B-26 MARTIN MARAUDER USAAF TYPE E-1 AMMETER

While the B-26 Martin Marauder went on to become one of the most successful and versatile medium bombers of WWII, it expereinced a difficult development which threatened to see its production abandoned a number of times.

The Martin Maurader was extremely fast and highly manoeuvrable but also extremely difficult to master, largely due to its many technical innovations and overly complex electrical systems. 

Many pilots were simply not prepared for its radical aeronautics and in the early years of its development and introduction, the B-26 carried the uncomfortable monicker of the ‘widow-maker’

While extending the wing sections and flaps greatly improved its handling and significantly reduced its landing speed, the aircraft had an abundance of electrical driven systems that at times, threatened to overwhelm the aircraft's operation.

One of the first combat aircraft with power operated turrets, bomb bay doors and the new Curtiss Electric propellers, the B-26 was originally equiped with a 12 V system but the electrical drain became too much and the aircraft was reconfigured for 24 V operation.

Even so, the new Curtiss-Electric propellers developed a dangerous habit of failing at take-off, when it was under the most stress. 

Eventually this was traced to a problem with the servicing of the new aircraft – the internal batteries were being used during maintenance on items like the power turret, draining them of power. 

When the aircraft was next used the flat battery would fail, causing the propellers to feather and the aircraft to crash. This problem was solved by providing the ground crew with portable batteries for services.

Each of the B-26’s two 2,000-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800-41 series engines drove a 200-amp generator with its own high capacity battery.

With each wired in parallel, they provided the primary power source for the aircraft. To supplement the primary system, the B-26 also carried a 24 V inverter which could supply alternating current from a petrol driven generator for the lighting, radio compass, and autopilot.

The DC power circuit also included 2 x voltage regulators and reverse-current relays, 2 x battery solenoids, 2 x Ammeters (one for each of the 2 x 200 amp engine driven alternators), and a volt meter, which were located in front of the aircraft’s engine throttles between the pilot and co-pilot.

This Recovery Curios, Original Instrument Display is one of the 2 x 300 ah Ammeters installed on the B-26 pilot’s electrical control panel and is in excellent condition for a flight instrument over 75 yrs old. The face dial glass is unmarked as too, the Ammeter’s rear casing and it would make a fantastic pilot gift or a one-of-a-kind gift for that special aviation enthusiast in your life.

This B-26 Martin Marauder Instrument comes complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.

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