French Marylands

[Brian]

Hi guys

It is noted that two French M.167F Marylands arrived at Gibraltar late May/early June 1941. It was intended that these would be flown to Malta, but one crashed during an air test; the other was flown to Malta on 8 June. These aircraft were apparently numbered FF1 and FF2; it was the latter that reached Malta.

Does anyone know from where these two machines reached Gibraltar and their previous history; plus the subsequent history of FF2. Did it receive an RAF serial number, and what was its fate? I've now discovered that it was flown to Egypt on 17 July 1941, and swopped for another.

PS: I have being doing my own research (!) and now realise that three Martin 167Fs escaped from North Africa to Gibraltar in June 1940, when the French surrendered. These were numbered 62, 82, and 102. I presume that two of these aircraft are the ones to which I refer. It has been suggested that the aircraft flown to Malta (FF2) was formerly No.114 of GRI/22 based in Morocco.

Cheers
Brian

[CJE]

Hi Brian!

N°82 and 102 (from GB I/61 based near Tebessa) escaped on 02.07.40 to Heliopolis. They subsequently formed "Escadrille d'Aden" or French Bomber Flight N°1 and were both shot down by Italian fighters over Somaliland, the former on 08.09.40 and the latter on 16.12.40.
N°62 left Oran (Algeria) for Gibraltar on 28.06.40. I don't know its subsequent fate, but it may have been flown from there to Malta.
However, Warburton ferried to Malta N°114 (ex-GR I/22, that escaped to Gibraltar on 10.02.41) and (not sure) N°234 (ex-Escadrille 7B of the French Navy, that got away from Tafaraoui on 01.03.41).

Chris

[Brian]

Many thanks Chris

Cheers
Brian

[Stig Jarlevik]

Brian

I think whoever said that No 114 could have been FF2 has a point .
I have noted that it was coded 2 and perhaps Chris can verify or deny this?

By the way is it known by now the former ID's of HK836, HK845 and HK865, also model 167F escaped from "Vichy held territory"? The RAF records are should we say minor for each individual....

Cheers
Stig

[CJE]

Stig,
Yes I guess 114 was coded "2". There is a photograph published in a book on Warby and the ex-Vichy markings, including the white fuselage band, can be clearly seen. And the shape of the unit insignia, which had been overpainted, matches GR I/22 badge.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Chris

Cheers
Stig