Subject: General Crew Stations/ Box Formation

On a normal B-26 the crew would consist of a Pilot, Copilot, Bombardier/Navigator, radio/gunner, engineer/gunner and armourer/gunner. Normal bombing practice was to bomb by formations of 18 or 36 aircraft. A flight of 18 x B-26's was called a box formation and this constituted of 3 flights of six planes.
(See layout)

Box Formation

Only the Box Lead/Deputy Box Lead, Flight Lead and Deputy Flight Lead normally carried a bombardier and a navigator.

All other ships in the formation dropped their bombs on a signal from the Box Lead, so there was no need for both a navigator and a bombardier in these ships.

To further complicate crew stations a box lead frequently carried two radio gunner, one to permanently man the command radio and the other to take over the gunner duties.

Now the muddy pool gets even muddier when radar aids were fitted. The Box Lead would now carry Pilot, copilot, bombardier, navigator, gee navigator, two radio gunners, armourer gunner and engineer gunner. Add to this an occasional photo/gunner.

I hope this answers your question, or does it make it even more confusing?

Regards,
Trevor Allen
B26 Historian