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AN EARLY-MODEL PBM TAKING OFF.
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Overshadowed by the ubiquitous Consolidated PBY Catalina, the Martin PBM Mariner was, in many ways, a much more capable aircraft. Serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, the PBM performed a wide variety of missions. Although it entered service at the start of the war, it wasn’t until near the end that it was available in sufficient numbers to take over most of the Catalina’s duties.
In 1937, the Glenn L. Martin Company began the design of a two-engine patrol bomber for the U.S. Navy. In order to test the design without the expense of a full-size prototype, Martin built a 3/8-scale powered, man-carrying demonstration model know as the “Tadpole Clipper” (also in the National Air and Space Museum collection). Based on the successful results of these tests, a full-size aircraft was built.
The Martin patrol bomber featured a deep hull that kept the cockpit well above the sea spray. Gull-shaped wings fixed to the upper fuselage also elevated the engines above the harmful salt water. The Mariner’s large hull made for an efficient workspace and crew members were positioned on a spacious flight deck high up inside the aircraft for better communication. Designed for long patrol flights, the pilot and copilot were provided with large, comfortable seats. The spacious hull provided room for more interior amenities—a galley, mess deck, and bunks for long patrol flights. A distinctive feature of the production models was the upward-canted horizontal stabilizer and large, inward-leaning vertical tails.
Accepted by the Navy in 1940, the Martin PBM Mariner was upgraded throughout the war with improved engines and armament. Several specialized versions also existed. Of some 1,300 built, this PBM–5A—an amphibious version of the aircraft including retractable landing gear for operating on land—is the only remaining example. This model entered service in late 1945 and operated during the Korean War before being retired from the U.S. Navy in 1956.
The instrument panel includes basic flight instruments on both left and right for the pilot and copilot. A navigation radar scope, which was not installed on earlier models, is visible in the center. Throttle and propeller controls are mounted between the pilots on the roof of the cockpit, simplifying linkage to the engines in the wing above. A duplicate set was mounted above the flight engineer’s station. This aircraft was modified into a transport and the bomb release switches usually mounted on the spokes of the control wheel are not present.
NAVIGATOR’S POSITION.
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FLIGHT ENGINEER’S POSITION.
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