P6M Seamaster – Warbird Wednesday Episode #206

Welcome to another episode of Warbird Wednesday! Before we move onto our attack helicopter section, we wanted to visit the Martin P6M Seamaster, an amphibious bomber. This aircraft was designed as a sea-launched bomber in response to the need for atomic weapon delivery systems post-World War II. Initial prototypes faced technical challenges, including engine issues and crashes, leading to redesigns and improvements. Despite efforts to salvage the project, advancements in submarine-launched ballistic missiles rendered the Seamaster obsolete, leading to its cancellation in 1959. The Seamaster marked the end of Martin’s aircraft type manufacturing, with all aircraft scrapped except for a tail section preserved in a Maryland museum.