Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Coastal Command operations D.F.C. group of six awarded to Squadron Leader A. W. Martin, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, a Battle of Britain veteran who was decorated for successful anti-U-boat operations over the Bay of Biscay in the summer of 1943, not least his part in the destruction of the U-462 on 30 July

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’, in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, Atlantic; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, these four in their addressed card box of issue; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Flt. Lt. A. W. Martin, R.A.F.V.R.), in its named card box of issue, together with a set of wartime tunic ribands, extremely fine (6) £4000-5000

D.F.C. London Gazette 7 December 1943.

Allan William Martin, a native of Bounds Green in North London, who was born in 1914, entered the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in February 1939.

Qualifying as an Observer, and commissioned as a Pilot Officer in late March 1940, a week later he joined No. 235 Squadron, a fighter reconnaissance unit of Coastal Command equipped with Blenheims. Based at Bircham Newton, the Squadron flew sorties over Holland during the German invasion of the Low Countries and, during the Battle of Britain, convoy protection and reconnaissance patrols over the North Sea.

Martin, who was advanced to Flight Lieutenant in March 1942, was next posted to No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron, another Coastal Command unit, equipped with Halifaxes, and it was in this capacity, as a member of Flying Officer A. van Rossum’s crew, that he participated in a memorable action in the Bay of Biscay on 30 July 1943 - on which date two U-Boats were destroyed by Coastal Command aircrew and a third by Captain “Johnnie” Walker, R.N.

Arriving over the Bay after a general action had commenced with all three U-Boats, van Rossum carried out a determined and accurate attack on the U-462. Conflict Over the Bay, by Norman Franks, takes up the story:

‘The American Liberator made another attack, also from low level and was hit by gunfire from U-504. This smashed the Liberator's release gear, causing the D/Cs to hang-up. Van Rossum then dropped his third bomb on U-462, but his first bomb had caused enough damage already and she had begun to sink. About 40 of her crew were taking to dinghies or diving into the water. The American pilot made another run but even when they used the jettison mechanism, the D/Cs failed to release. Van Rossum recorded:

“We were right over it as it began to go down slowly. As it sank lower and lower more and more men came running along the deck and jumped into the water. When only the conning tower was left above water we saw shell splashes off to one side. The Navy had arrived and the sloops were shelling our sinking U-boat. They were too late for this, though, and all the men had jumped overboard.”

By this time, Captain Walker's ships were fast approaching -just five miles off. Seeing these on the horizon, U-504 crash-dived, ending the air action which had lasted just eighteen minutes from van Rossum's first bomb.

The Escort Group radioed van Rossum, asking what was happening. He replied that two U-boats had been sunk and that the third had dived, on a westerly heading. The hunt was started for U-504 and at 12.34 am an asdic contact was made. However, asdic conditions were not good and D/C attacks were not made until 1.49. These lasted for some time until, in the mid-afternoon, oil, wreckage and human remains came to the surface, confirming the death of U-504. The Bay's air and surface forces had destroyed completely, a whole U-boat group. With the last kill confirmed, Walker's ships returned to the area of U-461 and 462's sinkings to pick up the survivors, H.M.S. Woodpecker taking Stiebler and his men on board.’

Martin was awarded the D.F.C.

Having then added a mention in despatches to his accolades before the War’s end (London Gazette 1 January 1945, refers), he was released from the R.A.F.V.R. in the rank of Squadron Leader and received his Air Efficiency Award in August 1948.