Martin A-30 Stars & Stripes Rocks Glass

The Martin Baltimore (Martin Model A-30) was an American-built light attack bomber developed from the earlier Martin Maryland. It was originally ordered for France through the Anglo-French Purchasing Commission, but following the fall of France, Britain took over the order and the RAF gave the aircraft the service name Baltimore. Later production was supplied under Lend-Lease. The United States Army Air Forces assigned the designations A-30 and A-30A to later versions for procurement purposes, but did not operate the Baltimore in regular combat squadrons. A total of 1,575 Baltimores were built between 1941 and 1944.

Baltimores saw extensive service in the Mediterranean and Middle East, particularly in North Africa, Italy, Sicily and the Aegean. They were flown by British, South African, Australian, Hellenic and Italian Co-Belligerent squadrons.

The type was fast, strongly built and heavily armed for a light bomber. Armament varied between versions, but typically included four forward-firing wing-mounted machine guns, defensive guns or a powered dorsal turret, and a bomb load of up to 2,000 lb. Crews praised its performance, manoeuvrability and bombing accuracy, although its narrow fuselage created cramped and separated crew positions. It could also be demanding to handle on the ground and during takeoff if engine power was not applied evenly.

Baltimores performed low-level and medium-altitude bombing, anti-shipping attacks, maritime patrol, tactical reconnaissance and night operations. They were especially active during the fighting in North Africa, the Tunisia Campaign, the invasion of Sicily and the Italian Campaign.

RAF use ended shortly after the war, although some foreign operators continued flying the Baltimore during the postwar period. Although the aircraft carried American A-30 designations and was built in the United States, its operational history belonged almost entirely to British and other Allied air forces.