He took part in Operation Chastise, the RAF's "Dambusters" raid in 1943, and was described by journalist Sir Max Hastings as "one of the three great bomber pilots of the war".

He intended to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh, but instead volunteered to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) on 28 August 1940.

Martin was considered one of the best pilots in the squadron and was known for his dry jokes and constant good humour that he exhibited at all times, even when he was under considerable pressure.

Following Gibson's retirement from operations and the immediate loss in action of his successor, Squadron Leader George Holden, Martin assumed temporary command of No.

In February 1944, during an attack on the Anthéor railway Viaduct in the French Riviera, Martin's Lancaster was hit by flak, knocking out the two port engines and killing the bomb aimer Bob Hay, while wounding another crew member.

515 Squadron, flying the de Havilland Mosquito on serrate night fighter missions in support of Bomber Command aircraft.

[3] He broke the speed record for flying from London to Cape Town, completing the 6,717 mile journey in a time of 21 hours, 31 minutes in a Mosquito,[5] for which he won the Oswald Watt Gold Medal and the Britannia Trophy.

The flights were top secret reconnaissance missions deep into the Soviet Union using American B-45 Tornado bombers.

Unfortunately Martin failed a pressurisation test and the entire project was handed over to Squadron Leader John Crampton instead.