Martin B-26B Marauder – Dinah Might, 553rd BS, 386th BG, USAAF, David Dewhurst, D-Day, June 6th 1944

Corgi Aviation 1/72 scale AA29501: Martin B-26B Marauder #41-31576 Dinah Might of 553rd BS, 386th BG, USAAF, David Dewhurst, Normandy, France, D-Day, June 6th 1944. Limited Edition of

Length 9.25 inches Wingspan 11,75 inches

Martin B-26B-15-MA Marauder 41-31576/AN-Z “Dinah Might”, was given the important task of leading an anti-beach fortification raid against Widerstandsnest 5 (which means “nest of resistance”, or “strongpoint”) overlooking Utah beach. The raid happened only a couple of minutes before the landing craft released their troops on their assigned beaches on D-Day itself, one of the final missions to take place before the landings.

Flown by Major David Dewhurst, the experienced Commander of the 553rd Bomb Squadron, US 8th Air Force, this was one final opportunity to neutralise German defensive fortifications, therefore giving Allied troops a better chance of making it off their assigned landing beach in the terrifying hours to come.

Dewhurst’s aircraft, which was named “Dinah Might” after a Bing Crosby tune of the day, released its bombs at exactly 06.24.30 on D-Day, with navigation and timing critical to the success of the mission and the safety of the men waiting to make their historic seaborne assault.

The details behind this final bombing raid of D-Day clearly illustrate why the Utah Beach D-Day Museum elected to finish their preserved Marauder in this historic scheme and why it forms such a poignant centrepiece for their impressive museum.

“Dinah Might’s” target on that fateful morning in June 1944 was only metres from where this magnificent preserved aircraft is displayed today, even though it’s actually only a representation of that famous wartime aircraft.

Designed to meet a US Army Air Corps specification for a twin-engined medium bomber, the B-26 Marauder was first flown on November 25, 1940. Early in its service career, the B-26 was nicknamed “Widowmaker” because of its high accident statistics, especially during takeoffs and landings, when pilots were required to maintain a much higher than average speed to avoid stalling. Later model B-26Bs underwent a series of aerodynamics modifications, making the aircraft safer to fly. Used in the Pacific, Western European and Mediterranean Theatres, the B-26 eventually became the primary bomber on the Western Front, ending the war with fewer losses than any other USAAF bomber.