The 599th Bombardment Squadron flew 239 combat missions from April 1944. It was based at Peronne, France for most of 1945. The 397th Bombardment Group's tail marking was a yellow diagonal stripe - see colour photo 583483. Photo from: Vejle Stadsarkiv

B-26s of the 397th Bomb Group. The nearest aircraft, 43-34401 / 9F-K, is a B-26G of 597 BS. That aircraft crashed due to engine failure near the group's base, Péronne / Saint-Quentin (LFAG) in France on 14 February 1945, shortly after this photo was taken. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Seen landing on its first post-restoration flight this B-26 declared an In-Flight Emergency and landed at March AFB.

Credited with 45 bombing missions and three victories on german aircraft. Disarmed and seems waiting for decomissioning. From friend's family archives.

Fate of this aircraft is unknown. Photo appears to show it during Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France, or in the lead-up to that action. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

9/44: TOS USAAF; ferried to Casablanca. 10/44: TOS Free French Air Force; assigned to Bombardment Group 1/32, 34th Escadrille. 11/44 to 4/45: Flew 37 combat missions. 5/45 to 10/45: Used for training missions. 3/46: Storage at Mont de Marsan, France. 1951: Air France Airline Training School, Vilgenis, France as a training airframe. 1964: Air Force Museum traded a C-47 for it. 6/65: Flown in a C-124 from Chateauraoux Air Base to Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 10/70: Towed to new Museum at Wright Field. By 1982: Restoration had begun; marked as a B-26B of the 556th Bomb Squadron, ETO

9/44: TOS USAAF; ferried to Casablanca. 10/44: TOS Free French Air Force; assigned to Bombardment Group 1/32, 34th Escadrille. 11/44 to 4/45: Flew 37 combat missions. 5/45 to 10/45: Used for training missions. 3/46: Storage at Mont de Marsan, France. 1951: Air France Airline Training School, Vilgenis, France as a training airframe. 1964: Air Force Museum traded a C-47 for it. 6/65: Flown in a C-124 from Chateauraoux Air Base to Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. 10/70: Towed to new Museum at Wright Field. By 1982: Restoration had begun: marked as a B-26B of the 556th Bomb Squadron, ETO

41-31877 was on its 67th mission when this photo was taken. It went on to do 175 missions before it crashed on take-off at Beaumont, France on January 1, 1945. The date range is from December 1943, when the group did its 67th mission, and the application of invasion stripes ahead of D-Day in June 1944. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Over England ahead of a mission over Europe. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Repaired after this accident. Shot down by AAA near Kleve, Germany on October 7, 1944. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Shot down by anti-aircraft fire west of Valognes, France on June 10, 1944. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Later named Truman Committee. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Flak damage prevented the nose gear locking. When it collapsed the forward fuselage crumpled and the aircraft was written off. Believed to be at Great Dunmow, where the aircraft was based. To prevent the runway being blocked, the pilot was probably directed to land in the "rough". Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Preserved in Musée du Débarquement / Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. Fake serial, is actually ex USAAF 44-68219.

Photo taken by my father Algy Spurr in WW2. Martin Marauder Mk, II 'N' taxis on desert matting but not sure where this was taken. Fantastic to see the front gunner and pilot in this shot. Possibly from a South African Air Force unit?

Photo by Algy Spurr. Martin Marauder bombing the Ponte Metauro railway bridge near Fano, Italy. This is Marauder Mk II 'M' (inverted W) FB460, US serial 41-35498 (here over-painted). Operated by 12 Sqn, 3 SAAF Wing, Italy in spring 1944-late 1944. SOC 31 May 1945. It also flew many missions over the Balkans in 1944; Bosanski Novi 28.5, Mliništa 30.5, Prekaja 30.5, Banja Luka 31.5. Not to be confused with Marauder Mk.III HD602 also coded 'M', that flew over the Balkans (Dobova 20.3.1945).

Taken by my father Algy Spurr in WW2. 443rd Bomber Squadron USAF, 'The King of Diamonds' flown by Dave Lobeck.

Slide taken in the outdoor aircraft display area at the old museum on Patterson AFB. At this time the a/c still wore its correct serial number. It was acquired by the USAFM in 1965 from Air France, where it was used in their training school near Paris. This is a combat veteran, having seen action with the Free French Air Force during the last months of WW 2.

In fact this is B-26G 44-68219. It was delivered to the Armée de l'Air in 1945 and used until 1951. It than was used as a ground instruction aircraft with Air France up to 1965 and subsequently stored with the Armee de l'Air up to 1990 when restoration commenced. It was taken up in the Musée de l'Air collection until moved to its current location in Normandy in 2011.