The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. A Martin

A Sergeant Martin served with 264 Squadron during the Battle of Britain as an Air Gunner. All attempts to establish his identity have failed.

November 2022 - this is now known to be Charles Martin, born in 1921 to William Martin and Ellen Martin (nee Donachy) of Ardrossan, Ayrshire.

The first mention of him in 264’s ORB is on 1st July 1940 and his last sortie was made on 15th July 1941.

On 24th August 1940, flying with P/O EG Barwell, Martin shot down a Me109.

During the night of 10th/11th April 1941, again with Barwell, he shot down a He111 and probably another.

His next posting was to 60 OTU East Fortune, operating Defiants. On 8th December 1941 he was aloft in Defiant I N1570 piloted by Sgt. Thomas Edward Tressam (RCAF).

It is thought that the aircraft went out of control in cloud 5 miles WNW of Drem and came down in the Firth of Forth.

Both men are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.