reference Link: [11]

Location: European Theater

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 584th (1943-1946)
  • 585th (1943-1946)
  • 586th (1943-1946)
  • 587th (1943-1945)

Stations:

Decorations:

B-26 of the 397th Bomb Group conducting pre D-Day strikes over Normandy
B-26 of the 397th Bomb Group conducting pre D-Day strikes over Normandy

[edit] 397th Bomb Group

Reference Link: [12]

Location: European Theater

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 596th (1943-1945)
  • 597th (1943-1946)
  • 598th (1943-1945)
  • 599th (1943-1945)

Stations:

Decorations:

[edit] 410th Bomb Group

Reference Link: [13]

Location: European Theater

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 644th
  • 645th
  • 646th (only operated B-25's)
  • 647th

Stations:

  • Birch, England - April '44
  • Gosfield, England - April '44 - Sept. '44
  • Coulommiers, France - Sept. '44 - Feb. '45
  • Juvincourt, France - Feb '45 - May '45
  • Beaumont-sur-Oise, Belgium - May '45 - end WWII

Decorations:

  • Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 23-25 December '44


Logo of the Eleventh Air Force

[edit] Eleventh Air Force


[edit] 28th Bomb Group (Composite)

Reference Link: [14]

Location: Alaska and the Aleutians

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 73d (1941-1943)
  • 77th (1942-1945)

Stations: 73rd:

77th:

Decorations:


Logo of the Twelfth Air Force

[edit] Twelfth Air Force


A plane from the 17th Bomb Group (432d Squadron) damaged by flak somewhere over Algeria during operations in World War II.
A plane from the 17th Bomb Group (432d Squadron) damaged by flak somewhere over Algeria during operations in World War II.

[edit] 17th Bomb Group

Reference Link: [15]

Location: North African Theater

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 34th (1931-1945)
  • 37th (1931-1945)
  • 95th (1931-1945)
  • 432d (1942-1945)

Stations:

Decorations:

  • Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy (13 January 1944) and Schweinfurt, Germany (10 April 1945)
  • French Croix de Guerre with Palm: April, May, and June 1944
A downed plane from the 319th Bomb Group shot down somewhere in the desert of North Africa during World War II.
A downed plane from the 319th Bomb Group shot down somewhere in the desert of North Africa during World War II.

[edit] 319th Bomb Group

Reference Link: [16]

Location: North African Theater

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 437th (1942-1945)
  • 438th (1942-1945)
  • 439th (1942-1945)
  • 440th (1942)

Stations:

Decorations:

  • Distinguished Unit Citations: Rome, Italy (3 March 1944) and Florence, Italy (11 March 1944)
  • French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Apr, May, and June 1944
The first and second flights of a squadron of the 320th Bomb Group taken from a third flight wing ship.
The first and second flights of a squadron of the 320th Bomb Group taken from a third flight wing ship.
Belle Ringer, #22 (42-107534) of the 441st Squadron, in the lead of this flight, she flew over 100 missions and survived the war
Belle Ringer, #22 (42-107534) of the 441st Squadron, in the lead of this flight, she flew over 100 missions and survived the war

[edit] 320th Bomb Group

Reference Link: [17]

Location: North African Theater

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 441st (1942-1945)
  • 442d (1942-1945)
  • 443d (1942-1945)
  • 444th (1942-1945)

Stations:

Decorations:

  • Distinguished Unit Citations: Italy (12 May 1944) and ETO (15 March 1945)
  • French Croix de Guerre with Palm: April, May and June 1944


Logo of the Thirteenth Air Force

[edit] Thirteenth Air Force


[edit] 42d Bomb Group

Reference Link: [18][19]

Location: SW Pacific

Bomb Squadrons:

  • 69th (1943-1946)
  • 70th (1943-1946)
  • 75th (1941-1946)
  • 76th (1942)
  • 77th (1942)
  • 390th (1942)
  • 406th (1942)

Stations:

  • Fort Douglas, UT - Jan '41 - June '41
  • Gowen Field, Boise, ID - June '41 - Jan '42
  • McChord Field, Tacoma, WA - Jan '42 - Mar '43
  • Camp Stoneman, CA - Mar 1943 - April '43
  • Fiji Is. - April '43 - June '43
  • Guadalcanal - June '43 - Oct '43
  • Russell Is. - Oct '43 - Jan '44
  • Sterling, Solomon Is. - Jan '44 - Aug '44
  • Hollandia - Aug '44 - Sept '44
  • Sansapor, New Guinea - Sept '44 - Feb '45
  • Morotai - Feb '45 - March '45)
  • Puerto Princesa, Palawan - March '45 - end WWII )

Decorations:

  • Distinguished Unit Citation: Balikpapan, Borneo 23-30 June '45
  • Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

[edit] USAAF training/support units

B-26 Marauders of the 21st Bomb Group at MacDill Field in Tampa, Florida
B-26 Marauders of the 21st Bomb Group at MacDill Field in Tampa, Florida
  • 21st Bomb Group (Operational Training Unit) – MacDill Field, FL
    • 313th, 314th, 315th, 398th Bomb Squadrons
  • 38th Bomb Group (Operational Training Unit) – US & SW Pacific
    • 69th, 70th, 71st Bomb Squadrons
    • 15th Reconnaissance Squadron
  • 40th Bomb Group (Operational Training Unit) – Caribbean
    • 25th, 44th, 45th Bomb Squadrons
  • 335th Bomb Group (Replacement Training Unit) – Barksdale, Field, LA
    • 474th, 475th, 476th, 477th Bomb Squadrons
  • 336th Bomb Group (Replacement Training Unit) – MacDill, Ft. Meyers, Avon Park, Lake Charles, LA
    • 478th, 479th, 480th, 481st Bomb Squadrons

[edit] Pilot transition training

[edit] Tow target squadrons


Logo of the US Navy

[edit] United States Navy


[edit] Utility Squadrons

  • VJ-1
  • VJ-2
  • VJ-4
  • VJ-7
  • VJ-8
  • VJ-9
  • VJ-10
  • VJ-12
  • VJ-13
  • VJ-14
  • VJ-15
  • VJ-16
  • VJ-17
  • VJ-18
  • VJ-19

[edit] Photographic Squadron

VD-2 – Placed into operation at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Atlantic Fleet Air Base, Norfolk, Virginia late in 1942, Fleet Air Photographic Reconnaissance VD-2 became a photographic training squadron, which did equipment testing and specialized assignments by direct orders from the Director, of the Photography Division, of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C. This photographic squadron operated from the Atlantic Fleet Air Base at Norfolk during World War II, with a hodge-podge collection of airplanes that were not equipped or suited for overseas war time operations.


Logo of the USMC

[edit] United States Marine Corps

[edit] VMJ-1

Commissioned 21 March 1945 at Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii as VMTD-1 and on 1 May 1945 was redesignated as VMJ-1 and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, towing targets for Marine AA batteries over the Hawaiian Islands. The squadron was deactivated on Kauai in October 1945.[20](PDF)

[edit] VMJ-2

Commissioned 10 October 1944 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii as VMTD-2 to train in towing aerial targets and tracking missions for Marine AA batteries. After two months in Hawaii towing for the 5th Marine Division, the entire detachment of 6 JM-1s (Navy Version of the B-26) left 24 November 1944 for Agana, Guam. They daily towed targets and carried out tracking for Army AA units on Guam, Tinian and Saipan. It was redesignated VMJ-2 on 1 May 1945. Following the war, the squadron returned to the West Coast and was deactivated on 6 March 1946. [21](PDF)

[edit] VMJ-3

Commissioned 1 October 1944 at the Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii as VMTD-3 to provide towing and tracking for Marine AA battalions which had been formerly performed by Navy Squadrons attached to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and operated in practice beach assaults with the 4th Marine Division. The squadron was redesignated VMJ-3 on 1 May 1945 at Ewa. In August of 1945 the detachment was sent to Midway to tow for Marine defense battalions. Following the end of the war, the squadron returned to MCAS Ewa and was deactivated in October, 1945. [22](PDF)

Insigna of the French Air Force

[edit] French Air Force

All six squadrons below were operating under command of 42nd Bombardment Wing of the US 12th Air Force.

  • 31e escadre
    • GBM 1/19 Gascogne
    • GBM 2/20 Bretagne
    • GBM 1/22 Maroc
  • 34e escadre
    • GBM 1/32 Bourgogne
    • GBM 2/52 Franche-Comté
    • GBM 2/63 Sénégal


Logo of the Royal Air Force

[edit] Royal Air Force



Logo of the South African Air Force

[edit] South African Air Force


  • 3rd Wing, North African Air Forces
  • No. 12 Squadron SAAF, North African Air Forces
  • 21 Squadron, North African Air Forces
  • No. 24 Squadron SAAF, North African Air Forces
  • 25 Squadron, Balkan Air Force
  • 30 Squadron, North African Air Forces

[edit] Unsorted other units

  • 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • 2nd Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • 3rd Gunnery & Tow Target Flight
  • 6th Combat Crew Replacement Centre
  • 1st Base Air Depot
  • 2nd Tactical Air Depot
  • Bomber Command Training Unit, Telergma, Algeria
  • Air Corps Ferry Command
  • 54th Bomb Squadron, AF Proving Ground
  • 4th Tactical Recon - Antilles Air Command
  • 76th Service Group

[edit] References

[edit] Bomb group homepages