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Early 320th Marauders were top camouflaged at the Martin factory with dark olive drab paint (shade 41/FS 34087) extending all the way down the side of the fuselage to an unbroken wavy line from the nose back to the tip of the tail, just above the rear ventral hatches and bomb bays. Neutral gray (shade 43/FS 36173) was sprayed over all under surfaces. Each aircraft's serial number
(prefixed by the last digit of the year built) was also
painted at the factory on both sides of the rudder in
"identification" yellow (shade 49/FS 33538).
Numbers were 12 inches high and positioned just above
the center line of the middle rudder hinge. |
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B-26B-3-MA 41-17959 Miss Fortune flown by Capt. Theodore M. Dorman of
the 444th BS, 320th BG |
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B-26B-50-MA 42-96016 No.04 Doris K - Iidalizeya
flown by Capt. Sydney 'Snuffy'
Smith CO of the 441st BS, 320th BG |
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B-26B-50-MA 42-96013 No.99 Brinah flown by Lt. Russel Jones of the 444th BS,
320th BG |
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B-26B-50-MA 42-95884 No.14 Miss Manchester flown by Lt. Charles O'Mahony CO of
the 441st BS, 320th BG |
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B-26C-45-MO 42-107534 No.22 Belle Ringer
flown by Lt. Benjamin Reisdorf of the
441st BS, 320th BG |
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B-26C-10-MO 41-34891 No.19 Missouri Mule flown by Lt. Robert Dinwiddie of the
441st BS, 320th BG |
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At end of 1943, the USAAF felt
camouflage paint no longer served a useful purpose and
ordered it discontinued by the Martin factories. Plus,
removing the paint added nearly 30 miles per hour to
the top speed. Marauders thereafter were delivered in
overall natural metal (polished aluminum) finish. Flat
black/dark green anti-glare panels were painted in front of the
cockpit and on the inward sides of the engine cowls.
Serial numbers were switched to black. |
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B-26C-45-MO 42-107783 No.23 Thumper
II flown by Lt. Chris Steir of the 441st BS,
320th BG |
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B-26G-5-MA 43-34242 No.57 Flying Finn flown by Lt. Edward Miller of the 443rd
BS, 320th BG |
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Camouflage paint reappeared in late 1944 after the 320th moved to Dijon. ETO brass ordered that all tactical aircraft at bases in France be given a top coat of green paint to conceal them from the air as they sat on their hard-stands. This at first was done in the field. Medium green 42, or the RAF equivalent, was sprayed, or in some cases crudely brushed, on the upper surfaces only. |
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B-26C-45-MO 42-107825 No.98 Ol' Folks
flown by Lt. Jack C. Sutherland of the 444th BS, 320th BG |
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Natural metal finish replacement
tactical aircraft scheduled for bases in France were
ultimately given an "economy" coat of camouflage green
at Ninth Air Force service depots in England before
delivery. |
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B-26G-20-MA 44-68089 No.08 of the 441st BS,
320th BG |
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Artwork: |
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Copyright(c) 2006 320th History Preservation. All rights reserved.