October, 1992 - Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum

The Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum
October, 1992
Volume 1, Number4
s
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Mini-Mariner Restoration and Dedication
Congratulations go o t to the Baltimore Museum oflndustry and its director, Dennis Zembela, on
the successful completion of the Martin 162-A "Mini-Mariner." The 162-A was the three-eighths scale
flying "proof of concept" model for the PBM Mariner flying boat used in World War 11 Built in 1937,
the 162-A was flown for over one year and bad its bull and airframe modified several times in order to
refine the ultimate design of the XPBM-1, which flew in February, 1939. After its flight test program
was complete, the 162-A was hung in Martin's old paint shop in A-building and fortunately, was
acquired by the Smithsonian in 1953.
The aircraft suffered outdoor exposure for a while until permanent buildings were available at the
Smithsonian's Silver Hill site (The Paul E. Garber FaciJity). The National Air and Space Museum had
no long term plans to restore the 162-A until GLMAM member Roy Shine happened upon it during a
tour of Silver Hill in the late 70's. Roy's desire to see this aircraft properly restored spanned many year~
After a lot of tenacity on his part, NASM agreed to allow the aircraft to be restored here in Baltimore
at the Museum of Industry on Key Highway.
Work began in the Spring of 1987 and soon after the initial teardown started, it became evident that
the aircraft was in worse shape than originally thought. A planned two-year project quickly became
five. Of the many problems encountered, some included removing and restoring all the interior
laminated spruce fuselage stations, rebuilding and finding parts for the Martin-Chevrolet engine which
was heavily damaged by corrosion, and splicing a broken horizontal tail and separated wing tip.
Fortunately, Roy assembled a talented crew of dedicated volunteers and the results of their efforts
rival those of professional craftsmen and restorers. The 162-A was officially dedicated on August 27th
and can be viewed at the museum during normal hours.
OK guys, now that you're unemployed, the Martin Museum's Mars wind tunnel model is waiting for
you! Any takers?
17re photo above was taken in November of 1937,
south of newly constructed 8-Building. On tire riglrt,
volumeers are preparing to suspend tire beautifully restored 162-A, 55 years later.
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P6M SeaMaster and F9F Cougar Retrieval
IN THIS ISSUE:
Mini-Mariner Report.......................... page 1
Museum Update ............................... page 2
Archive Report.... .............................. page 3
Martin Memories The 167 Maryland .........................page 3
Museum Update
Museum Display Room Progress
After a number of delays, our Display Room is beginning
to take shape. The electrical installation including power,
general and emergency lighting, security, and smoke detection are complete. The ceiling grid and tiles are in place.
Carpet and moldings have been purchased and installed.
After receiving recommendations from a commercial designer, the board bas decided to upgrade the original design to
reflect these changes. Roger Mason has provided a rendering of this new design (depicted here) and bas also created
Thanks to the U.S. Navy, Dahlgren, VlrglnJa, and the U.S.
Army Reserves, Curtis Bay, Maryland, we now have the last
remains of a P6M SeaMaster and an almost intact F9F
Cougar jet fighter. During July, a tug boat and barge of the
494th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserves,
retrieved the aircraft from Virginia and delivered them to
the old Martin
seap lane
ramp, south of
A-building.
Dale Grimes,
a Museum
member, went
along for the
4-day trip and
made
a
videotape of
the delivery.
Once at the
seapla n e
ramp,
the
aircraft were
lifted from the barge and transported to the Federal Depot
(old Plant 2) where they will reside for now. It was quite a
sight as the F9F was towed down Eastern Boulevard to the
Depot. The video can be purchased from the Museum for
$10.
RB-57 A Project Update
dimensional drawings for our cabinet maker, Calvin Clark.
Calvin has rapidly and expertly turned these drawings into
fmished cabinets and display cases. As of this edition, we
expect the displays construction to be complete by the end
of September. At that time, the Displays Committee will
survey all donated material and make final decisions on what
will be displayed. As always volunteers will be needed to
complete this project.
As a result of a decision to redesign the Display Room, it
appears now that there will be a shortfall of capital to
complete construction by the planned year end opening.
We are looking into soliciting for corporate sponsors but
until that is secured we have to rely on memberships and
retail sales. We urge everyone to renew their membership
promptly and consider increasing the level of membership,
if possible. Keep in mind that f1rst impressions are important; how we are received by the public and potential sponsors can depend heavily on how weU our Museum appears.
Thanks again to everyone involved with the room project
and special thanks to Bob Smith of Bob's Overhead Doors
and Moran & Sons for donating the metal door and frame
for the Archive Storage room.
During May, both RB-57A aircraft were delivered to
Martin State Airport via Pennsylvania National Guard
Chinook helicopter airlift with assistance from the Maryland
Air National Guard. It was an exciting milestone for the
Museum and was covered by the news media (2 newspapers
and Qaamae/13 TV). A video of the event can be purchased
[rom the Museum for $10 each.
Since arrival, the project has been movin.g at an accelerated pace. Our goal is to partially restore one of the
B-57's in time [or public display at the airshow this fall To
date, the following has been accomplished:
- New tires have been mounted.
-All engines a11d cowlila~ IIave been attached.
-A new ca11opy is being i11stal/ed 011 one B-57.
- Interior restoration laos started.
After the airsbow, our intention will be to begin a long
term restoration of both B-57's. Interested? If so, join the
Museum's restoration team.
4-0-4 Update
We expect the 4-0-4 to Oy into Martin State Airport at
anytime. Part of the problem is clear weather from Texas to
Baltimore, so that the trip can be made in one day. Even
though the aircraft has instruments for IFR, because this is
a ferry night, it must be VFR aU the way. Once here, the
airplane will be parked alongside the RB-57A aircraft already at Strawberry Point. More on this project after the
plane arrives.
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Museum Logo
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has
finally issued to the Museum "MartiII U.S.A., • the original
trademark of The Glenn L. Martin Company. The mark was
in use by the Company as early as 1914, until it was abandoned by Martin Marietta in the 1960's. We think that Mr.
Martin would be very pleased that we have chosen his historic, widely recognized, trademark to represent the
Museum.
Just a reminder to please turn In your
money for Museum Uniforms. See
Bryan Wllllman at the next meeting.
Archive Report
Engineering Drawings Committee
acknowledge several of the donations we've received since
the first of the year.
Jack WoUTbas donated a large quantity of aviation books,
tapes, and a working VCR. This collection will serve as the
basis for a General Research Library in the future. The
VCR and tapes will serve us well as the Display Room layout
provides for a viewing area and a monitor for visitors to
watch. Thanks Jack.
Through the efforts of Art Long we have received a large
quantity of material oo the 2-0-2 program from Don
Covington. Don was senior flight test engineer on the 2-0-2
and fortunately for us) he kept the records be made during
the flight certification program. Included are his personal
scrap books, flight test engineering reports, company
brochures, and even a copy of the 2-0-2 'Type' or Airworthiness Certificate issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board. We
consider this material to be a major addition to our collection
and are very indebted to Don for his generosity.
Fuzz Furman has given us a large number of Martin
lilhos, some framed, and we'll certainly make use of them in
the Display Room.
Charlie Cignatta, former Martin photographer, bas
donated several hundred ll"x14" B&W photos that he took
beginning in World War U. Charlie won numerous awards
for his photos over the years and we look forward to displaying some of them in the future.
Mrs. Eunice PelT)' has loaned us several display models
and a number of service pins and tie tacks. We plan to use
these and other jewelry items in a display of Martin company
awards and product give a ways.
From the cbl ldren of William Wallace Symington, J r.
we've received engineering test reports and drawings from
the early 1930's, a Martin Golf Trophy, and assorted jewelry
including a very rare Purple Martin pin.
Again, thanks to all who have made contributions to our
archive. We will endeavor to display as many items as we
can, and will continue to recognize donations as they are
received.
Our Retrieval Committee is moving along smoothly in
recovering a large number of valuable engineering drawings
from Martin Marietta's storage vault. Initially, we were
faced with an early June deadline to complete our recovery
but fortunately, with a great turnout from our members, we
were quickly able to clear enough room to meet Marlin
Marietta's expansion need. We've used this extra time to be
more selective in what we keep as there are literally tens of
thousands of drawings to go through. Our first look at what
still survives proved to be correct and we are primarily
looking at 2-0-2, 4-0-4, B-57 (all types), Mace, Matador,
Vanguard, and Titan/Gemini. Several records we've located
indicate that the XB-48 and XB-51 drawings are gone. Except for the JRM, we still don't know the final disposition of
the Navy project drawings.
Aside from the projects already mentioned, we've located
a few drawings that show modification or test equipment
locations on aircraft such as the B-26, 167, 187, PBM, P4M
Martin Memories
and JRM's. Also uncovered were several early design configurations for the 2-0-2 dating from 1943. Some show unusual layout features such as 3 engines and oversized
fuselages. Other good fmds include a 1939 drawing showing The 167 Maryland
a twin boomed, streamlined nacelle B-26 proposal and the
by Jack Breiban
original marking and paint scheme on the prototype 2-0-2.
Current plans are to complete recovery by the end of
Moviegoers are now celebrating the 50th anniversary of
September with the bulk of the drawings to go into extended the classic Humphrey Bogart ftlm "Casablanca•, set in
storage in the GSA warehouse at Plant 2. We've retained French Morocco in 1941. The previous year, that town was
several hundred drawings which we feel are most repre- also the setting for the assembly of the Martin 167 bombers
sentative of this lost art form and have already stored them sold to the French. Although later planes would be fitted
in our Archive Room.
with belly tanks for delivery to Europe by air, the 16Ts were
We would again like to gratefully acknowledge Marlin crated up at the plant during 1939 and 1940 and shipped
Marietta's generosity in allowing us to recover these valuable across the Atlantic. The first 167-F left Middle River for the
documents. Special thanks to Larry Thompson and Sandy New York docks just before war was declared in September
Witt for their continued support. And fmally, to the many 1939. Because of its sunny climate, Casablanca was chosen
volunteers who have hung on during the hot summer, Kudos as the assembly and training base for French bomber
for a job well done.
squadrons using the plane called the "Glenn• by French
pilots. Four squadrons of "Glenns" were sent to France to
help in the losing batlle against the Germans in May, 1940.
Donation Report
Donations over the summer months have been slow as Their casualty rate was low, less than 5%, but their 400
would be expected, so at this time we'd like to step back and sorties were unable to stop lhe Germans. The surviving
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planes flew back to North Africa after France surrendered,
joining several more squadrons of "Glenns" that operated
there under the control of the Vichy government.
For many
y e a r s
American
bombers
were poised
to attack the
Soviet
Union, but
the first to be
assigned to
that
task
were Martin
167-F's of
the French Air Force.
the
pact was
signed in August, 1939, the Soviets were considered a German ally, the source of grain and especially oil for Hider's
war machine. The French hoped to use their new fast Martin
bombers to cut off this supply. Early in 1940, they built up a
force of "Glenns," as they called the 167, in their colonies of
Syria and Lebanon. The targets were to be the Russian
oilfields around Baku, in Azerbiijan on the Caspian Sea, and
the pipeline terminal ofBatum, in Georgia on the Black Sea.
The long runs to these targets would have meant only light
bomb loads for the 167's, but American technicians working
in the oilfields reported that the Russians suddenly became
concerned during the spring of 1940 about firefighting after
a bombing attack. The faH of France in May-June 1940 and
the entry of Russia into the war on the other side in the
summer of 1941 of course meant that these plans were
buried.
The British called the Martin Model167 the "Maryland".
Although it was originally designed as a low-altitude attack
bomber for the U.S. Army Air Corps, the British often used
it for high-altitude bombing and reconnaissance, flying from
20,000 to 30,000 feet up. This proved highly uncomfortable,
as the Maryland's cabin lacked a beater, and its oxygen
system was primitive. Lacking oxygen masks, crews
breathed through wooden "cigarettes," which often froze up.
Each mao had two; one in his mouth and another in his
armpit warming up. Some crews report that the single
oxygen bottle would be reserved for the pilot, with the
bombardier and gunner gradually passing out as the plane
reached high altitude - but wishing at least to make sure the
pilot stayed awake!
The NEWS BREAK Newsletter
October, 1992
Volume 1, Number 4
Contributing writers: Bryan Williman
Stan Piet
G. DiGennero, Sr.
Jack Breiban
Editing and layout:
RogerS. Mason
Published quarterly by:
T11e Gle1111 L. Marti11Aviatio11 Museum
P.O. Box 5024 Middle River, MD 21220
The Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum's NEWS BREAK Newsletter, October, 1992
The Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum
P.O. Box 5024
Middle River, Maryland 21220
PLACE
STAMP
HERE
Address Correction Requested
Meet i ngs ar e held on t he fi r st Monday of ever y month, at Mart i n St at e
Airport, Basement Hgr . #4 , at 7: 30p.m .
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