Lieutenant Robert Martin GCIII/6

[keith A]

I was going through my notes (and making a database of the claims of the French 332nd Fighter Wing) when I came across several anomalies.

One of these involves the claims of a pilot called Martin in 1943. According to "Les As de la Guerre 1939-45" by Porret and Thevenet, Capitaine Robert Martin of GC1/3 shared in the destruction of an Ar196 near Ajaccio on 11 0ctober 1943 (as well as several claims on 29 September 1943). The text of his biography in this work however states he transferred from GCIII/6 to GC1/3 in April 1944.

However "Les Pilotes de chasse Francais 39/45" gives the victories to Adjudant/Sous-Lieutenant Marcel Martin of GC1/3.

The answer seems to be a conflation of the Martins resulting in Robert Martin achieving ace status.

The recent volume of the "History of the meditteranean air war" by Shores et al confuses this further by calling the victor on the 29 September 1943 Michel Martin and he of the 11 October Marcel Martin?

My assumption is that all the claims are by Marcel Martin but...

regards

Keith

[Bertrand H]

Hi

The French pilot "Martin" posted to GC 1/3 on 26/1/1943 was Adc René MARTIN. He transferred from ECN 3/13.

CJE gives one claim shared on a Ju 52 (29/9/43) as Adc and one claim shared on 11/10/43 on Arado as Slt.

HTH

Bertrand

[keith A]

Confused.

Would Rene Martin not be a naval pilot if he was with ECN/13, and therefore not hold an air force rank of Adjudant-chef?

"Les pilotes de chasse francais 39/45" (p.100) definitely shows Sous-Lieutenant Marcel Martin as the claimant. The Ju52 is credited as an individual claim and the Ar196 shared with Sgt Causse.

best regards

Keith

[Bertrand H]

Hi,

you are right ; the Ju 52 is an an individual claim . As Prayer/1, Duval/1 and Sarrail/1 on same day.

For your info ECN = Escadrille de Chasse de Nuit

N is not for Naval

Bertrand

[keith A]

Sorry Bertrand, I should have spotted that