The Fighting Flying Boat: A History of the Martin PBM Mariner

by Richard Alden Hoffman

Detailing a proud chapter in naval aviation history, former PBM pilot Richard Hoffman has written the first comprehensive history of Mariner operations. This versatile seaplane was first deployed in 1941 during the Battle of the Atlantic, when it helped sink ten German U-boats. The following year it became a mainstay of the Naval Air Transport Service as the first aircraft to provide a vital link between Hawaii and the South Pacific. In combat, Mariners participated in every major offensive campaign from the Marianas to Iwo Jima and Okinawa, sinking enemy submarines, ships, and aircraft. They also served as the main rescue aircraft, saving hundreds of airmen and seamen in spectacular open-sea rescue operations. At war's end, they were the first aircraft into Tokyo Bay. Yet the Mariner has long been overshadowed by its famous counterpart, the PBY Catalina. This book corrects the oversight by recognizing the Mariner not only for its contributions to World War II but also the postwar years, when it was involved with the exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic and the Korean War. Hoffman offers dramatic details of PBM fights with Chinese MIGs and patrol and reconnaissance missions. The author also highlights the seaplane's hazardous rescue missions with the Coast Guard and its service with foreign armed forces. Striking photos of Mariners in action accompany the narrative, and a list of all PBM casualties is appended. 240 pages. 40 photographs. Hardcover. 7 x 10 inches.

250 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jc · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father was a US Navy pilot who flew both Consolidated PBY Catalinas and Martin PBM Mariners (PBM-3Rs) in the Panama, Galapagos, Ecuador (mainland) triangle during WWII. He swore by seaplanes the rest of his life, as the future of airflight. Fighting Flying Boat is the history of the PBM – a sadly forgotten plane which was so crucial to both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters in the 1940s. While I don’t recommend this for the general reader, for those interested not just in the history of the PBMs, but in float planes and flying boats in general, as well as the history of the US Navy’s role in WWII (and beyond), this is a don’t miss work. Very detailed in discussions of the design and general history of the plane, as well as including interesting anecdotes about particular crews and missions. [see also: Bob Smith’s PBM Mariner in Action]