John Langham Martin

Rank:Flt.LieutenantNumber:45053
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:464 (RAAF) Sqn - RAF
Name of Rgt or Ship:Bomber Command
Died:22/06/1944Age:27
How Died:Killed in Action
Country of burial:FranceGrave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Creil Communal Cemetery
Town Memorial:Hale
Extra Information:
Born during the June quarter 1917 in the Barton upon Irwell R.D. - ref:
8c/960, the son of Thomas & Amy Martin (nee Williamson).

1921 Census - Chasewood, Gilpin Road, Urmston.   Son - aged: 4 years 1
month - born: Urmston.    Head of household was his widowed maternal
grandmother - Edith Claudine Williamson.   His parents were residing at her
home.   Thomas Martin - Married - aged: 28 years, 11 months - occ: General
Manager with Anchor Chemical Company, Clayton Lane, Clayton, Manchester. -
born: Manchester.   Also - Amy Martin - Wife - aged: 27 years 3 months -
born: Urmston.

1939 National Registration - No Trace, probably serving.  His parents were
then residing at "Southwood", Hargate Drive, Hale, Cheshire.  Thomas -
Married - born: 4th July 1892 - occ: Director of Chemical Works.   Amy
Martin - Married - born: 17th March 1892 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.   
Amy M. Martin - Single - born: 23rd April 1921 - occ: Teacher of Dancing.  
This would indicate that he was already serving by then - servicemen were
not included in the domestic N.R.

Commissioned to the rank of Pilot Officer on the 27th November 1940 -
Gazetted 7th January 1941.

From Wikipedia - 464 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
bomber squadron during World War II. Formed in 1942 in the United Kingdom
with personnel from Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa
and the Netherlands, the squadron served in the light bomber role,
undertaking operations over France and the Low Countries, from bases in
England. It also flew night fighter missions.  Later, following D-Day, the
squadron moved to France where it was used to interdict German transports
and infrastructure. It further engaged in several low-level precision raids
against Gestapo targets in France and Denmark.

In early 1944, still based out of RAF  Hunsdon, No. 464 Squadron
concentrated on attacking V-1 flying bomb launch sites and gained a
reputation for highly accurate bombing.  This reputation led it to be
selected for Operation Jericho, which was the first of a number of
precision attacks that the squadron made on Gestapo targets in occupied
Europe.  In this mission, aircraft from the squadron formed part of the
force which breached the walls of a Gestapo prison at Amiens, France on 18
February 1944 allowing members of the French Resistance to escape.  The
squadron's activities were intensified from April as part of the
preparations for the Allied invasion of Europe. It struck railway
infrastructure, bridges, road transport and convoys.  In contrast with its
previous operations, these sorties were often conducted during daylight.

The squadron continued to attack transport and communications targets from
June 1944 to support the invasion; in this role it was a prominent part of
the Australian contribution to the Battle of Normandy.  This was one of its
busiest periods during the war and in the first week after D-Day, the
squadron's aircraft flew 75 sorties; over the course of the whole month it
lost five aircraft.

Died together with Flight Sergeant Haydn Llewelyn Morgan - No.99108 and
buried with him in a Joint Grave in Creil Communal Cemetery.

M.I. - "Say not they had too brief a day.  They knew the dawn, but not
decay".

CWGC - Son of Tom & Amy Martin, of Bromley Cross (north of Bolton),
Lancashire.  B.Sc. Elot.





Memorials found on:
Manchester University
Similar Names