The
Martin AM-1 Mauler is one of the more famous post-war U.S. Navy also-rans. Less well-known is a relative, the Martin AWAM "Mugger".
During the insanely complex and protracted AM-1 development cycle, a frustrated Navy Bureau of Aeronautics requested a simpler, stop-gap version of the Mauler which would be capable of all-weather operations. Thus the AWAM (All Weather Attack, Martin) was born.
BuAer was impressed with the pared-down design right off the drawing board. While the AM-1 Mauler limped its way to the mock-up stage, a service test squadron of its new cousin, the AWAM was ordered into production.
When asked about the AWAM's flight characteristics, the test pilot replied "It was like being mugged up there!" and the name stuck. Despite stiff controls that required man-handling, the Mugger was still an impressive aircraft.
By the late winter of 1950, initial test flights had been completed and a squadron of Martin AWAM Muggers was dispatched to the base on Whidbey Island, Washington for aircraft carrier trials off the Pacific coast. This would prove fortunate timing indeed.
1950 was a hot year for the Red Scare that would dominate the decade. Communist agents bored their way into many corners of American society and even the most innocuous places could be harboring a hive of enemy spies & saboteurs. Seattle landmark Ivar's was no exception.
The owner, Ivar Haglund, was a shrewd businessman, patriotic American and a very keen observer. He smelled something fishy.
see the movie hereAfter closing one night, Ivar found a copy of
Das Kapital stained with clam juice near the seafood bar. His suspicions confirmed, he called the FBI who were soon hot on the heels of the infiltrators.
It was rumored the commie clams had relocated to a small, uncharted island near Canadian waters. What plots they were hatching there no one knew, but the prospect was spine-chilling.
The FBI in turn called the Navy as the test squadron of Muggers was the closest military unit to the red hideout. A pre-emptive strike was called for. It seemed an ideal test for the new attack planes.
Orders were cut and the Muggers were each armed with two 800 lb. bombs. The aircraft took off at 0-dark-30 on a heading for the secret nest of Soviet spies.
Daybreak brought low clouds thick as clam chowder and the new Martin Muggers went off course, giving them the distinction of being the first post-war all weather attack aircraft to get lost in the fog.
A correction was made which improved things somewhat and the aircraft went into their bomb-run with grit and determination.
Unfortunately, there'd been a mis-calculation and the Muggers dropped their loads too early.
Luckily, the explosions scared the cowardly commie clams and they cravenly beat it back behind the Iron Curtain.
The Navy and FBI were happy at the Bolshie bivalves' departure and grateful some nebulous, nefarious plot had been pre-empted.
This near-miss wouldn't keep the government from spinning it all as a great success and both the Martin Mugger and Ivar Haglund were lionized nation-wide in the press.
The Martin AWAM Mugger went on to undertake aircraft carrier trials shortly after the red menace was dispatched.
While these were completed successfully, each and every pilot flying the Mugger suffered various arm and wrist sprains due to the stiffness of the controls. This would spell doom for the AWAM, especially once the Mauler made it past the mock-up stage.
The Mugger was quickly superceded by Mauler as soon as they became available and none survive today.
The only reminder left is this Hashbox Snap-Tite model and the fading memories of a few old salts who've kept clammed up about the whole thing ever since.
Brian da Basher