The Airmen's Stories - P/O A W Martin

Allan William Martin was born in 1914 in Bounds Green, London and joined the RAFVR in February 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at 5 BGS Jurby, was commissioned and joined 235 Squadron on 1st April 1940. He served with them throughout the Battle of Britain.

235 Squadron Bircham Newton 5th October 1940. Photograph taken from the port wing of Blenheim N3530.

Rear row (L to R): Adjutant F/O A Pinnock (not BoB), P/O AW Martin, P/O NB Shorrocks, Sgt. PF Hall, Sgt. WHJ Westcott, Sgt. LPVJ Ricks (Canadian), Sgt. KE Naish.

Front row (L to R): S/Ldr. RN (Neville-) Clarke, P/O LLG Javaux (Belgian), P/O JL Kirkpatrick (Belgian).

(Image courtesy of Andrew Pinnock)

Martin was posted to 502 (Ulster) Squadron, a Coastal Command unit operating Liberators. Aloft with F/O A van Rossum’s crew on 30th July 1943, their aircraft surprised a surface group of three U-boats. Although hit by return fire from the submarine's deck guns, they bombed and sank U-461 and U-462. The third boat, U-504, dived but was later sunk by a navy patrol summoned by radio by the aircraft.

Martin was awarded the DFC (gazetted 7th December 1943)

Martin was released from the RAF in 1945 as a Squadron Leader. He joined the RAFVR in May 1948 and received his Air Efficiency Award in August 1948.