11/15/2014. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "A total of 272 Marauders went to the Navy in WW II to serve primarily as target tugs. These included 225 JM-1s (BuNo 66595 to 66794, 75183 to 75207) which were ex-USAAF AT-23B conversions from the operational B-26C, while 47 were JM-2s (BuNo 90507 to 90521, 91962 to 91993) similar to the Air Force TB-26G. A few JM-1s were converted for reconnaissance duties as JM-1Ps. Both versions had 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 engines.

The pictured aircraft was operated by USN Utility Squadron VJ-4, which was formed at NAS Norfolk, Virginia on November 15, 1940. Initially the squadron was scattered in numerous detachments along the Atlantic coast, from the Dominion of Newfoundland to Brazil. By mid-1943 its main base was Norfolk although in December 1943 detachments were formed at NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. In early 1944 another detachment was formed at Trinidad, British West Indies.

From October 19, 1943 till March 17, 1944, the squadron received a total of 33 JM-1s, of which a number was subsequently transferred to other squadrons. VJ-4 was mainly operating as a target-towing unit, but was also involved in experiments with oxygen equipment during high-altitude towing operations. During 1944, one aircraft was allocated for a secret project with units stationed temporarily at Camp Davis, North Carolina, and Edgewood, Maryland. In March 1944, two JM-1s were dispatched for seven months to Morocco for target towing services to USN and Free French units."