Squadron Leader Dennis Fiennes Wykeham-Martin (72587) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. Born on 11th August 1914, he was the eldest son of Herbert Fiennes Wykeham-Martin and Olive Wykeham-Martin (née Bowyer) of Carshalton, Surrey. He was the husband of Sybil Marion Wykeham-Martin.
Between May 1928 and July 1931, Dennis was in Olds House at Lancing College, West Sussex. He attended the school before graduating and moving onto London University in 1932. While studying in London, he joined the University Air Squadron. In 1941, he married Sybil Marion Canning in Bladford, Dorset during his rise through the ranks of the Royal Air Force.
Wykeham-Martin in the RAF
On 31st January 1939, Wykeham-Martin received his Pilot Officer commission. He gained promotion to Flying Officer on 31st July 1940. During the Battle of Britain, Dennis flew with RAF 53 Squadron out of RAF Delting, Kent. The Squadron operated Bristol Blenheims in bombing and roles.
By 1941, Wykeham-Martin was flying with RAF 1404 Meteorological Flight out of RAF St. Eval, Cornwall. Still flying Bristol Blenheims, Wykeham-Martin’s crews covered the Bay of Biscay. They undertook reconnaissance sorties, anti-submarine patrols, and meteorological flights.
At 1220hrs on 30th June 1941, Wykeham-Martin’s crew spotted U-371 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Driver in the Bay of Biscay. The Kapitänleutnant reportedly mistook the Blenheim for a German Junkers JU-88 and failed to engage. At 1225hrs, Wykeham-Martin dropped a pair of 250lb anti-submarine bombs and a 250lb general-purpose bomb. The diving attack from the stern end of U-371 took its crew by surprise. The bombs exploded around 30 yards off the starboard bow. U-371 went into a crash dive. A final attack from the port side saw the Blenheim drop another 250lb bomb over the bow. This caused little or no damage to the already stricken U-boat. By 31st July 1941, Wykeham-Martin had been promoted to Flight Lieutenant.
Wykeham-Martin would claim another U-boat on 12th August 1941. For this, he received a commendation by Air Officer Commanding 19 Group. At 0855hrs, Wykeham-Martin took off from RAF St. Eval, Cornwall on a patrol over the Bay of Biscay. He spotted U-372 under the command of Heinz-Joachim Neumann. Wykeham-Martin’s Blenheim dropped a 250lb anti-submarine bomb 35 yards away from the U-boat. The impact was enough to submerge the craft. As it went under, the German submarine left a bubbling pool of oil. The Royal Air Force crew returned to base satisfied with another claimed victory. U-372 would, in fact, make it back to the port of Brest undamaged.
The Distinguished Flying Cross
On 2nd January 1942, Dennis Fiennes Wykeham-Martin received the Distinguished Flying Cross. The commendation read:
This officer’s vigilance and alertness have enabled him to sight and attack enemy submarines on four occasions. All these attacks produced promising results; after one attack which Flt. Lt. Wykeham-Martin carried out large air bubbles and oil were observed. This officer has served with great distinction, and he has shown great skill when flying in adverse weather conditions.
On 11th June 1942, Wykeham-Martin was again mentioned in despatches. Soon after this, he joined RAF 86 Squadron at RAF Aldergrove, Co. Antrim.
Imperial War Museum Photo: CH 18032 (Part of the Air Ministry Second World War Official Collection). Mechanics undertake their daily inspection of the engines of Consolidated Liberator GR Mark III, FL907, of No. 86 Squadron RAF, at Aldergrove, County Antrim. Copyright Flight Officer H Hensser H - Royal Air Force Official Photographer.
Liberator FK234-W Crash
At 0026hrs on 14th May 1942, Squadron Leader Wykeham-Martin’s crew took off from RAF Aldergrove, Co. Antrim in Consolidated Liberator FK234-W. Less than a minute into the flight, while still gaining altitude, the plane came down at Hill Close near Crumlin, Co. Antrim. Of the 8 crew members on board, a total of 4 died at the crash site. Wykeham-Martin succumbed to his injuries the following day on 15th May 1943.
In all, 6 of the 8 crew members died as a result of the crash. The 2 survivors sustained serious injuries and the Royal Air Force struck off the plane at Short and Harland, Belfast on 21st June 1943. RAF No. 226 Maintenance Unit and workers at Short and Harland, Belfast were unable to repair the Liberator as necessary.
Remembering the crew of Liberator FK234-W
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burney | Henry Frederick | Flight Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | 145808. Killed at the scene. |
| Carter | Henry Leslie | Warrant Officer | Air Gunner | 1378716. Killed at the scene. |
| Cowan | A | Flight Sergeant | Survived. | |
| Leslie | John McKenzie | Sergeant | Co-Pilot | 1346156. Killed at the scene. |
| Little | Henry Blamire | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | 1099718. Died later from injuries sustained. |
| McGhee | William Gilmour | Flight Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | 965726. Distinguished Flying Medal. |
| Neal | S | Pilot Officer | Survived. | |
| Wykeham-Martin | Dennis Feinnes | Squadron Leader | Pilot | 72587. Distinguished Flying Cross. Died later from injuries sustained. |
Dennis Fiennes Wykeham-Martin’s grave is in Section 25, Grave 2 of St. Catherine’s Church of Ireland, Killead, Co. Antrim. His name is on the war memorial of the Royal School of Mines, Knightsbridge, London. His headstone in Co. Antrim bears the inscription:
In memory of Dennis, who gave his life in the Battle of the Atlantic.