The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1943-10-02
Negro Crews Find
BIS Separates
Men From Boys"

WhitlSdtleI, not DIS HOllen steer.
that's the BIG Marauder, the two
engine devil of the air that soon
will be commanded by all-Negro
crews. Through the Furnishing tor
rents of rain squalls and the melt
ing heat of the Sahara, the Ma
rauder always comes home.
Developed early in 1899, this
Martin medium bomber was the
first military plane to be placed
in production without first going
through a two or three-year de-
sign product period.
First real test of their tamina
came months ago." says the Dodge
City Daily Globe in a recent issue
covering activities at the Dodge
ity Army Airfield when three
test pilots from Patterson Field
we're flying three of the planes to
Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, for ac-
tolerated service tests.
Running into rain squalls so
yevere that other ships were
grounded, the B-26 Marauders got
through without mishap although
two of the pilots had to make
forced landings under most adverse
conditions. The other goth through
with onlya few drops of gasoline
in the tanks.
These pilots disproved the the
cries held by some experts that the
Marauders were too speedy and
tricky to be handled safely. Some
Is of the planes were at Patterson
and from there sent to war maneu-
vers in the south where both Gen
eral Henry H. Arnold, Chief of the
Army Air Forces, and Assistant
Secretary of War for Air, Robert
A. Lovett, expressed satisfaction at
their performance"
Further insight into the perfor-
nance Of this great plane is Of
fered by Captain John c. Kofed of
the Third Bomber Command. Mac
Dill Field, Tampa, Florida, who
writes:
There may be differences OF
opinion among experts as to which
bombers are best suited for GER
tain types of missions. There is
no difference of opinion as to what
a good bomber must be capable OF
doing. 1t must hit its targets and
get back home, even though the air
be filled with flax and enemy fight
ers. Performance not promise;
proves not publicity, are the
payoff points of a great airplane.
Measured by this rule of thumb.
the BIG Marauder, which has been
the subject Of more argument than
any other ship of the skies, is a
great bomber. Gen. Arnold, who
always insisted the Marauder was
exactly that, is seeing his conten-
ton proved over and over again
in the smoke of battle.
1T is true that, because of its
| tremendous power and short wing
spread, this plane is hotter than
two-dollar pistol. The best pi-
lots in the world are at its con-
trolls, because it takes a fine pilot
to handle it as it should be handled
1t isn't plane for a man who
half knows his job. He's got to
know it from propellers to empen-
mage or he'll be as uncomfortable
as dude ranch guest on an I'M
tanned broncho. If he does know.
he finds the B-26 one of the fastest.
hardest-hitting bombers in all the
world
THE Jap knows this better than
anyone else. He can learn nothing
here that he has not already been
taught by the high explosives that
drop from the bomb-bay doors of
the Marauder.
HE has seen these tightening
fast, tWo-engine devils come roar
ing through the fog over Kiska.
No high level bombing for them.
They come in low to make sure
nothing will be missed.
'The Nipponese have seen their
destroyers smashed and burning
and what was left of the crews row.
ing desperately away in small boats.
They have seen shore installations
blasted to matchwood in raids
through the worst flying weather
imaginable.
The Marauders take off. too
from the runWays on Guadalcanal
to meet the threat of invading
transports, with guards of cruisers
ord Joc4yoxor1 90 g; aL4.. -.