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FROM time to time we've had the pleasure of quoting at some length what male pilots and other airmen who fly in B-26 Marauders think of the ship' but we've never been able to get an opinion from a woman.
Of course, it's nothing new that members of the WASPS have been flying Marauders for some time and we've had pictures of some of the girls who sit in the pilot's seat. But this is the first chance to get some "quotes," and what quotes they are!
She who is quoted is Miss Doris Marie Marland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Marland, of Denver, Colo. WASP Doris, squadron commander at Kingman Army Air Field, Kingman, Ariz., wrote about her experi . ences j . in the B-26 in a series of letters to her parents. Herewith are some excerpts from the letters. (May we point out modestly that the italics are Doris', not ours.-Ed.)
WASP Doris Marland
September 21. 1944
things tire wonderful. I'm crazy about the B-26 and I know now why it is considered a 'Pilot's' airplane. It's such it beautiful ship, it handles much easier on the controls and responds much quicker than the other mediums. And those landings Ilonestly, they're simply out of this world ! What (in airplanc!!"
September 29, 1944
"Today my instructor let me land the B-26 from the left seat for the first time! None of the other girls here with me have (]one it yet. and I have less time in tit(, 26 than ,lily of them. I don't know what to think of that instructor of mine ]citing me land that ,,hill already, because you see the left side has the, brakes and it lot of other stuff that Ole co-pilot's side doesn't have. Well, I felt very small in(] not quite equal to the job its I came into the, pattern with it ship that lands faster and hotter than any pursuit plane, or bomber And of course we had -.lit engineer and a tow operator with its, sweating it out no doubt. I had flown the whole mission on the left, but landing is something else again. But -is we flew around I (lid all the proper things, all(] got everything all fixed for landing. Suddenly, on the, base I realized that I was really sweating ! My hands were so wet I had to wipe them on my flying suit, and that just never happens to me. I wasn't worried, or seared, just sweating. But I made a nice landing and all I can say again iswhat an airplane!l I'd love to fly B-26s for the duration."
October 6, 1944
" I sure love that B-26! I Today we flew
-1 gunnery mission and my in4tructor took the ship off and flew the whole mission. I usually fly at least half tile mission, but I didn't say anything because I thought lie probably had some reason for it, so I .just listened to some music on the radio. But oil the way back from the firing area lie let me fly it. Well, that B-26 just seemed to he part of me-even on the right side. And I breezed around and entered the traffic pattern, doing everything myself. Cowl flaps, oil shutters. gear handle, booster pumps, etc. Mc. Usually When one person flys, the other acts it.,; co-pilot and does :111 the co pilot's duties. 11,111 this morning that B-26 was my baby, and I was really taking care of it. My instructor just sat there, Sort or amazed, and didn't say :1 word. I Honestly , I don't know what happened .111 of it sudden, bill I flew that airplane like I'd been flying it all illy life! 1 ! We cattle in oil final approach, (I wasn't sweating this time even though I was landing it front the right side) and I really painted that beautiful ship right smack oil the end of the runway. That landing was really smooth because I brought it in fast.
"Well, illy instructor just couldn't be
Do
rave. While we were still ill rolling
down the runway lie gave out with 'That was a perfect landing - I thought my last student was capable but, my Lord, you fly this airplane better than I do.' (Ile has 800 hours in It, I have 30). And taxiing back he said 'I don't know why they're putting you through this course, you fly the ship better than most of the Instructors! V
"When we got back to the Ready Room
lie 'st ill carried 1. 1, (,I I on and I 11( 1 told all the 173structors the same thing ;lit(] then said to we Well, tomorrow you call give me some dual.' I reminded him that a couple of days ago lie hall promised tile four hours of dual for tomorrow (we have dual on Mondays and Saturdays. the rest of the I time we fly missions) and he said 'are you kidding?' I said 'no, and he said 'You're I lie best B-20 pilot on this Field and you want me to give you some dual,-my heavens!" We]], you (-an imagine how happy I felt, with all tile other B-26 pilots standing around taking it all in.
"Well, that B-26 is my airplane now, and I have it very deep love and it lot of respect for it. There's just no airplane that compares with it, for my money! I'm going, to Ile re-assigned to either the 2nd or file 4th Airforce oil Oct. l5th, and I'm praying that it will Ile -it Field where they have B-26'!! Flying another medium bomber seems innocuous now in compnrison to my B-26, and while the big boys :it-(- graceful enough, to me they seem too much like a St. Bernard if you like Doberman Pinchers. There just
it single airplane I -have ever flown before that. compares with lily B-26! n
"I feel a bit sad when I think about The WASPS being disbanded oil December 20tli, because I know that every time I see it B-2f; in the sky I'm going to have a lump in my throat watching that beautiful ,hill from the ground instead of flying if_"
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