space
image

1Lt. Donald C. Martin

July 19, 1922–January 7, 1945

Service #: 0-692742
Residence: Jones, Iowa
Education: *****
Occupation: *****
Marital Status: *****
Enlistment Date: May 1942
Enlistment Place: *****
Service/Unit: 1337 AAF Base Unit
Awards: *****
Burial: Norwich Cemetery, Martelle, Jones, Iowa

Lt. Don Martin Missing on Flight

First Lt. Donald Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Martin of Martelle, is missing on a flight from India to China, on January 7, according to a telegram from the war department on Wednesday. Lt. Martin, a pilot with the Army Air Transport Command, has been in the India-China area since the latter part of October, 1944. He received his commission at Ponca City, Okla., on November 1, 1942, and has been ferrying planes in the United States before he went to India. His wife is the former Avis Armstrong of Martelle.

Source: The Anamosa Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, January 25, 1945

Lt. Martin Killed In Plane Crash

photo1st Lt. Donald C. Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Martin of Martelle, was killed while on a flight from India to China January 7, according to word received recently by his parents. He was previously reported missing.

Lt. Martin, co-pilot on a C-46 Commando plane, was on a flight from Northwest India to Kunming, China, over the treacherous Himalaya mountains.

He was a graduate of the Martelle high school and volunteered for the air corps in May, 1942, while a second year engineering student at the University of Iowa. He began his training December 5, 1942, and received his wings and a commission of second lieutenant at Ponca City, Okla., on November 1, 1943. Lt. Martin was sent overseas to the India-China area on October 24, 1944.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Guy C. Martin of Martelle; his wife, the former Avis Armstrong, also of Martelle; two sisters, Lt. Dorothy Martin, an army Nurse in Germany with the First Army, and Mrs. Robert Nirenberg of Washington, D. C.

Source: The Anamosa Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, April 26, 1945

Paraphrased from an Obscure Chinese Website

January 7, 1945, C-46 No. 6559
Crew: Pilot, Captain John P. Olsen, T-193106; Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Donald C. Martin, 0-692742; Rapporteur: Pfc. James P. Zander, 38284719.
The aircraft took off from the Sookerating base, Assam, India for Kunming, China at 07:10 local time. The last radio contact time is 08:22. Clouded the entire route. Tops at 25,000-30,000 meters.Thunderstorms and snow at high altitude. Wind speed 70 miles/hour. It was reported in China, April 15, 1945, that the aircraft and all crew members were found by a missionary, Mr. Peterson, and buried at Wamati. Location: longitude: 98 degrees 30 minutes north. Latitude: 26 degrees 10 minutes.

Source: Phoenix Blog

Body Of Donald Martin Is Being Returned Here

photoThe body of Lt. Donald C. Martin of Martelle is being returned to Anamosa on Friday, January 14. Committal services will be held Saturday morning, January 15, at 10:30. Burial will be the Norwich Cemetery. The Smykil-Goettsch Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements. The Arthur McCullough Post of the American legion will conduct military services.

Lt. Martin was born July 19, 1922, at Deloit, Iowa. He died on January 7, 1945 while on a mission over the "Hump" in China.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Martin of Martelle; his wife Mrs. Avis Martin, Martelle; and two sisters. Mrs. Robert Nierenburg, Martelle, and Mrs. Dean Newman, Cedar Rapids.

Source: The Anamosa Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, January 13, 1949.
Photo: Marsha Wright