HC Battle Stations - B26 Marauder (2002)

“Battle Stations” is also known as “Heavy Metal” in the US History Channel –

At the start of the 21st century, the battlefield is dominated by hi-tech weaponry. 'Smart' munitions and Stealth aircraft have taken warfare to new heights of lethal sophistication. The weapons in use today, however, still have their roots in the 20th century which saw unprecedented change in the technology of warfare. Battle Stations is the exciting and dramatic story of those key weapons of war - their development, battlefield deployment and the way in which they changed warfare forever. It's also the story of the men who flew the planes, crewed the tanks, sailed the ships and fought their way to victory. Packed with truly exceptional archive combat film - much of it in colour - Battle Stations also features exclusive interviews with designers, military experts and combat veterans. Using dramatic reconstructions, CGI, archive and witness testimonies, each programme tells the story of a different machine; from the historical context leading to its inception, to its origins on the drawing board and early designs through to its merits on the battlefield and eventual predecessors.

Produced by Flashback Television for The History Channel

1. B-26 Marauder!

It was one of the most feared, controversial and successful aircraft of World War II. And it underwent a reversal of fortune unmatched by any other plane. When the B-26 Marauder was introduced in 1940, it was the most advanced mid-range bomber in the world. But it soon acquired a reputation for being difficult to fly, and it was labeled the “Widowmaker.” This film reveals how the B-26 narrowly escaped being pulled from service. Pilots like Jimmy Doolittle argued that its intricacies could be mastered and that the B-26 would prove to be an outstanding plane. They were right. It's pinpoint accuracy - seen here in archival film of the bombing of the Benedictine Abbey on Monte Casino - was unmatched, and its speed and remarkably low loss rate eventually made the Marauder a favorite of U.S. aviators. Interviews with the men who flew it, archival footage and dramatic reenactments bring to life the complete story of one of the most important WWII bombers.

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