My father, Phil Martin was a pilot on Lancaster bombers in World War 2. He served with distinction with 617 Squadron, otherwise known as the "Dambusters", a moniker derived from the famous raids on the dams in the Ruhr Valley of Germany in 1943. Phil was invited to join 617 after that raid. You couldn't volunteer to join 617, it was by invitation only.

617 squadron was and still is, considered the elite squadron of Bomber Command, and for the time that Phil and his crew were in that squadron, they held the record for the greatest bombing accuracy. As a result of that, and the dangerous missions they were sent on, Phil came out with a Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.
 

I have a PDF file of an article by Colin Burgess who was a Qantas steward at the time. The article is called Australia's Dambusters and was originally published in the Qantas crew magazine "Transit".

The parts applicable to my father were mostly written by his bomb aimer, Don Day, a man with an amazing memory for detail. This article is not intended to glorify war, quite the opposite. You only have to ask one who has experienced the fear about the futility of war. That said, they had a job to do, and did it with great courage and skill.

Download the article here It is a PDF file, zipped for easy download.

Colin has since written a complete book, based on the article but obviously in greater depth. The cover is of Phil's Lancaster B1 Special, a specially stripped down model capable of carrying the 22,000 pound "Grand Slam" bomb. The Grand Slam is still to this day the biggest conventional bomb ever used in wartime.

Click on the photo for the publishers site.

Another book has just been published in the UK. This book is partly written, and entirely inspired by Andy Lee. Andy's grandfather was a mechanic with 617 squadron and worked on one of Dad's aircraft. The book is a dedication to Andy's grandfather, Basil Pearson, and covers all the missions undertaken by the squadron during world war 2.

Again, click on the book cover to link to the publishers website.

Medals awarded to Phillip Martin. Left - Right. D.F.C. and Bar, the 1939 - 1945 Star, The France and Germany Star, The Defence Medal, The War medal, The Australia Service Medal.

  Click for an enlargement

  The emblem for 617 Squadron. The motto "Apres moi le deluge" is French for "After me, the deluge"

If you require any information about Phil's dambuster service, please email me. My email is on the home page.