# Martin NBS-1

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For the first atomic clock, also abbreviated NBS-1, see [Atomic clock](/source/Atomic_clock).

American bomber aircraft in service 1920-1929

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NBS-1 General information Type Short-range night bomber Manufacturer Glenn L. Martin Company Status No known survivors Primary user United States Army Air Service Number built 130 History Manufactured 1920–1922 Introduction date 1920 First flight 3 September 1920 Retired 1929

Full-scale reproduction of the Martin MB-2 on display at the [National Museum of the United States Air Force](/source/National_Museum_of_the_United_States_Air_Force)

The **Martin NBS-1** was a military aircraft of the [United States Army Air Service](/source/United_States_Army_Air_Service) and its successor, the [Army Air Corps](/source/United_States_Army_Air_Corps). An improved version of the [Martin MB-1](/source/Martin_MB-1), a scout-bomber built during the final months of [World War I](/source/World_War_I), the NBS-1 was ordered under the designation **MB-2** and is often referred to as such. The designation NBS-1, standing for "Night Bomber-Short Range", was adopted by the Air Service after the first five of the Martin bombers were delivered.

The NBS-1 became the standard frontline bomber of the Air Service in 1920 and remained so until its replacement in 1928–1929 by the [Keystone Aircraft](/source/Keystone_Aircraft) series of bombers. The basic MB-2 design was also the standard against which prospective U.S. Army bombers were judged until the production of the [Martin B-10](/source/Martin_B-10) in 1933.

## Design and development

The NBS-1 was a wood-and-fabric [biplane](/source/Biplane) without [staggered wings](/source/Stagger_(aviation)), employing twin rudders on a twin vertical tail. Its two [Liberty 12-A](/source/Liberty_L-12) engines sat in [nacelles](/source/Nacelle) on the lower wing, flanking the fuselage. Ordered under the company designation MB-2 in June 1920, the NBS-1 was an improved larger version of the [Martin MB-1](/source/Martin_MB-1) bomber built by the [Glenn L. Martin Company](/source/Glenn_L._Martin_Company) in 1918, also known as the GMB or Glenn Martin Bomber. The first flight of the MB-2 took place 3 September 1920.

In addition to more powerful engines, larger wings and fuselage, and simplified landing gear, the NBS-1 also had a unique folding wing system, hinged outside the engine nacelles to fold backward for storage in small hangars. Unlike the MB-1, whose engines were mounted between the wings in a fashion similar to the German [Staaken R.VI](/source/Zeppelin-Staaken_R.VI) [Riesenflugzeug](/source/Riesenflugzeug), the engines of the NBS-1 were fixed to the lower wing over the landing gear.

The MB-2 was designed as a night bomber and except for a greater load capacity, had reduced performance characteristics compared to its MB-1 predecessor. The first 20 (five MB-2s and 15 NBS-1s) were ordered from the Martin Company, which recommended a further 50 be produced to help its struggling financial condition. However the design was owned by the U.S. Army and subsequent contracts for 110 bombers were awarded by low bid to three other companies: [Curtiss Aircraft](/source/Curtiss_Aeroplane_and_Motor_Company) (50 ordered); [L-W-F Engineering Company](/source/Lowe%2C_Willard_%26_Fowler_Engineering_Company) of College Point, New York (35); and [Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company](/source/Aeromarine) of Keyport, New Jersey (25).

The engines of the last 20 bombers of the Curtiss order came equipped with [turbosuperchargers](/source/Turbosupercharger) manufactured by [General Electric](/source/General_Electric), the first such modification made in production quantity. Although enabling the NBS-1 to reach an altitude of over 25,000 ft (7,650 m), the turbosuperchargers were mechanically unreliable and not used operationally.

The bomber was equipped defensively with five .30 in (7.62 mm) [Lewis guns](/source/Lewis_gun), mounted in pairs in positions in the nose and upper rear fuselage, and singly in a bottom mount, firing behind and beneath the rear fuselage.

The first two Martin MB-2s, Air Service serials *64195* and *64196*, were retained at [McCook Field](/source/McCook_Field) in Dayton, Ohio, for research and development flight testing, marked with project numbers 'P162' and 'P227' respectively, as was the second NBS-1, *64201*, marked as 'P222'. Four Curtiss NBS-1s were also assigned to McCook.

## Operational history

The NBS-1 was the primary bomber used by [Brigadier General](/source/Brigadier_General) [Billy Mitchell](/source/Billy_Mitchell_(general)) during [Project B](/source/Billy_Mitchell_(general)#Project_B:_Anti-ship_bombing_demonstration), the demonstration bombing of naval ships in July 1921. Six NBS-1 bombers, led by [Captain](/source/Captain_(land)) Walter Lawson of the 96th Squadron operating out of [Langley Field](/source/Langley_Air_Force_Base), bombed and sank the captured German battleship [SMS *Ostfriesland*](/source/SMS_Ostfriesland) on 21 July 1921, using specially developed 2,000 lb (907 kg) demolition bombs, externally mounted beneath the fuselage. They also sank [USS *Virginia* (BB-13)](/source/USS_Virginia_(BB-13)) and [USS *New Jersey* (BB-16)](/source/USS_New_Jersey_(BB-16)) in 1923.

An example of the plane was featured in director [William Wellman](/source/William_Wellman)'s 1927 [Paramount](/source/Paramount_Pictures) silent film *[Wings](/source/Wings_(1927_film))*, disguised as a German [Gotha bomber](/source/Gotha_bomber). Footage was shot overhead of the MB-2 as it exited its tent hangar and from the MB-2 during flight. These aerial shots were revolutionary at the time, showing the public a perspective of aerial combat from the pilots' point of view. *Wings* won the first-ever Academy Award for best picture.

## Operators

Martin MB-2 in flight with a pursuit aircraft practicing an attack

Trio of NBS-1s of 2nd Bomb Group

**[United States](/source/United_States)**

- United States Army, [Air Service](/source/United_States_Army_Air_Service) and [Air Corps](/source/United_States_Army_Air_Corps) - 1st Day Bombardment Group, [Kelly Field](/source/Kelly_Air_Force_Base), [Texas](/source/Texas) ([2nd Bombardment Group](/source/2d_Operations_Group), [Langley Field](/source/Langley_Air_Force_Base), [Virginia](/source/Virginia)) - [11th Bomb Squadron](/source/11th_Bomb_Squadron) – operated MB-2 1920–1927 - [20th Bomb Squadron](/source/20th_Bomb_Squadron) – operated NBS-1 1920–1929 - [49th Bomb Squadron](/source/49th_Bomb_Squadron) – operated NBS-1 1920–1929 - [96th Bomb Squadron](/source/96th_Bomb_Squadron) – operated NBS-1 1920–1928 - [4th Composite Group](/source/4th_Composite_Group), [Nichols Field](/source/Nichols_Field), [Luzon](/source/Luzon), [Philippines](/source/Philippines) - [28th Bomb Squadron](/source/28th_Bomb_Squadron) – operated NBS-1 1924–1929 - [5th Composite Group](/source/5th_Composite_Group), [Luke Field](/source/NALF_Ford_Island), [Territory of Hawaii](/source/Territory_of_Hawaii) - [23d Bomb Squadron](/source/23d_Bomb_Squadron) – operated NBS-1 1922–1929 - [72d Bomb Squadron](/source/72d_Bomb_Squadron) – operated NBS-1 1923–1929 - [6th Composite Group](/source/6th_Composite_Group), [Albrook Field](/source/Albrook_Field), [Panama Canal Zone](/source/Panama_Canal_Zone) - [25th Bomb Squadron](/source/25th_Space_Range_Squadron) – operated NBS-1 1922–1929

Reproduction of the Martin MB-2

## Surviving aircraft

There are no known surviving original Martin NBS-1 bombers, but in 2002 a full-scale reproduction, constructed from original drawings, went on display at the [National Museum of the United States Air Force](/source/National_Museum_of_the_United_States_Air_Force) in [Dayton, Ohio](/source/Dayton%2C_Ohio).[1]

## Specifications (NBS-1)

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** four

- **Length:** 42 ft 8 in (13.0 m)

- **Wingspan:** 74 ft 2 in (22.7 m)

- **Height:** 14 ft 8 in (4.8 m)

- **Wing area:** 1,121 sq ft (104.2 m2)

- **Empty weight:** 7,232 lb (3,280 kg)

- **Gross weight:** 12,027 lb (5,460 kg)

- **Powerplant:** 2 × [Liberty 12-A](/source/Liberty_L-12) liquid-cooled [V12 engine](/source/V12_engine), 420 hp (325 kW) each

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 99 mph (160 km/h, 85 kn)

- **Cruise speed:** 92 mph (150 km/h, 80 kn)

- **Range:** 400 mi (650 km, 345 nmi)

- **Service ceiling:** 7,700 ft (2,350 m)

- **Rate of climb:** 391 ft/min (2.0 m/s)

**Armament**

- **Guns:** 5 × .30 in (7.62 mm) [Lewis machine guns](/source/Lewis_Gun)

- **Bombs:** 1,800 lb (820 kg) internal, or 2,000 lb (907 kg) external

## See also

**Related development**

- [Martin MB-1](/source/Martin_MB-1)

**Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era**

- [Curtiss B-2 Condor](/source/Curtiss_B-2_Condor)

- [Huff-Daland XB-1](/source/Huff-Daland_XB-1)

**Related lists**

- [List of military aircraft of the United States](/source/List_of_military_aircraft_of_the_United_States)

- [List of bomber aircraft](/source/List_of_bomber_aircraft)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Martin MB-2 (NBS-1)"](https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/197395/martin-mb-2-nbs-1/). *National Museum of the United States Air Force*. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2020.

- [Martin MB-2 (converted to NBS-1) fact sheet, NMUSAF](https://web.archive.org/web/20131022203319/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2415)

- [Martin NBS-1 fact sheet, NMUSAF](https://web.archive.org/web/20131022210537/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2416)

- [Reference to micarta bakelite propeller](https://books.google.com/books?id=1887AQAAMAAJ&q=bakelite&pg=PA25)

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Martin_MB-2](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Martin_MB-2).

- [Martin MB-2/NBS-1 Encyclopedia of American Aircraft (Joe Baugher)](https://web.archive.org/web/20080224065338/http://home.att.net/%7Ejbaugher2/mb2.html)

- [Martin MB-2 (NBS-1) Exhibit page, National Museum of the United States Air Force](https://web.archive.org/web/20130404183235/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=330)

v t e Martin and Martin Marietta aircraft Model numbers 57 60 63 66 67 70 71 73 74 75 77 83 85 117 118 119 120 122 123 125 127 129 130 133 139 145 146 156 158 162 162A 166 167 170 179 182 187 189 190 193 202 205 210 219 223 234 237 247 259 270 271 272 274 275 290 303 307 313 316 317 321 327 Airliners M-130 Clipper M-156 Russian Clipper 2-0-2 3-0-3 4-0-4 Attack aircraft A-15 A-22 A-23 A-30 A-45 AM Bombers B-10 B-12 XB-13 XB-14 XB-16 B-26 XB-27 B-33 B-48 XB-51 B-57 XB-68 BM MB-1 NBS-1 Maritime patrol PBM XP2M P3M P4M P5M P6M P7M Military transports C-3 JRM RM Military trainers T/TT N2M Scout/Torpedo bombers S TM T2M T3M T4M T5M T6M Reconnaissance aircraft MO-1 M2O-1 MS-1 RB-57D RB-57F Observation aircraft XO-4 Martin Marietta 845 SV-5J X-23 X-24A/B

v t e USAAS bomber designations 1919–1924 Day bombardment DB-1 Night bombardment, short-range NBS-1 NBS-2 NBS-3 NBS-4 Night bombardment, long-range NBL-1 NBL-2

v t e Curtiss and Curtiss-Wright aircraft Manufacturer designations Early types Golden Flier Reims Racer Beachey Special Model letters C D E F FL GS H HA HS J JN -5 -6H K L MF N NC O R S T Model numbers 1 B F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 (I) 18 (II) 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 K/P 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 A B 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 I P S 76 A 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 "L" series L-17 L-18 L-19 L-22 L-41 L-44 L-72 L-79 L-85 L-115 L-117 L-710 "CA" series CA-1 "CR" series CR-1 CR-2 "CW" series CW-1 CW-2 CW-3 CW-4 CW-5 CW-6 CW-8 CW-9 CW-10 CW-11 CW-12 CW-14 CW-15 CW-16 CW-17 CW-182 CW-19 CW-20 CW-21 CW-22 CW-23 CW-24 CW-25 CW-26 CW-27 CW-28 CW-29 CW-32 CW-33 CW-40 "P" series P-200 P-202 P-212 P-218 P-219 P-222 P-223 P-224 P-225 P-227 P-228 P-229 P-232 P-235 P-238 P-239 P-240 P-241 P-243 P-244 P-245 P-247 P-248 P-249 P-250 P-251 P-252 P-253 P-254 P-255 P-256 P-257 P-259 P-261 P-264 P-268 P-269 P-272 P-273 P-274 P-275 P-276 P-277 P-278 P-279 P-280 P-282 P-283 P-291 P-292 P-293 P-295 P-296 P-297 P-298 P-299 P-302 P-303 P-304 P-305 P-306 P-307 P-509 P-517 P-518 P-538 P-539 P-541 P-545 P-551 P-558 P-565 P-586 P-588 P-592 "X" series X-100 X-200 X-300 X-410 X-425 Operator and role Civil Experimental No. 1 Model C SX-5-1 Tanager Racers and record No. 2 Cox Racer CW-B-14R Airliners Eagle Condor 18 Condor II Kingbird Thrush Commando Utility Model D Model E Model F Carrier Pigeon Falcon Robin Lark 6B CW-12 CW-14 Sportsman CW-15 Sedan CW-16 CW-19W Army Ground attack A-3 A-4 A-5 A-6 A-8 YA-10 A-12 YA-14 A-18 A-25 A-40 XA-43 Bombers NBS-1 B-2 XNBS-4 Transports XC-10 C-30 Condor C-46 Commando C-55 Commando C-76 C-113 Commando Fighters S 18 PN-1 PW-8 P-1 to P-5 P-6 XP-10 P-11 P-142 P-17 XP-182 XP-192 YP-20 XP-21 XP-22 XP-23 XP-31 P-36 YP-37 P-40 XP-42 XP-46 XP-53 XP-55 YP-60 XP-62 XP-71 XP-87 Observation O-1 O-11 O-12 O-13 O-16 O-18 O-242 O-26 XO-302 O-39 O-40 O-52 Racers R-6 R-8 Trainers J L JN Fledgling AT-4 Hawk AT-5 Hawk BT-4 AT-9 Jeep Experimental X-19 Licensed USAO-1 NBS-1/Model 30 Navy Bombers CT BFC BF2C SBC SB2C XSB3C2 XBTC XBT2C Fighters HA GS TS-1 FC F2C F3C F4C F5C1 F6C F7C F8C F9C F10C F11C XF12C F13C XF14C XF15C Observation/scout CS/SC S2C XS3C S4C SC OC O2C O3C SOC SO2C SO3C Trainers N-9 N2C SNC Transports RC R4C R5C Maritime patrol H-16 F5L HS-1L & HS-2L Racers and record NC CR R2C R3C Export Bombers Canada CW-14 Osprey Maritime patrol H-2, H-4, H-8 and H-16 F5L HS-2L Fighters CW-17 Pursuit Osprey2 CW-21 Demon Trainers Canuck CW-14 Osprey CW-16 CW-182 CW-22 1 Designation skipped 2 Not built

v t e Lowe, Willard & Fowler (L-W-F) aircraft LWF designs V V-1 V-2 V-3 VH-1 Seagull F F-7 Reconnaissance Mailplane G H Owl J-2 Twin DH L Butterfly MO-1 XT-3 XNBS-2 Built under licence Curtiss HS-2L Douglas DT-2 Martin/LWF NBS-1

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Martin NBS-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_NBS-1) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_NBS-1?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.