LEST WE FORGET
Squadron John Lionel MARTIN DFC & Bar
From Australia serving in the Royal Air Force
Service No: 106968 (RAFVR)
Born: Sydney NSW, 1914
Enlisted in the RAF: Date Unavailable
Unit: No. 7 Squadron (RAF)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 7 Squadron Lancaster aircraft JB676), Germany, 28 April 1944, Aged 30 Years
Buried: Durnbach War Cemetery, Bayern, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Christopher John and Inez Martin; husband of Margaret Martin, of Lydiate, Lancashire.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
DFC Citation (No. 7 Squadron (RAF)): As a navigator, this officer has participated in numerous sorties over enemy and enemy occupied territory, including attacks on Kiel, Hamburg, Cologne, Turin and other important targets. By his ability and tireless efforts, Flying Officer Martin was selected to become station navigation officer. He has always shown courage and a strong sense of duty. (Citation dated 14 April 1942)
On the night of 27-28 April 1944, Lancaster JB676 took off from Oakington to bomb Friedrichshafen, Germany. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Reichenbach with all crew members being killed.
The crew members of JB676 were:
Pilot Officer William Walter Bigoray DFM (J/89731) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Leslie Dennis Goldingay (130244) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant John Elliot Johnson (1591067) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Wing Commander William Guy Lockhart DSO DFC (112728) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Squadron Leader John Lionel Martin DFC (106968) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Squadron Leader George Ryle DFC (79219) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Frank Wells Shields (1675802) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial AWM65 3543
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
International Bomber Command Centre Website