B-26 Marauder Units in the MTO Book Review
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | November 2008 | Title | B-26 Marauder Units in the MTO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Mark Styling | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2008 | ISBN | 978-1-84603-307-0 |
| Format | 96 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $22.95 |
Review
The B-26 started its career as an underdog as it experienced a very high accident rate with new pilots unaccustomed to the high-performance twin-engined bomber. Once these crews did get proper training and experience with the Marauder, the safety record of the B-26 would be second to none. The aircraft was fast, could take punishment, and could deliver a serious hurt upon the enemy as well. The aircraft was such a stable bombing platform that its crews could hit its targets with precision.
The author walks through the employment and combat operations of the Marauder in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) and carries the coverage through key stages of the air war in Europe. The author provides a concise narrative of combat operations as missions moved out of the Mediterranean, into Italy, and finally joining on the push towards Germany. The coverage of this title is broken down as follows:
- Training and Early Combat
- Island Attacks
- Invasion of Italy
- Anzio
- On the Attack
- ETO Offensive
In addition to the operational summaries, the book is also has a nice selection of 39 color profiles, color noseart photography, as well as loads of period B&W photographs of the action.
This book is a must have for the modeler and aviation historian interested in World War II air operations. Recommended!
My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!