Martin PBM Mariner (Naval Fighters, 97) Paperback – October 8, 2013

The present volume is the 97th in the long running Naval Fighters series by publisher (and this instance, author) Steve Ginter. It is fully consistent with previous books in the series being an 8-1/2" x 11", square bound, 256 page, card cover with color restricted to the front and rear covers.The subject this time is the Martin PBM Mariner flying boat. This is one of those aircraft that everyone has heard of but comparatively little has been written about. In short, the perfect subject of a Naval Fighters book.Ginter does full justice to the aircraft. His background, design and development history is quite good and does full justice to the differences between the various models which were quite extensive between the -1 and latter versions. The text is superbly supported as always with detailed black and white photos and contemporary drawings reprinted from the technical literature. This occupies the first hundred or so pages.After some pages describing the PBM in foreign service Ginter plunges into a unit by unit service history of the aircraft in US Navy service. Sometimes this can be repetitive and somewhat dull for me but this time was different. Knowing little about flying boat operations I found descriptions of the vastly different wars the type fought in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters quite fascinating.The book concludes with a roundup of the various plastic kits devoted to the PBM.Complaints are restricted to those that can be leveled at Ginter books in general. There are the usual spelling, grammatical, and editing glitches. There are acronyms and abbreviations used as if the reader is intimately familiar with them. PPC is used throughout the book and finally on page 244 the author spells it out as Patrol Plane Commander. There is the lack of color, etc.But I'm nitpicking. This is a great book and is highly recommended. These books seem to be getting thicker as the series goes along. I like that trend.

This book is a must have for anyone who is interested in flying boats.Martin built many great aircraft both land based and the flying boats.This book is filled with photo's and plenty on information on the development of the PBM Mariner for the USN the squadrons that flew them along with the different country's that used them over coarse of the years and the ultimate fate of this plane.Sadly only one known intact example survives today in Pima Arizona at the air museum there.If you plan to build a model this is a great reference book.The photographs are clear and will help in the building and detailing any of the model kits that have been made or are now in production such as the Minicraft 1/72 scale model kit.Just a note that all pictures in the book are B&W the only color ones are on the front and rear cover.Thanks to Steve Ginter for putting this book together.If you live in Maryland this state has a rich history in many ways including civil and military Aviation and this book highlights a part of it.A salute to all the people at Glenn L Martin who built these planes and much more for both peace and wartime.If you visit Maryland please check out the Glenn L Martin Air Museum at the airport.See the museums web site for hours of operation and visitation times.

My dad was an air crewman on these during WWII. He was so very proud of his service. I got interested in this aircraft and its use during WWII and Korea because of him. The book is an incredible reference for all the variants of the Martin Mariner. There are many pictures of the aircraft and descriptions of its service to not only the United States but to other Nations that also used it. The final pages even give examples of the past and present model aircraft available.I would recommend the book to anyone interested in: WWII Naval patrol and supply aircraft; WWII aircraft used in the Pacific Theater; WWII patrol aircraft used in the Atlantic; and WWII-era aircraft in general.This book is HIGHLY recommended as an excellent reference for this aircraft and information around the design, different modifications, different uses and end-of-life of the PBM.

The start and ending of everything you need or may want to know about the Martin PBM Mariner. A must for the historian to the serious Model Builder. Detail photos and diagrams. Unit histories are also covered. The only suggestion would be a few side profiles showing different camo patterns. Beyond that well done Steve Ginter.

book was bought new, wrapper showed signs of prior opening, like somone had a peek. one corner of book showed sign of drop. the book brings back many memories of the three thousand hours i spent in korean war as radio and radar operator as a combat aircrewman. very fine book with great information. j f w, korean war veteran 1950-1954

Steve Ginter is a great naval aircraft historian, who fills his books on each aircraft with an abundance of facts and photographs, to include the squadrons who flew them. Good reading.

Being a sucker for seaplanes, I had to have this book. Plus I worked with the sole surviving PBM Mariner left in existence at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson Arizona. The book covers all the variations of the aircraft, the squadrons that used the aircraft and gear and weapons used and dropped. Filled with plenty of photos inside and out, its great for the modelers too. Ginter once again, hit the ball out of the park.

Excellent modeler's resource for this important WWII US Navy airplane. Incredible selection of highly detailed factory pictures, diagrams, airplane operational pictures. Detailed unit histories as pertains to the use of the Mariner. Highly recommended for the Martin Mariner afectionado.