eBay: Martin B-26 Marauder

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B-26B 41-17834 91, B-26B-40s 42-43269 67 and 42-43287 88. Great photo for comparing the short wing and long wing models. Note that aircraft 67 has had its top turret faired over but seems to still have the plexiglas "ball" on the tail turret instead of the typical pointed tail cone of an AT-23A. Other two aircraft have their turrets installed but no guns.
Source of photo: 344th bomb group : Captain Robert D. Conrad Pilot 344th BG 494th BS
 


Another good comparison shot from the same website, B-26B-50 42-95921 K9-C and B-26G-5 43-34399 K9-W of the 344th BG 494th BS, December 1944. Between the two models (On the B-26F-2 to be specific) the tail turret was switched from the plexiglas-covered Bell M-6 (left) to the canvas-covered Bell M-6A (right). The change in wing incidence is not as apparent in the photo, but the fuel vent on the top of the fuselage of the B-26G is. It also seems the US insignia on K9-W was moved further aft after the invasion stripes were painted, given the circular cutout in the stripes.

Another photo of the B-26G's tail turret below for reference, from the American Air Museum at IMW Duxford. Aircraft is B-26G-1 43-34195 of the 25th BG 654th BS.
 
Nice but this is a thread about eBay findings.
 
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I believe this is B-26B-4 41-18089 "Passion Flower III". Profiles of it have been posted to this thread before, serial number was elusive.

However, checking Aviation Archeology's database 41-18089 is the only B-26 listed as assigned to the 325th FG 317th FS. It was involved in a taxi accident in Lesina, Italy, on October 25th, 1944, damage code 3. Pilot William M Hicks.
 
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Well i dont know.
 
Snautzer01 said:
Well i dont know.
Click to expand...
Fair point, noseart does look different. Could have been repainted, or could be one of the other Passion Flowers possibly implied by the name Passion Flower III.

Update: the plot thickens further: Passion Flower III and Ham Actor. The photo of Passion Flower III's noseart seems to match the 3/4 view photo but and not the profile and side photo, and seems to be a B-26B-4. I think I can see B-26B-4 and 41-18089 on the blurry data block on the noseart photo but that is very likely just my confirmation bias. The profile and side photo seem to also be a B-26B-4, markings slightly different on the nose and cowl and different noseart. Ham Actor seems to be an earlier production block (note lack of nose gear downlock fairing). Not knowing how many B-26B-4s the Group operated, I cannot confirm which one 41-18089 is, only that it is not Ham Actor. Passion Flower 2nd was a B-25 per the photos on that thread.
 
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