Microsoft FS2002/FS2004 Aircraft, Panel & Scenery -- Martin B-26 Marauder ("Hitch Hiker")

INSTALLATION
To install this archive, unzip to a location of your choice and run the b26.exe installation file included. Follow instructions to install to the correct location.

To activate the included Matching Green scenery, start FS2002 or FS2004 & click SETTINGS\Scenery Library. Click the Add Area button. Browse to the ADD-ON SCENERY folder & select the Matching Green folder of the scenery you just installed. Click OK. The Matching Green scenery should now be installed & activated. To select the scenery click World\Go to Airport on your FS2 menu bar, at the bottom right of the selection screen choose the button for Search Add-on scenery and you should see Matching Green. Highlight it (if it is the only add-on scenery it will be automatically highlighted) and click OK.

To better assure compatibility with the sound capabilities of the panel please make sure you use the latest version of Microsoft's DirectX End-User Runtime software (version 9.0b or higher). Download it at www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.aspx You should also use the latest version of Microsoft's Windows Media Player (Series 9 or higher). It can be downloaded at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp

Note: If you enjoy this model, please consider voting for it on the monthly developers contest at http://www.flightsim.com.

SCENERY TROUBLESHOOTING
If there's a conflict or some other problem imported scenery can easily be deactivated or deleted from the Scenery Library. To deactivate an area, uncheck the box next to it on the list. To permanently remove an area, select it from the list & click Delete area. (You should do this before moving or deleting the folder from your scenery directory.)

NOTES
Every effort was made to ensure that the plane, panel and scenery are authentically detailed. Some "dummy" gauges are used in the panel but most are functional and operate much as the originals. Mouseable "tooltips" indicate the function and output of most gauges. Some liberties were taken with the functioning of the control pedestal switches and the addition of such things as AM and multifunction NAV radios, GPS, etc to hopefully add to the fun and ambiance of this package. As configured, the aircraft takes on over 6,000 pounds of fuel, most of which you will probably want to offload before flying to enhance performance on shorter flights (by clicking Aircraft\Fuel or Aircraft\Fuel & Payload on your FS menu bar). Fuel gauge positions 1- 4 are for the left and right main tanks and the left and right auxiliary tanks respectively. Positions 5 & 6 each read half of the center tank content, simulating two bomb bay area tanks on the actual aircraft. The pilot's overhead emergency hatches can be opened and closed by clicking on the green bomb release light to the left of the Norden optical gun sight. Clicking on the upper red prop check light to the left of the fuel gauge opens and closes main bomb bay doors. Clicking on the lower prop check light opens and closes the aft bomb bay doors.

AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS (B-26B-10-MA)

- Span: 71 ft. 0 in.
- Length: 58 ft. 3 in.
- Height: 21 ft. 6 in.
- Weight: 38,200 lbs. (max.)
- Armament: Twelve .50-cal. machine guns plus 5,200 lbs. of bombs (max. overload) or one externally mounted torpedo
- Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 "Double Wasp" radials of 2,000 hp. each (take-off power)
- Crew: 5-7

PERFORMANCE

- Maximum speed: 282 mph at 15,000'
- Cruising speed: 214 mph.
- Range: 1,150 miles w/ 3,000 lbs. bomb load; 2,850 miles (max.)
- Service Ceiling: 21,700 ft.

CREDITS

Aircraft by David Eckert.

Flight Dynamics, Sound and Panel by R.L. Clark.

Matching Green Scenery by Paul Roberts.

Credit and thanks go to Bill Lyons (http://windrfters.com) for contributions to the flight dynamics for FS2004.

Credit and thanks go to JR (Jan Rosenberg) for the special aircraft effects for FS2004 (resdes@earthlink.net)

Credit goes to Louis Sinclair for FS Design Studio.

Credit also goes to Brian Kostick who developed the bitmaps and the concepts for the multifunction radio used in this package.

Thanks go to Dave Garnham, 391st Bomb Group historian, Matching Green, England for providing historical documents and details concerning Matching Green Airbase.

Thank you Joe Boylan, family friend, and 391st BG B-26 pilot, for moral support, contributing historical detail, and sharing some great stories.

Many thanks to Russell Lemmon, nephew of Hitch Hiker bombardier Robert F. Lemmon. Jr., for his encouragement and work in uncovering historical background of interest for this project.

Thanks to Roger Gaylor and B-26 sim beta test pilot Larry Sheely for their general encouragement and review of the project files.

Thanks go to Dr. Stan Akers at the University of Akron B-26 Archive, whose assistance was essential in locating original factory materials and documents that made possible the level of detail used for the panel in this project (http://www.uakron.edu/archives/index.html). A further resource used was the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, where an actual aircraft is on display (http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/).

We also want to thank people like 391st Bomb Group historians Bob Mynn and Hugh Walker (http://www.uakron.edu/archives/walker/HomePage.html), author John O. Moench ("Marauder Men" author, http://www.sound.net/~bgriner/epilogue.htm#CREDIT), web page sponsors Bill Griner (http://www.sound.net/~bgriner/), Grady Kerr (http://www.harmonize.com/swdroundup/B26.htm), Mike Smithand (http://www.b26.com/) and others who have worked hard "keeping the memories alive" which has meant so much to many.

Special thanks to Christian Levaufre, La Membrolle sur Choisille, France for commissioning the painting, "Tableau B-26 Hitch Hiker et Ginnie Gee", and his tireless efforts on behalf of B-26 crew members and their families in tracking down records and wreck sites, and in gaining further recognition for the 391st BG's actions over Normandy in WWII.

LEST WE FORGET
The Martin B-26 Marauder is said to have been one of the most controversial combat aircraft of the Second World War. Called the "Widow Maker" because of a high accident rate that followed its introduction, by 1944 it had the lowest loss rate on operational missions of any American aircraft in the European theatre, reaching a point less than one half of one percent. The B-26 was numerically the most important USAAF medium bomber in Europe, where the aircraft was mainly used.

The depicted aircraft, the "Hitch Hiker," was assigned to the 9th Air Force's 391st Bomb Group, 573rd Bomb Squadron for medium bomber missions flown out of Matching Green AB, England, beginning in February, 1944.

An accompanying photo shows the ground crew. With reference to the crew chief, T./Sgt. E.W. Quillian (center), an inscription on the back of the photo reads, "one of the best."

Another included photo shows the air crew: from left to right, front row, S./Sgt. John R. Culshaw (flight engineer, top-turret gunner), T./Sgt. William S. Rollings (radio operator, waist gunner) and S./Sgt. John W. Sweren (tail gunner), and in the back row, 1st Lt. Robert F. Lemmon, Jr. (bombardier), 1st Lt. Robert H. Clark (pilot) and 1st Lt. George Lee Parker (co-pilot).

On July 28, 1944 at 12,500 feet on a bombing run near Grosley sur Risle, Normandy, the "Hitch Hiker" was taken apart at the waist by a German 88mm gun. Three survived, parachuting to ground. Culshaw, Lemmon and Rawlings, with over 170 bombing missions flown between them, heroes all, were killed in action.

This flight simulation panel and plane are dedicated to them and to all of the other "Marauder Men" of WW II.

Vintage photos of the Hitch Hiker, more information on the B-26, war stories and links can be seen at http://www.daviator.com/b26.

LICENSE, LIABILITY DISCLAIMER and COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Copyright ©2004 David Eckert, R.L. Clark and Paul Roberts. The accompanying files should not harm your computer in any way but, if you believe they have, we accept no liability and you agree we shall have none. The files are released as "freeware" and are not to be used or re-distributed in exchange for any payment, fee or other value. Please ask permission before using or re-distributing any part of this archive separately from its other parts.

Please let us know if you do post this archive to your website. (We're just curious where the archive ends up.) You may email us at webmaster@daviator.com.

Visit http://www.daviator.com for possible updates to this model.

Questions and comments are welcome.

David Eckert | R.L. Clark | Paul Roberts
webmaster@daviator.com | rlclark@ix.netcom.com | paulroberts2@onetel.net.uk