Marauder serial number

[Horst Weber]

Good evening !

In 1948, in a wreckage of a B-26 Marauder a plate was removed by a U.S. investigator team and the following number was found: Model B-26, Serial No. 2880.

The wreckage was found in Germany, very close to the Luxembourg border.

Can anyone lead me to the the USAAF-s/n of this particular aircraft or is it propably a sub-number of a section part of the a/c ?

Thank you !

[Kutscha]

B-26A serial numbers,
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b26_2.html

B-26B serial numbers,
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b26_4.html

[Horst Weber]

Thank you Kutscha !

But this doesn't lead to my task. On my believe, the serial # 2880 is an internal s/n of the Glenn Martin Company and names the airframe or a sub-element of the airframe.

There is one example in commom literature which names a Glenn Martin Company B-26 airframe #202 as received the USAAF s/n 41-7345.

Can I count now from # 202 e.g. s/n 41-7345 up to # 2880 e.g. s/n ??? or do I make a major mistake ?

Please help me

Thank you very much !

Horst Weber

[Stig Jarlevik]

Horst

In the best of worlds, Martin should have applied their manufacturer's serial number (msn) or construction number (c/n) in USAAF serial number (s/n) order, but I cannot state they did so.

Without checking Baugher, the book Martin aircraft 1909-1960 states
Martin serials: 2757-2906, B-26B-10 USAAF serials:41-18185 to 18334

If all of the above fits your aircraft is 41-18308
But again as stated, I don't know if Martin really did apply their c/n in serial order...

Cheers
Stig

[Horst Weber]

Stig, thank you very much.

But I think, this is not my serial-block.

The aircraft was in Natural Metal Finish and not painted. There is still a part of the lower wing with the dimensions 56 cm by 104 cm existing in the possession of a farmer. There is no camouflage paint on it and it is in natural alluminum finish.

The aircraft in question came down, hitting by flak, between December 23rd, 1944 and sometimes in January 1945 near the village . Eyewhitnesses remember a snow height of about 5 - 10 cm.

In 1948, an american investigator team found at the crash-location:
- a plate: Model B-26-B, Serial No. 2880
- three machine guns: 1064317, 1066317, 1066357
- they learnt from the mayor, that an unknown body of the crew was buried at the local cemetary. On February 10th, 1946, this body was disinterred from this cemetary and reburied at St. Avold American Military Cemetary as X-3365.

Can anyone help me, to identfy this aircraft and give an USAAF s/n ?.

My suggestion is, that this a/c was one of the 1st (prov) Pathfinder Marauders, which came from different units of the 9th AF. In case of a loss, neither the home-unit nor the 1st (prov) PF compiled a MACR, since noone felt responsible to do so. There are some cases known in this matter. Later on, the next of kin questioned the airforce for their sons and mostly in Jly or August 1945, a MACR was hastingly compiled for the loss.

Thank you !

Horst Weber

[Daniel]

According to the attached list unknown X-3365 was identified as Donald Sharp, O-686499. He was the pilot of B-26G 43-34440, lost on December 23, 1944, MACR #11486. However I do not know if this is the plane you are looking for as the machine gun serial numbers in the MACR don't match the ones you mentioned.

Kind regards,
Daniel

[Alex Smart]

Hello Horst,
MACR 11486 is available on "Fold3". There are 19 pages including details from the Germans. Two crew were killed.
As for the Gun numbers, 1064317 could be 1094317 as in the report. The second, 1066317 could be 1755314, but 1066357 ? None of the other numbers given in the report look to fit.
reports given by returned aircrew seem to give an acurate position of the crash site and position of their baleout point.
All the very best
Alex

[Horst Weber]

Daniel & Alex !

Thank you very, very much for this information. I think, that I come along with your information. It is more than helpful, to de-confuse the events of the Marauder slaughter on December 23rd, 1944 in the skies over my home.

Thank you !

Horst Weber

[Daniel]

Forgot to mention my source: http://www.7tharmddiv.org/docrep/ima...%20References/
There are several X-reference-lists and many X-files online.

Kind regards,
Daniel