Harold Brownlow Martin
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| Harold Brownlow Martin | |
|---|---|
| 27 February 1918 – 3 November 1988 | |
| Nickname | Micky |
| Place of birth | Edgecliff, New South Wales, Australia |
| Place of death | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940–1975 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Unit | No. 455 Squadron RAAF No. 50 Squadron RAF No. 617 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Bath Distinguished Service Order (Bar) Distinguished Flying Cross (2 Bars) Air Force Cross |
| Other work | Advisor (Hawker Siddeley) |
Air Marshal Sir Harold Brownlow Morgan "Micky" Martin, KCB, DSO & Bar, DFC & Two Bars, AFC (27 February 1918 – 3 November 1988) was an Australian pilot in the Royal Air Force who took part in Operation Chastise, the RAF's famous "Dambusters" mission in 1943. He was described by journalist Sir Max Hastings as "one of the three great bomber pilots of the war".[1]
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Born in Edgecliff, New South Wales, Martin left Australia for the United Kingdom in 1939, intending to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh, but instead volunteered to join the Royal Air Force on 28 August 1940.[2]
[edit] World War II
Assigned to the No. 617 Squadron, Martin took part in the famous "Dambusters" raid on 17 May 1943. Martin piloted the Avro Lancaster bomber AJ-P "Popsie" in the first formation, which was assigned to attack the Möhne Dam in Western Germany. Martin's plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire during the attack, but he successfully accomplished the bombing run and returned.
[edit] After World War II
After the war, Martin broke the speed record for flying from England to Cape Town in a de Havilland Mosquito, for which he won the Oswald Watt Gold Medal. After retiring from the RAF, he worked for aircraft manufacturers Hawker Siddeley as an advisor.
Sir Harold died at his home in London on 3 November 1988,[3] and is buried at Gunnersbury Cemetery.
[edit] References
- ^ O'Donnell, Conal: WW2 People's War, British Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ Nelson, Hank (2006). Chased by the Sun: The Australians in Bomber Command in World War II. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1741148472.
- ^ Sir Harold Martin, Pilot, 70, The New York Times, 6 November 1988.
[edit] External links
- Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Marshal Sir Harold Martin
- Find-A-Grave profile for Harold Brownlow Martin
- The Dambusters: AJ-P "Popsie"
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by C N Foxley-Norris |
Commander-in-Chief RAF Germany 1970–1973 |
Succeeded by N M Maynard |
| Preceded by Sir Lewis Hodges |
Air Member for Personnel 1973–1974 |
Succeeded by Sir Neil Cameron |
