Performance figures for the Early B-26 are given in the early manual at 26,734 lbs but that only covers 2000lbs worth of bombs and a very minimal amount of fuel. Plane grossed 28,706lbs with 2000lbs of bombs and just 465 gal of fuel. Max gross was over 33,000lbs.
Even these early B-26s are impressive. For the attack on the Japanese fleet at Midway, four B-26s were armed with one 2000 lb really lousy torpedo each. Suzie Q serial number 40-1391, one of these bombers, was a baseline early B-26s which had serial numbers 40-1361 through 40-1561. I assume they all were. Flt test of one of these, 40-1361 show an absolute top speed at 14,250 ft was 326 mph which is the approximate top speed of a tested Zero at that altitude.
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/B-26/B-26_40-1361_PHQ-M-19-1184-A.pdf http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/japan/a6m2-oct2342.pdf
Accompanying these bombers was six TBF Avengers. To meet these 10 attackers, the Japanese had deployed over 30 fighters. Five Avengers were shot down while one was able to make it home, which makes me wonder if the Navy had the Avengers rather than the TBDs would the outcome of VT-8 been different? Of the four B-26s one was lost right away, Three had made it to weapon release point, one, after receiving devastating damage, tried to ram the Akagi island, which would have killed Nagumo. One escaped into the clouds and one, after flying down the deck of and strafing the Akagi, the pilot "then pushed his airspeed to outrun the Zeros that were pursuing him. They broke off the attack" (
B-26s at Midway). There may be a question if this could be done. Given that the B-26 had approximately the same speed of the Zero, and that it was light, having flown 150 miles dragging an external torpedo, and then dropping it, it is not unreasonable for the Zeros to think it would take quite an effort to catch it. Or they may have thought it was no longer a threat and didn't want to get too far away from the carriers. Both the B-26s made it home heavily damaged. Suzie-Q had over 500 puncture holes in it wrecking most of the subsystems and flattening the tires and disabling one landing gear. Most of the crew were injured. Both planes were scrapped. But, it is a testimony that these planes performed their mission, although no torpedoes from either squadron damaged the Japanese, and after brutal attacks by a large number of opposing forces of some the best trained pilots in the world, were able to bring their crews home. The Zeros were armed with two .30 caliber machine guns and two 20 mm cannon and while there was not much ammo for the cannon, they would surely have used it against these planes. They had to be tough birds. The B-26s did get one Zero, an Avenger got another. Another item of interest is that of comment that the B-26 had leak proof tanks.
The US Army leaves an unwelcome calling card with Admiral Nagumo
I compared these comments to what was written in "Shattered Sword" and it was reasonably close although the book was not as detailed.
If you read about the development of the type 91 Japanese aerial torpedo, compared to the American aerial torpedo, it will make you sick to think how many men died trying to deliver these horrible things. Some one should have went to jail. Won't even talk about the submarine torpedo comparison!
