The Midland Marauder is a British supersonic fighter-bomber that served with the Royal Air Force from 1957-2003, and with the United States Navy from 1964 to 1990. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of Fighter missions during the early years of the Vietnam War. It was originally designed as a single seat Interceptor. A two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The Marauder was commonly known as the "Buzzer" by its crews, citing the deep hum produced by the engine. It was designated F-78 in US Service.

Midland Marauder

VF-103 Marauder sitting in a hangar at NAS Oceana, July 1966.

Role

Fighter-Bomber

National Origin

United Kingdom

Manufacturer

Midland Aerospace

First Flight

August 19, 1954

Introduction

July 12, 1957 RAF
March 23, 1964 USN

Retired

December 16, 1990 USN
April 2, 2003 RAF

Status

Retired

Primary Users

United States Navy
Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom

Produced

1954-1977

Number Built

637

As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable Midland Mistril, the Marauder was also armed with missiles and a pair of cannons; however, its design was tailored to high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a number of missiles and bombs. First flown in 1954, the Marauder entered service in 1957. The single-engine Marauder could deliver a bomb load greater than some American heavy bombers of World War II such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Marauder was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 12,000 Marauder sorties were flown, with 72 aircraft lost including 40 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 637 produced). Although less agile than smaller MiG fighters, USAF Navy Marauders were credited with 26.5 kills.

During the war, the single-seat Marauder C was one of the primary aircraft delivering heavy bomb loads against the various military targets. Meanwhile, the two-seat Marauder E and Marauder F Wild Weasel variants became the first dedicated SEAD platforms, fighting against the Soviet-built S-75 Dvina (NATO reporting name: SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles. Two Wild Weasel pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites, with one shooting down two MiG-17s the same day. The dangerous missions often required them to be the "first in, last out", suppressing enemy air defenses while strike aircraft accomplished their missions and then left the area.

When the Marauder entered service, it was the largest single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft in history, weighing approximately 33,000 pounds (15,000 kg). It could exceed the speed of sound at sea level and reach Mach 2 at high altitude. The Marauder could carry up to 14,000 lb (6,400 kg) of bombs and missiles.

VF-103 Marauder over North Vietnam, October 1968