RAF Coastal Command - Edwin John Martin (1916-1942)

Edwin John Martin (1916-1942) 1325799 (Wireless operator/air gunner)

KIA 28th March 1942 - lost during a recce along the Norwegian coast. He was flying with No. 86 Squadron, which at the time was based in Skitten, Caithness, Scotland with Coastal Command.

No. 86 Squadron served with Coastal Command during the Second World War, first flying anti-shipping strikes with the Blenheim and Beaufort before converting to the very long-range Liberator to fly anti-submarine patrols.

The squadron formed at Gosport on 6 December 1940. Operations began on 28 March 1941, and the squadron used its Blenheims on convoy escort duty until June. In June, the Beauforts arrived, and in mid-July minelaying operations began. These were followed by reconnaissance and air-sea rescue duties, before in November 1941, the squadron began to train to use its Beauforts as torpedo-bombers.

The first torpedo-bomber sorties were flow on 12 December 1941. Early in 1942, the squadron moved south-west to St. Eval, and spent three months flying anti-shipping missions off France, before moving to Scotland to perform the same duties off Norway.

The plane they were flying in was a Bristol Beaufort and had a crew of 4 all lost on the flight.

Sgt. Alex Webster (pilot) 776136
Sgt. Owen Roy Durston (Observer) 1206589 - Age 31 from Cornwall
Sgt. Walter Duckworth (wireless operator/air gunner) 997292 - Age 25
Sgt. Edwin Martin (wireless operator/air gunner) 1325799 - Age 26

[From the crews' badges in the photo it appears our Edwin Martin is either top left or bottom right I think the chap top left looks more like a Martin - I am doing further research to see if I can find out for sure. I also have these medals found in a box with Arthur Ronald's medals I believe these are Edwin John Martin's. I have written to the MOD Medals Office for confirmation of what medals he should have received we are waiting for a reply so will let you know.]