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Description
| Manufacturer: | Martin | |
| Base model: | PB2M | |
| Designation: | XPB2M | |
| Version: | -1R | |
| Nickname: | Mars | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Navy / Marines | |
| Designation Period: | 1935-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Patrol Bomber | |
| Modified Mission: | Transport | |
| Status: | Experimental | |
Specifications
| Not Yet Available |
Known serial numbers
Recent comments by our visitors
| Allan Beverage CDR USNR Retired Cincinnati, OH | I was a young Ltjg assigned to VR2 Alameda for transport to HNL and thence VR11 on 26 March 1945. According to my log book we were transported to HNL on the XPB2M-1R Bu No 1520 with a
time enroute of 14.1 hr. That flight must have been near the last one as I understand operation of the XPB2M -1R was stopped in March 45 after 78 flights to and from Alameda and Honolulu. My log book indicates our flight was # 7326 which I suspect corresponds to flight 73 on 26 March. One of the memorable events enroute was the meals served in a small galley that seated about 10 people requiring almost continuous rotation. One of the meals I'll never forget was a nice tender steak. 11/05/2008 @ 20:11 [ref: 22985] |
| Jean Aker , MD | Photo submitted by Mr. Jerstad is not a Mars.
It appears to be a Consolidated P5Y Tradewind. The location of the cockpit and the relative size of the aircraft does not conform to the Mars. 03/30/2008 @ 07:54 [ref: 20295] |
| Martyn Thomas , ON | I have come across a picture of what I believe is a Martin Mars at anchor in Goose Bay, Labrador sometime between 1943 and 1945. My uncle was a radar operator stationed there with the RCAF during that time. The plane has the distinctive twin tail assembly. Why would the Mars have been there at that time? Was it in transit to England? Was it a prototype on tests from Patuxent Md.? Just have always had an interest in flying boats. 11/19/2007 @ 11:24 [ref: 18591] |
| Lon Reed Vallejo, CA | My family flew as Navy dependents from Alameda NAS to Honolulu in 1955 on a Martin Mars. It was a very unique adventure for a 7 year old boy who loved airplanes. We were taken to a building (warehouse) and given instructions on how to use a life raft before we boarded. The Mars sat in the water in a cradle and looked hudge. It was a two deck craft with a circular stair case to the second deck where I sat next to the flight Nurse and was given a box lunch to eat. I have never forgotten the roar of the engines as we took off from San Francisco bay and feel very fortunate to have had such a great experience. 10/20/2007 @ 19:59 [ref: 18259] |
| Lon Reed Vallejo, CA | My family flew as Navy dependents from Alameda NAS to Honolulu in 1955 on a Martin Mars. It was a very unique adventure for a 7 year old boy who loved airplanes. We were taken to a building (warehouse) and given instructions on how to use a life raft before we boarded. The Mars sat in the water in a cradle and looked hudge. It was a two deck craft with a circular stair case to the second deck where I sat next to the flight Nurse and was given a box lunch to eat. I have never forgotten the roar of the engines as we took off from San Francisco bay and feel very fortunate to have had such a great experience. 10/20/2007 @ 19:59 [ref: 18258] |
| Joseph Taylor , FL | I was a company inspector during the manufacturing and early flight tests of the old MARS, including the Navy trial board testing. I have read the note from William H. Perry-Virginia about his father who was the chief navy inspector. I was a great admirer of Bill Perry and held him in the highest esteem. I would sincerely like to communicate with Mr. Perry.
Is it possible to get his E Mail address? I would greatly appreciate any information that you can provide. 10/17/2007 @ 16:23 [ref: 18221] |
| Marvin Stott Lake Saint Louis, MO | An excellant source for information on the Martin Mars is a Navel Fighters Number Twenty-Nine book by Martin Ginter titled MARTIN MARS XPB2M-1R & JRM FLYING BOATS. It has many pictures and extensive aircraft history including their conversion to Water Bombers. 04/14/2007 @ 14:09 [ref: 16187] |
| Dianne Tulsa, OK | My father was part of the flight crew of the Philippine and Hawaii Mars. Unfortunately, I have no information except for pictures. I am looking for any reference of my father's role in flying these planes. Is anyone willing to provide log information that may show crew members? Specifically, 1945 - 1947 era. Thanks. 02/16/2007 @ 12:11 [ref: 15545] |
| Maester Port Alberni (home of the Martin Ma, BC | I have noticed that three of your 4 photos of the XPB2M-1R are in actuality photos of the JRM-3's, most notably the Philipine and the second Hawaii(side drop system). I believe that these should be properly labeled as to end any possible confusion with the identity of the flying tankers. The XPB2M-1R and the JRM-3's are competely different in colouring and form, and therefore these photographs should not be located in the XPB2M-1R section. Thank you. 05/10/2006 @ 09:18 [ref: 13241] |
| Denise Smith Parker, CO | An update and correction; my dad's flight log shows him to have been on flights of the Mars (XPB2M-1R; 1520) from September '44 through March 12, 1945 (42 flights) which coincides nicely with the timeframe that the 'Old Lady' the original Mars, flew between Alameda and Pearl; my mother didn't remember the name but did remember Dad saying that the Mars he flew on was the first produced.
Since the Martin museum site: http://www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/history/martin_aircraft/ 14_mars.html matches the Customer Model/Type and Serial Number found in Dad's flight log, I'm certain that this was the airplane. 12/04/2005 @ 16:56 [ref: 11877] |
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