Martin XPB2M Mars The Old Lady

The XPB2M-1 prototype long-range patrol was ordered on 23 August 1938 and first flown on 3 July 1942. When the need for the patrol bomber was no longer required, it was converted to the transport variant and designated XPB2M-1R in December 1943. Initially assigned initially to VR-8 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland for crew training, it was later transferred to VR-2 at NAS Alameda, California and scrapped in 1945. It was dubbed “The Old Lady” by its crews.