Father: Erwin Gustav Martens (originally Dutch, nationalised British in 1904, d. 1937); Managing Director of the Anglo-Continental Guano Works Ltd, London Mother: Amalia Ottile Luise Henriette 'Molly' [Joachimi], (originally from Germany), of The Old Rectory, Rotherby, Leicestershire
[Their house in Hampstead, London, was burgled in 1916 by a William Farrer, a ship's fireman, who stole a quantity of silver goods to the value of £l40: "He was arrested solely as a result of finger impressions on some articles of silver. Mr. Martens said that when he went downstairs on the morning of June 13th, he found the dining-room in great disorder, the window open, and a considerable amount of silver missing. No trace of the thief could be found. Det.-Sergt. Pike stated that he found footmarks on the flower border and window-sill, and a teapot wrapped in a serviette ready for removal. A closer examination of the three articles revealed several finger impressions; he at once conveyed them to Scotland Yard and submitted them to Mr. Superintendent Col of the finger print department. As a result of his report the prisoner was arrested on Sunday night. He declared that he knew nothing about it, but on the way to the police station he said, "I suppose this is a nark done this for me. I have been on the drink or you wouldn't have found me. It is just my luck." In his pocket the officer found a jemmy." - Marylebone Mercury]
Ed. Stowe,; Zuoz, Engadine, Switzerland; Paris prev. Company Director (Sales) for Anglo Continental Guano Works Ltd, London and Fogan Perrard & Prentice Ltd, Ipswich; "Works carried out all over Europe" RAeC Certificate No 16824 dated 3 Mar 1939, taken at Ipswich Aero Club Address in 1941: 17 Wellesley House, Sloane Sq., London SW1
m. Jul 1941 in Surrey, Diana Evelyn Mary [Willoughby]:
[Although the 'Tatler and Bystander' has her maiden name as 'Shanks'] Postings: 2FPP, 15FPP, 7FPP, 1FPP, 6FPP Class 5 (4-engine) pilot Reprimanded on 1 Feb 1943 for 'Late Arrival for Duty'
12 accidents, (which I think is a record, btw), 4 his fault: - 20 Oct 1941, he over-corrected the landing swing of Tomahawk AK107 on landing at Odiham, and damaged the port wing - 19 Dec 1941, his Hampden L4076 swung violently on take-off at Kirkbride and the undercarriage leg collapsed, due to a technical defect - 23 Nov 1942, he made a heavy landing in Spitfire Vc ES197 at Ratcliffe, and the undercarriage collapsed - 17 Jan 1943, he collided with a tractor at the end of the runway after landing at Brize Norton in Spitfire Vc JK123, having previously checked that it was clear - 18 May 1943, the undercarriage of his Hampden I AD857 collapsed during landing at Sherburn. He failed to allow enough time for the wheels to lock down after an engine failure - 16 Jul 1943, a forced landing at Scampton in Mitchell II FV925 after partial engine failure - 16 Oct 1943, "failure of junk head in No 8 cylinder" in Lancaster II DS844, leading to a forced landing at Linton-on-Ouse - 20 Oct 1943, Commended for "exceptional airmanship and courage" after a forced landing, after both engines failed, in Hampden I P2113. "He twice re-entered the burning aircraft, and extinguished the fire" "On 20th October 1943 the aircraft was scheduled for delivery to 12 MU at Kirkbride for long term storage as the T.B.I's had all been withdrawn from service by this time. Flight Captain John Erwin Martens ATA, of 16 FPP, was given the job of ferrying the aircraft from Tatenhill to Kirkbride and when ten miles north of Morecambe Bay at 3,000 feet the port engine failed, the aircraft lost height at a rate of 200 feet per minute and with the air speed down to 120 mph the starboard engine failed leaving the pilot no option but to make a forced landing in a field at Tod Brow, 1 mile West of Newton, Cumbria at 13.40 hrs. The aircraft was badly damaged and part of the wrecked aircraft caught fire. Flight Captain Martens sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was not repaired from this serious damage and Cat.E2/FA was recorded on the paperwork." - https://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york41/p2113.html - 5 Dec 1943, (another day, another undercarriage), he landed too fast in poor visibility at Tollerton in Warwick I BV448, and, as he turned off the runway, the undercarriage collapsed - 13 Mar 1944, a forced landing in a Stirling III after an engine failure - 2 Dec 1944, the port wing and tail of his Argus I FK348 lifted in a strong and gusty wind after landing at Bottesford, damaging the propeller and wingtip - 10 Aug 1945, a forced landing at Church Broughton after an oil leak obscured the windscreen of his Barracuda II MX550
"An exceptionally keen and hard working pilot. His cheerfulness and willingness is a great asset to the pool" "He still shows errors in judgement of men and is often tactless"
d. 14 Oct 1984 - Chessington, Surrey Diana d. 1999 Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file): |
1939
ATA
The 'Bystander'
