Spanish Martin B10 bombers
 

Hi Everyone,

I found a "marketing study" into french archives re the potential selling of french A/C to Spain & Portugal around 1936. It is revealed that t"he Spanish government ordered 8 Martin B10 bombers beginning 1936 altough discussions were done months before on a batch for 50 bombers"

Do you know whether or not these 8 bombers were delivered to Spain?

Thanks for any kind of help
Cheers

Jérôme

Re: Spanish Martin B10 bombers
 

Jerôme,

According the Joe Baugher's website (http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b10.html) the sale of B-10 bombers was blocked by the State Department.

From said website: Plans to sell Martin 139s to Republican Spain were blocked by the State Department. Reports that the Martin bomber was being used in Spain on the Republican side were in error, being misidentifications of the Soviet Tupolev SB-2, which was basically similar in overall configuration.

Also interesting to read: http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/drnash/...ain/didnt.html


Regards,

Leendert

Re: Spanish Martin B10 bombers
 

Leendert,

Thanking you for you poste, especially info filled in both links.

To complete the circle, I don't know the exact reason why the US State department blocked the deal at this time. I guess the spanish government felt just after issuing the PO for 8 bombers beginning of the year'36. The obvious reason would be that the new spanish governemnt was not in line with the foreign US policy...

Has anyone got additional information, please?

Best Regards

Jerome

Re: Spanish Martin B10 bombers
 

According to the USAAF monograph on export of aircraft to allies the B-10B was not approved for export until 1938. Thereafter it was supplied to several countries. Up until 1936 there was a 12 month rule in effect that no AAF combat planes were released for export until more than 12 months after the second production a/c had been accepted by the USAAF. I have no specific data on the Spanish deal or why the B-10B was not released until 1938. I doubt it had anything to do with the political leanings of Spain or any other government.

RLD

Re: Spanish Martin B10 bombers
 

Dear all,

I thank you to shed me new light on this Martin bombers story.

Cheers

Jérôme