After the fall of France in June 1940 large numbers of the Martin 167F A-3 were flown to the French Mediterranean / North African colonies and were inducted in to the armed forces of the Vichy regime. This Aéronavale example is one of those. It is recognisable as a Vichy aircraft because of the stripes (red and yellow) on the engine nacelles and the elevator. After the events of mid 1942 in North Africa a number of Martin 167F A-3s fell into allied hands and were handed over to the Free French Air Force.

The Martin 167 was ordered by the French in substantial numbers (200+) as the Martin 167F A-3 and was used through out WWII by the Armée de l'Air, Aéronavale, Vichy French Air Force and the Free French Air Force.