Hi Alex
Yes, I have Winston's book
No the RAF aircraft received were used in combat, a long way from South Africa itself and they never carried
any SAAF s/n
The column with the four digit numbers (aka 1851) are indeed the Martin c/n.
SAAF 1601-1606 are deff Mk I.
They were all assigned during the autumn of 1940 before any Mk II had reached anyone.
HK836 and HK845 were both captured French aircraft at Libreville during the Gabon campaign. They were
former No 109 and 110 respectively.
However HK865, if really ex Vichy, fails to identify itself, can't see any Vichy aircraft that fits. Anyone?
The AM78 form is the actual RAF movement card, not the accident one. If you look at one you will see
that in the left bottom corner it says A.M. Form 78 (A.M. for Air Ministry I assume)
There actually is one more mysterious SAAF Maryland, SAAF 1682, which lacks all kind of ID.
That one may well have been one with a former RAF s/n sent south when the type went out of front line use!
Cheers
Stig