So "Join the British Union and work for PEACE". BUF manifesto, late 1939 - first 1940.
DVX

"Russia changed side leaving Britain in the mud"



Martin Mariner PBM-5 , the forgotten Crew Killer.
 The career of the Martin Mariner PBM fell between that of the PBY-5A Catalina and the HU-16 Albatross, as it entered service in late 1940. While both the Catalina and Albatross became flying legends of name and fame, the Mariner failed. 
 Allegedly due to the accident prone design of an under powered aircraft. too large for even 2x R-2800 engines with 4 blade props in PBM-5 versions. As with the Catalina design, wheels were added later for an amphibian version, but the added weight and further aft CoG made this version extremely vulnerable during water landings. 
 The type was used by the US Coast Guard, US Navy, RAF & RAAF, Argentina and Uruguay and the Dutch Naval Aviation Services (MLD). They had to defend New Guinea against Guerilla intruders, sent by the Indonesian Army after their territorial claims for West Papua. For coastal patrols, MLD bought 17 'pre-owned' Mariners from the US Navy.The reputation of Crew killer was at that moment a far cry, but between 1955 and 1960, MLD lost 6 of its Mariners, most of them with fatalities.
 The aircraft was grounded after the final accident and the Dutch finally lost West Papua to Indonesia some years later. 


Martin Mariner PBM-5 

"We fight for the poor and hungry while Labour looks after the rich". BUF manifesto. DVX