The Martin B-26 Marauder was a twin-engine medium bomber designed and built by the Glenn L. Martin Company of Baltimore, MD. The aircraft was first flown in November 1940 and was accepted by the U.S. Army Air Corps in February 1941. The Marauder was originally designed to meet the needs of the Army Air Corps for an attack bomber with a greater range and payload than the Douglas A-20 Havoc.

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The Marauder had an all-metal fuselage, a tricycle landing gear, and two Wright Cyclone R-2600-13 radial engines each rated at 1,600 horsepower. The aircraft was designed to carry a crew of seven, a payload of up to 4,000 pounds of bombs, and had a maximum speed of 288 mph at 15,000 feet. The Marauder was also capable of carrying a number of machine guns for defense, including two .50 caliber machine guns in the nose, two in the midsection, and two in the tail.

The Marauder was used extensively in the European Theater during World War II and was the most heavily used medium bomber in the U.S. Army Air Forces. It was used to attack targets in France, Germany, and Italy, as well as in North Africa and the Pacific Theater. The Marauder was also used in the Korean War and was later replaced by the B-47 Stratojet.

The Marauder has faced a number of safety issues over the years, primarily due to its higher landing and takeoff speeds, which have caused a number of fatal accidents. The aircraft has also been involved in a number of mid-air collisions due to its relatively low altitude when attacking targets.

Despite the safety issues, the Marauder was an important aircraft for the U.S. military and had a number of innovations that made it unique. It was the first bomber to have an all-metal fuselage and it was also the first to have a tricycle landing gear. The Marauder was also the first aircraft to be fitted with turbochargers, which allowed it to reach higher altitudes than other bombers of the time.

The Marauder's innovations and capabilities made it an important aircraft in the war effort and it is still a common aircraft today. Although the Marauder is no longer in active service, it is still used by a number of organizations, including private collectors and museums. The Marauder is also used in a number of air shows and other events, allowing the public to see this historic aircraft in action.