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.

Above image courtesy of Andrew Bird, 235 Squadron Registrar
and author of 'Coastal Dawn' (ISBN-10 1906502692).

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 CB 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.