One of the Very Few

Known to most as ‘Killy’, John Kilmartin joined the RAF before the war. Beginning his training in 1937, he was posted to his first squadron, No.43, the ‘Fighting Cocks’, early the following year.Kilmartin remained with 43 Squadron until the outbreak of war in 1939, after which, in November, he transferred to No.1 Squadron, which was based in France. His first victory came on the 23rd, when he was credited with a ‘share’ in the destruction of a Dornier Do 17\. It was after Hitler unleashed his Blitzkrieg in May 1940, and during the Battle of France that followed, that Kilmartin’s skills were fully tested and he achieved ace status.After the Fall of France, Kilmartin returned to the UK and rejoined 43 Squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain – one of only a few pilots to fly in both campaigns. Later given command of 602 Squadron in Scotland, Kilmartin flew with the New Zealander ace Al Deere, the pair becoming lifelong friends. In 1941 Kilmartin was posted to Sierra Leone with 128 Squadron at RAF Hastings, leading that unit until 1942, when posted back to the UK, firstly commanding 504 Squadron at Middle Wallop and then the Ibsley and Hornchurch Wings.After being blamed for a disastrous raid on Amsterdam in 1943, Kilmartin then went to 2nd TAF HQ and later a Typhoon Wing at Thorney Island during the build up to the D-Day landings. He then flew right through the Allied breakout, covered Arnhem and the Rhine crossing, and all the way through to the German surrender.Following the end of the war in Europe he was posted to Burma and led a Thunderbolt Wing at Meiktila, ending up in the Netherlands East Indies commanding Medan airfield in Sumatra. Kilmartin was one of the very few pilots to serve from the first day to the last day of the war. After the war, he stayed in the RAF until 1958, retiring as a wing commander.