William W. H. Martyn
“I wouldn’t trade this job for anything in the world.”
This website is dedicated to preserving and sharing the military service of Bill Martyn from 1936 to 1946, first with the Royal Air Force and then the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.
Bill served with distinction throughout the war in Europe and the Pacific. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Bar, and received three Mentions in Despatches.
“Don’t worry about me – I’m happy, and where I want to be – the probability of not pulling through this war causes me no anxiety.”
In a letter to his father, October 1941Service record
- Born
- December 30, 1915, Winnipeg, Canada
- Hometown
- Calgary, Canada
- Died
- April 3, 1975, Victoria, Canada
- Height
- 6′ 2″
- Military service
- October 1936 – June 1946
- Royal Air Force
- October 12, 1936 to August 1, 1938
- Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy
- August 1, 1938 to June 1946
- Total flying hours
- 1,752
- Aircraft types operated
- 48
- Aircraft carriers
- 7
- Aerodromes visited
- 100
- Countries visited
- 16
- Enemy aircraft downed
- 4 (with 8 probable)
- Highest decoration
- Distinguished Service Cross and Bar
Choose your mission
Story
Peter Lawson’s Firsts and Foremost: The Story of Bill Martyn gives an excellent summary of what Bill did during the Second World War. Start there.
Begin →Letters
Three hundred plus letters give a unique glimpse into the thoughts and experiences of a young man pursuing his dream and ultimately caught up in war.
Begin →Log Book
Bill’s second log book, from July 1941 to November 1945, is shared here. His first was lost during Operation Pedestal, when Indomitable was bombed.
Begin →Maps
An interactive map of the aerodromes and countries Bill visited and operated from between 1936 and 1945. A second map, of operations, is in the works.
Begin →Aircraft
Forty-eight types between 1936 and 1945, from the Hawker Hart to the Corsair. Thirty-six are pictured, with his flights in each.
Begin →Carriers
Seven ships, from Glorious in 1939 to Ruler in 1945, and what Bill did aboard each.
Begin →Newspaper
Bill made headlines around the world with a raid on a long-range gun at Calais. Notices of his M.i.D.s, DSC and Bar featured in Canadian newspapers, with other clippings.
Begin →