Martin Type 139 - Various Foreign Users

 

The Martin Type 139 was an all-metal monoplane bomber that was used by the United States Army Air Corps and by many other countries:

• China: The National Revolutionary Army, (Kuomingtan's Armed Forces) ordered six 139s which Martin called them 'Type 139WC' (the letter 'C' standing for 'China'). This version was powered by two Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines which could deliver up to 850 hp of power each. 
  They arrived in China in February 1937 and were used in August against the Japanese in the Battle of Shanghai, where the Chinese Nationalist Air Force (CNAF) launched a major strike with a formation of various types of aircraft. One of such attacks took place on 14th October 1937 when three 139WC, two Heinkel He.111A, five Douglas O-2MCs, five Northrop Gammas and three Curtiss Hawk IIIs, based in Nanjing, bombed Japanese positions.
  Later, on 19th May 1938, the Type 139WC has the honour of being the first aircraft to conduct a raid into Japanese mainland. On that day, two 139WC belonging to the 2nd Bomber Group, 14th Squadron, commanded by Cpt. Hsu Huan-Sheng and Lt. Teng Yen-bo successfully flew a nighttime raid over Japan. However, instead of dropping bombs, they dropped propaganda leaflets over the cities of Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Kurume, Saga and some others, while making reconnaissance duties over ports, airports, warships and factories. 
  Most of the 139WC were destroyed during the course of the war.
• Japan: After the fall of the Dutch East Indies, three Type 139WH (the export version made for the Dutch colony) and Type 166 were captured intact by the Nippons and shipped to Haneda, Tokyo to be evaluated by the Testing Division of the Army Aircraft Authority. Their ultimate fate is unknown, but they were most likely destroyed during an air raid.
• Philippines: Apparently, some few B-10B (regular production variant) were leased to the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) by the 4th Composite Group. They were most likely, destroyed during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. As we couldn't find graphical evidence of a B-10B serving with the PAAC, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• Thailand: Six Type 139WS (the 'S' standing for 'Siam') were sold to Thailand in April 1937. They saw action against the French in the Franco-Thai War in late 1940 and January 1941 and later they were used to support Japanese troops in their advance towards Burma in early 1942. They were complemented by an amount of ex-Dutch airplanes given by the Japanese later that same year. They were kept in active service until 1949.
• Turkey: When fascist Italy sought to expand their empire in the Mediterranean, the Turkish Government, decided to equip their air force with a long-range bomber. Therefore Cpt. Enver Akoglu was sent in a mission to the United States to purchase 20 Type 139WT ('T' standing for 'Turkey'). This variant was powered with uprated engines which could, theoretically, deliver up to 1.000 hp of power instead of the regular 750 hp. They arrived to Turkey in September 1937 and were assigned to 55 and 56th Tayyare Bölügü (Flying detachment, a squadron-sized unit) based at the city of Çorlu, in the Marmara region. Those were part of the higher 9th Tayyare Taburu unit. During 1941 and 1942 they were employed extensively in reconnaissance patrols over the Black Sea. When the type was showing its obsolescence, they were reassigned to other secondary and transport units. They were in active until 1946 with four of them crashing in 1945.

Sources:

1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_B-10

2. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b10.html

3. http://www.tayyareci.com/digerucaklar/turkiye/1923ve50/martin139wt.asp

Supermarine Walrus, part two, foreign users

The Supermarine Walrus was also used by many foreign countries, the ones covered in this post are:

• France: In September 1943, after the liberation of Corsica, the French Navy's Escadrille 4.S was formed equipped with 12 Walrus Mk.I and Mk.II. They were based at a naval base called "Campo dell'Oro" close to the city of Ajaccio. They served with the Free French Air Force, acting mostly on the Mediterranean Theatre, and attacking even some submarines. They were rebased in 1944 to Bastia, at the Northern part of Corsica to take part in the Operation Dragoon, the invasion of the Southern part of France, after which they were rebased to B.A.N. de Cuers, to operate from French mainland. The French Walruses served there until January 1946 when they were replaced by captured Dornier Do.24s.
  The remaining Walruses were reassigned to the Flotille 2.F, based at Hourtin, close to Bourdeaux. This unit was transformed in April 1946 into a hydroplane piloting school and renamed Escadrille 53.S. They were flown until 1951 when they were withdrawn from active service.
  Other squadrons which flew the Walrus were the 50.S, which was the squadron of the school of the flying staff and the 52.S which was the training squadron of the Naval School of Lanvéoc, in Bretagne. 
• Ireland: The Irish Air Corps bought three Walruses in 1939. They were to be delivered on 3rd March to be used as a maritime patrol aircraft during the Irish Emergency. They were scheduled to fly from Southampton to Baldonnel Aerodrome, in Ireland. Only one of them made it successfully to Ireland. One had to be rerouted to Milford Haven, in Wales and the remaining one had to ditch the aircraft, damaging the hull, close to the Irish city of Ballytrent, south of the former United States Naval Air Station Wexford, off the south-eastern coast of Ireland. This machine was transported to Baldonnel where it was repaired and served with the Irish Air Corps.
  This last machine was stolen on 9th January 1942 by Irish nationals who intended to fly the machine to France to join the Luftwaffe. They were intercepted by Supermarine Spitfires and escorted to RAF St. Eval, in Cornwall. The aircraft and its occupants were returned to Ireland. After the war the aircraft was given over to Aer Lingus which never flew it and sold in 1946 to a private owner. It was flown for recreation purposes until 1949 and abandoned in a dump until 1963 when it was recovered and restored and has been displayed at the Fleet Air Arm's museum since 1966.
• USSR: One Walrus Mk.I was shipped to Arkhangelsk, in Russia, on the British Convoy PQ 17. After having sustained damage, it was repaired and assigned to the 16th Air Transport Detachment of the Soviet Air Force (VVS). It flew until the end of 1943 and its fate is unknown but it was, most probably, destroyed. 
• Turkey: Five Walruses were sold to Turkey in early 1938. They served with the Turkish Air Force through the World War II and most probably late 1940s. However their fate is uncertain.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Walrus

2. http://avions-de-la-guerre-d-algerie.over-blog.com/article-supermarine-walrus-francais-116117945.html (translated)

3. https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/the-irish-walrus-defection-attempt/

4. http://www.hampshireairfields.co.uk/ah1900/suprod.html