The Martin PBM Mariner flying boat broke the rules long held by the United States Navy, winning a production contract in 1937 without a full-scale prototype and impressing officials across the service as World War 2 neared.

Five variants were eventually built, which played a significant role in some of the most critical operations during the Battle of the Atlantic and the Pacific Theater. Soon, the world's largest twin-engine flying boat became attracted attention for its range, bomb load, ruggedness, and seaworthiness.

However, despite being involved in several operations all across the globe, the type's most significant rival remained home. It was the Consolidated PBY Catalina, the same aircraft the PBM was always meant to succeed…

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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.

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