Jack Anderson MARTIN of Dover Heights, NSW

[daretodiscover]

Hi,

I am hoping someone can help me fill in the blanks on this chap.

Jack was born 21 August 1921 in New Farm, QLD. His father was Henry.

On 20 June 1942, he enlisted in the RAAF as a Wireless Operator and ended up on a Special Duties squadron in the UK.

Upon demobilization on 23 February 1946, he gave an address at Bondi.

The trail then goes cold until a death notice appears in the SMH on 31 October 1990, stating he had died the day before.

Is it possible to obtain a copy of this notice and/or anything else that could help tell his story?

Many thanks in advance,

DTD

[cupoflife]

PM sent with death and funeral notice
http://www.easternsuburbsmemorialpark.com.au/finding-loved-ones
Jack Anderson Martin; date of death 30/10/1990 ; date of service 1/11/1990; Ashes Collected by Applicant

Not sure?  Norma Martin date of death 21/06/2016 ; date of service 24/06/2016; Ashes Collected by Applicant


NSW marriage
7728/1946 MARTIN, JACK ANDERSON and GOLDTHORP, NORMA; WAVERLEY

[ennael]

Hi,
  Engagement notice:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17846540?

Leanne

[Aussie1947]

Hi,

Jack was and acting Warrant Officer Wireless Operator with 192 RAF Squadron part of 100 Group flying out of Foulsham, Norfolk.  This Squadron was a Radio Counter Measure (RCM) Unit and its role was to fly in bombing raids over Germany to detect and countermeasure German Radar signals, they often carried bombs as well.

192 RCM Squadron flew more sorties and suffered more casualties than any other RCM Squadron.

Jack was on his 25th mission when his Halifax hit another Halifax on 5th March 1945 over Poland while trying to dodge fire from a German fighter and he bailed out with others and he was captured.

I reckon all of the Wireless Operators would have been hand picked for the RCM Squadrons and Jack would have had a great story to tell flying with an RCM Unit especially having clocked up 25 missions and having to bail out.  He was Gazetted as a Pilot Officer on 4th March 1945.

Gerry

[daretodiscover]

Many thanks cupoflife (I PMed you) and ennael for the information.

Gerry, many thanks. I'm pretty sure Martin was the wireless operator of this crew from OTU onwards. The chap who manned the special equipment (Mandrel) was an RAF W/O who was not their original Special Operator.

I can't imagine flying 2 hrs with seven feet of the nose missing. One report I've seen says the temp was -37 in the cockpit.

DTD

[Aussie1947]

DTD,

Thanks for the added info, I see from Martin's debriefing notes that another Wireless Operator bailed out as well.  I had said that their Halifax had hit another Halifax but it was a Lancaster (KB842) of 434 Squadron which itself was attacked by German Fighters after the mid air crash and eventually crash landed in England with no crew injuries.

Gerry

[daretodiscover]

Yes, the entire crew, save the skipper, bailed out over Russian lines. The skipper set it down gently in a farmer's field, climbed out and surrendered to a Russian patrol.

DTD