Free French Martin 167F bombing missions over Royan from Mérignac airport (April 1945)

The Martin Model 167 Maryland was an American-designed light bomber that first flew in 1939. Facing a massive German arms buildup and desperate for modern aircraft, the French Air Force purchased more than 200 167 Fs which incorporated French equipment such as metric instruments. When the Battle of France began, there were only four Groupes de bombardement (bomber squadrons) equipped. The Glenns were quickly sent to the front lines where they performed well with their adequate speed and excellent manoeuvrability for an aircraft in this class. Immediately before the June 1940 Armistice, units flying the Glenn Martin 167 were evacuated to French North Africa to avoid capture by the Germans. in 1945, some 167F in the colours of the free French forces participated in the liberation of the pockets still occupied by the Germans footages from ImagesDéfense