The Papers of
William W. H. Martyn

The Aircraft

Bill Martyn flew 48 different aircraft types between 1936 and 1945, among them the Spitfire, Seafire, Sea Hurricane, Avenger, Martlet (also called the F4F Wildcat), Skua and Corsair. Thirty-six are pictured here. The full list is on the back of his log book.

Where a type appears in the surviving log book (July 1941 onwards), its card links to those flights.

“My card this year shows my flight of Nimrod single-seater fighters over Malta in rather tightish formation – see for yourself! Once the Italians see a formation like that they’ll go home quick.”

In a letter home, November 1938
A 1938 card showing a flight of Hawker Nimrods in formation over Malta
The card Bill was talking about, with Nimrods in formation (1938).

“When you want manoeuvrability combined with high speed and rate of climb, come along with me in a Sea Gladiator.”

In a letter home, November 1939

“The Hawk Trainer is a very fast machine but I go on Hawker Harts on Jan. 9 and you can ease stick back and things really happen in them.”

In a letter home, Christmas Day 1936

“Did you know that when the Spitfire or Hurricane fires its 8 Brownings, the speed of the aircraft drops 40 m.p.h. (remarkable, eh?)”

In a letter home, July 1939

“The period for war time flying training has been cut down now, so I am glad that I had a good training. My three years’ service flying should do me in good stead, I hope, but I am not saying anything.”

In a letter home, November 1939

Flight counts come from the surviving log book (July 1941 to November 1945) and count each line that names the type, so they are approximate. The log book begins in July 1941, so earlier flying is not covered. The cards marked “Photograph wanted” are types that appear often in the log book but are not on the current site.