The Martin B-10 was a medium bomber used by the US Army's Air Corps in the 1930s. Having a unique design, it was the first monoplane bomber built with an all-metal, semi-monocoque fuselage in aviation history. Thus, it replaced obsolete fabric-covered biplane bombers. It first saw combat action during the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 and 1938. The Chinese Nationalist Air Force used two B-10s to attack Japanese positions northwest of Shanghai, wreaking havoc. That was the first successful raid carried out by this American-made bomber. However, by the time, WW2 broke out, it had already become obsolete and slow, being withdrawn from US service in early 1942.
When the Martin B-10 was introduced into service with the US Army's Air Corps in 1934, they were far more advanced than any other aircraft at that time. Thus, along with the B-12, it would become the forerunners and the base for modern and efficient World War II models. Between July and August 1934, ten B-10s set a round trip record, flying from Washington DC to Alaska 13,341 km (8,720 miles). A total of 152 aircraft would be delivered to the US Army's Air Corps, while 190 bombers were exported to foreign countries.
Although it was phased out from American service early in the war, a handful of the aircraft would see combat action in the Pacific Theater of WW2 in service with the Dutch East Indies Air Corps. Dutch pilots showed how efficient and reliable this American bomber was, and in the Pacific it came in handy as runways were rough and short. The main variants of the aircraft were the B-10B, B-10M, and B-12A.
Technical Characteristics
The Martin B-10 was a three-seat, twin-engine monoplane. Its fuselage was of all-metal, semi-monocoque construction. Its airframe consisted of steel langerons and stringers. The aircraft had straight, cantilever, mid-wing. Both the leading and trailing edge tapered towards the tip of wing. It had hydraulically-actuated retractable landing gear.
The pilot sat in the cockpit, and the radio operator and gunner in the dorsal turret, which was set aft away from the cockpit. The tail assembly was of the conventional type, with a straight tail plane and a fin with a very large rudder. The B-10B version was powered by two Wright R-1820-33 Cyclone radial, piston engines, each one being able to deliver 775 horsepower.
Specifications (B-10B)
Type: three-seat, medium-bomber.
Length: 13.64 m (45 feet)
Wing Span: 21.49 m (70 feet)
Wing Area: 62.99 m2 (678 square feet)
Height: 4.70 m (15 feet)
Power Plant: two Wright R-1820-33 Cyclone radial engines.
Maximum Speed: 343 km/h (212 mph)
Range: 1,996 km (1,240 miles)
Service Ceiling: 7,375 m (24,200 feet)
Crew: 3 (pilot, radio operator, gunner)
Armament: three 7.62-mm machine guns mounted in nose and rear turret; 1,025-kg (2,255-lb) of bombs.
The Martin B-10 bomber in service. Historical footage (video)
Below, the B-10B in flight over California in 1937.
A ventral view of the bomber in flight.
The Martin B-10 in New Guinea in Dutch service.
