Phillip Herbert Martin DFC & Bar

Phillip Herbert Martin DFC & Bar

Personal Information
Date of Birth	19 Jul 1923
Place of Birth	Gosnells, Western Australia
Death	25 Jan 2010, aged 86
Place of Death	Carnarvon, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 9 months
Occupation	clerk
Religion	Church of England
Address	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Herbert Martin
Military Information
Reg Number	427006
Date of Enlistment	26 Apr 1942
Rank	Flying Officer
Unit/Formation	No. 617 Squadron RAF
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument(s)	Roleystone Roll of Honour
Medals	Distinguished Flying Cross 1939-45 Star Aircrew Europe Star France & Germany Star

Pre War

Diagnosed with asthma, Phil spent part of his childhood at Southern Cross living with an aunt. He won a scholarship to the Eastern Goldfields High School, but later attended the Perth boys School until 1938.

War Service

On 26 Apr 1942 Phillip enlisted int he RAAF at No.4 Recruit Centre RAAF as an Aircraftsman. The same day he was posted to No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF at Clontarf where he was promoted Leading Aircraftsman on 18 Jul 1942. His next move was on 21 Sep 1942 when he joined the No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF at Cunderdin. Having completed his early flying training, on 23 Nov 1942 Phillip was transferred to the No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Geraldton where at the completion of his training on 11 Mar 1943 he was promoted Sergeant.

He returned to Perth posted to the No. 5 Embarkation Depot RAAF awaiting a posting to an operational unit. However, on 14 Apr 1943 he was posted to the No. 1 Embarkation Depot RAAF in Ascot Vale, Victoria, having been chosen to serve in the UK. The nxt day he moved on to the No. 2 Embarkation Depot RAAF at Bradfield Park in New South Wales. Finally on 16 Apr 1943 he embarked for the UK in Brisbane, disembarking there on 28 May 1943.

On arrival he was posted to the No. 11 Personnel Depot & Reception Centre RAAF. On 6 Jul 1943 Phillip joined the No. 15 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF at RAF Caistor in Lincolnshire. with this stage of his training completed, on 17 Aug 1943 he was posted to HQ No 50 Group RAF. He was posted to the No. 17 Operational Training Unit RAF on 2 Nov 1943 at RAF Siverstone to undertake a conversion course on Vickers Wellington bombers. Following training, on 16 Feb 1944 Phillip was posted to 51 Base, after which, on 21 May 1944, he was posted to No. 61 Squadron RAF who were operating Avro Lancvaster bombers.

Following a period of operational service he was posted on 1 Sep 1944 to No. 617 Squadron RAF which was by then known as The Dambusters for their 1943 efforts against dams in the Ruhr Valley. The squadron carried out specialist and precision-bombing roles, including the use of the enormous "Tallboy" and "Grand Slam" ground-penetrating earthquake bombs. These were used on targets such as concrete U-boat shelters and bridges. After failed attempts were made on The Dortmund-Ems Canal in 1943, it was finally breached with Tallboys in September 1944. In March 1945 the squadron used the Grand Slam bomb for the first time, against the Bielefeld viaduct, wrecking it.

The task was given to No. IX and No. 617 Squadrons; they were deployed to Yagodnik, near Archangel a staging base in Russia to attack Tirpitz with Tallboy bombs. On 15 September 1944, the RAF bombers struck the battleship in the forecastle, which rendered her unseaworthy, so she was sent to the Tromsø fjord where temporary repairs were made so she was anchored as a floating battery.[18] This fjord was in range of bombers operating from Scotland and from there, in October, she was attacked again, but cloud cover thwarted the attack. Finally on 12 November 1944, the two squadrons attacked Tirpitz. The first bombs missed their target, but following aircraft scored two direct hits in quick succession. Within ten minutes of the first bomb hitting the Tirpitz,

11 Sep 1943 Flight Sergeant 17 Apr 1944 Pilot Officer 17 Oct 1944 Fliying Officer

Phil had flown 30 missions with No. 61 Squadron RAF prior to being invited to join No. 617 Squadron RAF after the raids on German dams, flying Avro Lancaster aircraft.

The Kembs Barrage was a dam 10 km north west of Basel in Switzerland.

Discharged 18 Jan 1946

Award Comment

"For courage and devotion to duty in flying operations against the enemy". The more detailed citation reads:

He's a most skilful and determined pilot who has never let the adverse weather or enemy opposition deter him from completing his mission. At all times this officer has displayed courage, fine leadership and unfailing devotion to duty.

The same wording was used for the award of a Bar to his DFC. This sortie was the attack on Kembs Barrage, and the more detailed citation reads:

Flying Officer Martin has completed very many sorties and has displayed outstanding keenness and devotion to duty. In October 1944 he piloted one of the formation aircraft detailed to attack the sluice gates of the Kembs Barrage. In spite of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, he pressed home the most determined attack.

Post War

During 1946 Phillip was a member of a musical group in Roleystone known as 'The Hilarions'. On 5 Feb 1949 Phillip married another member of the group, Mavis Irene Fuller in St Andrews Church, Perth. Born in 1921, Mavis died on 15 Jun 2003 at Mt Nasura, aged 81. They had four children, Deb, Anne, Glenda and Owen.

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1958 at River road, Kelmscott, photographer; 1968 - 1980 at 8 Dale street, Kelmscott, photographer

Notes

His brother Ernest Gordon Martin served initially with the 2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion, but later in 1943 he joined the RAAF.