the B 26 was nicknamed The Flying Coffin, Widow-Maker, Winged Coffin, The Flying Prostitute and, The Baltimore Whore. The last two because it had no visible means of support and ‘Baltimore’ because that was where the Martin Company made the B-26.
And yet it was the plane you'd want to be in during WW2, because once pilots got used to its high landing speed, it ended up with the lowest loss rate of all USAAF bombers.
As a high schooler (early 60's), I pumped avgas on weekends at our local airport. There were a couple of B-26's that had been converted to business executive planes that used to land and fill up . The bomb bays were luxuriously upholstered.. and they were painted beautifully.. They were "surplus" and available for very little (comparatively) money, but the big radials were quite thursty!
wow, that must have been a cool job for a high school guy! I'd dig that... at the airfield, around the planes and helicopters... I've got job envy! Thanks for the note! By the way, what does Poncho Train Sailor refer to?
I sail on Lake Pontchartrain, North of New Orleans.. Yes it was a fun job! I got to fly in some neat old planes.. PT 23, a Stearman biplane a Waco biplane.. Ercoupe, Taylorcraft.. etc
well, that is a cool name, and great reason! Thanks! Oh wow, you didn't just work there, you got RIDES! Dang, your friends must have flipped out when hearing about those rides!
And yet it was the plane you'd want to be in during WW2, because once pilots got used to its high landing speed, it ended up with the lowest loss rate of all USAAF bombers.
ReplyDeleteAs a high schooler (early 60's), I pumped avgas on weekends at our local airport. There were a couple of B-26's that had been converted to business executive planes that used to land and fill up . The bomb bays were luxuriously upholstered.. and they were painted beautifully.. They were "surplus" and available for very little (comparatively) money, but the big radials were quite thursty!
ReplyDeletewow, that must have been a cool job for a high school guy! I'd dig that... at the airfield, around the planes and helicopters... I've got job envy! Thanks for the note!
DeleteBy the way, what does Poncho Train Sailor refer to?
I sail on Lake Pontchartrain, North of New Orleans..
DeleteYes it was a fun job! I got to fly in some neat old planes.. PT 23, a Stearman biplane a Waco biplane.. Ercoupe, Taylorcraft.. etc
well, that is a cool name, and great reason! Thanks! Oh wow, you didn't just work there, you got RIDES! Dang, your friends must have flipped out when hearing about those rides!
Delete