Martin Baltimore

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The Martin Baltimore was a twin‑engined light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft built in the United States by the Glenn L. Martin Company. It started as the A‑30 in U.S. service, but in Britain it was known as the Baltimore. A total of about 1,575 were built.

Development and names
The Baltimore grew from the earlier Martin Maryland and was officially the Model 187. It was first ordered by France in May 1940 to replace the Maryland. After France fell, the British took over the order and, with Lend‑Lease, the United States supplied the aircraft as the A‑30 to the Royal Air Force (RAF). The first British Baltimores arrived in late 1941, mainly for training units, and later saw frontline use in the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Who used it
Although many air forces operated it, the United States Army Air Forces didn’t use the Baltimore in combat. The RAF, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, South African Air Force, and later Greek and Italian air forces all flew Baltimores. They were most active in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Italian campaigns.

Design and experience
The Baltimore had a deeper fuselage and stronger engines than its predecessor, the Maryland. It carried a heavy set of armament and offered relatively high performance for its class. Crews praised its firepower and sturdiness, but complained of cramped cockpits and a narrow fuselage that made it hard to move around, especially if wounded. Handling on the ground was also difficult, and takeoff required careful throttle work to avoid nose‑overs.

Roles and operations
Baltimores flew many missions: bombing, reconnaissance, towing targets, maritime patrols, night intruder raids, and even fast transport duties. They also served in anti‑submarine roles, helping to sink several U‑boats. In the Italian campaign after the 1943 armistice, Italian‑manned units used them for air support and supply drops, though many experienced losses during training due to takeoff and landing stresses.

Performance and losses
If escorted and kept at medium altitudes, Baltimores had a relatively low loss rate. Unescorted, especially on low‑level attacks, they suffered more losses. Most accidents happened during takeoff and landing because of the aircraft’s high wing loading and speed.

Postwar and fate
After the war, the Baltimore was used by the U.S. Navy for instrument and control tests, including attempts to study high‑speed diving. It could reach speeds close to Mach 0.74 in tests. All Baltimores were retired by the end of 1949.

Interesting notes
- A wreck from a 454 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force Baltimore, was found in 2025 off the coast near Antikythera, Greece. The plane had been on a reconnaissance mission when it was shot down in December 1943.
- Nearly all Baltimores were lost during transport across the Atlantic, when ships carrying them were sunk.
- No Baltimore aircraft survived intact, though several wrecks are known to exist.

Overall, the Baltimore was built in large numbers and served with multiple Allied air forces, proving to be a versatile but challenging aircraft in its era.