RAF
DOSSIER No -
F/Lt L. Martel
Full Name
Ludwik Martel
DOB
5th March 1919
Nationality
Polish
Rank
Flight Lieutenant
 
Year
 Postings
Rank
1940
 Joined PAF 6 August
-
1940
 Joined 54 Squadron mid-September
-
1940
 Joined 603 Squadron 28th Setember
-
1941
 Joined 317 Squadron 19th March
-
1942
 Joined 58 OTU
Instructor
1942
 Re-joined 317 Squadron 25th August
-
1943
 Joined the newly-formed Polish Fighting Team in North Africa.
-
1943
 Re-joined 317 Squadron 22nd July
-
1943
 Posted to 16 FTS on 20th August
-
1943
 Re-joined 317 Squadron on 4th November
Flight Commander
1944
 Posted to HQ PAF on 12th September
-
1945
 Attached to School of Air Support at Old Sarum on 4th March
-
1946
 Posted to H Q BAFO Operations Room in January
-
1946
 Served with 131 Wing from 14th October
-
1947
 Released from the PAF in January
-
Portrait

F/Lt Ludwik Martel was born on 5th March 1919. He arrived in England in early 1940 and was commissioned in the RAF in May and transferred to the PAF on August 6. He joined 54 Squadron in mid-September 1940 and moved to 603 Squadron at on the 28th and claimed a Bf 109 destroyed on 5 October. On the 25th October 1940, while serving on 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn, Ludwik was forced down in Spitfire IIa P7350 by a ME 109, suffering a shrapnel wound to his left leg.
He was posted to 317 Squadron on 19 March 1941.
He was rested on 28 January 1942, going to 58 OTU, Grangemouth as an instructor, before returning to 317 Squadron on 25 August.

He went to West Kirby on 13 February 1943 to prepare for overseas and on 13 March arrived in the Middle East in a C-47 with other Polish pilots to form the Polish Fighting Team, otherwise known as ‘Skalski’s Circus’. They were attached to 145 Squadron and operated in the Western Desert from 17 March to 12 May and destroyed 30 enemy aircraft. He damaged a FW 190 on 4 April and destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged a Mc 200 on the 20th.

Back in the UK he returned to 317 Squadron on 22 July 1943. He was posted to 16 FTS, Newton on 20 August but went back to 317 Squadron on 4 November, as a Flight Commander. Tour-expired, he was posted to HQ PAF on 12 September 1944. He was attached to the School of Air Support at Old Sarum on 4 March 1945 for a course, before being posted to HQ BAFO Operations Room in January 1946. He served with 131 Wing from 14 October 1946 until released from the PAF in January 1947.

The Historical Aircraft Collection’s Spitfire Mk Vb BM597 is also painted in Ludwik's markings (JH-C of 317 Sqn) in tribute to the brave Polish airmen who served on during the war

Decorations
1941 Awarded the Krzyz Walecznych (KW) on 1st April
1943 Awarded two Bars to the KW on 20th December
1944 Awarded the Virtuti Militari (VM) (5th Class) on 25th September

Related Information
The Historical Aircraft Collection’s Spitfire Mk Vb BM597 is painted in Ludwik's markings (JH-C of 317 Sqn) in tribute to the brave Polish airmen who served on during the war.

In acknowledgment of Ludwik’s contribution, it was decided to temporarily paint the Flight’s Spitfire Mk IIa, P7350, in the markings she wore when Ludwik was forced down in her – XT-W. It was hoped to fly P7350 to Duxford on the 20th May 2006 to reunite Ludwik with both his aircraft but unfortunately due to ill health he was unable to attend.


First Day Cover signed by Ludwik Martel