William Reynolds Martin
Captain, U.S. Air Force

William Reynolds Martin was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Virginia Military Institute in June 1955. In March 1957, he completed flight training at Laredo AFB, TX, and was awarded the rating of Pilot.

On 18 November 1964, Captain William Reynolds Martin was serving as a F-100 Super Sabre Pilot of the 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron, DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, during the Vietnam War.

On that date, Capt Martin was leading a flight of two F-100 Super Sabre aircraft escorting an unarmed RF-101 Voodoo aircraft on a mission of major importance. As they approached the mission area in Laos, a heavy barrage of hostile ground fire was directed at the unarmed aircraft. Capt Martin reacted immediately by repeatedly flying his aircraft over the gun emplacements at extremely low altitudes to divert hostile fire from the RF-101 plane. Capt Martin's aggressiveness and determination in pressing his attack allowed the RF-101 aircraft to withdraw safely. On his 3rd overflight of the hostile positions, the full force of their gun emplacements was directed at his aircraft, resulting in his being killed in action. Capt Martin's extraordinary heroism and superb airmanship that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Air Force's second highest award for valor, the Air Force Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Air Force Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star
Air Force Longevity Service Award with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Air Force Pilot Badge

Air Force Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to Captain William Reynolds Martin (AFSN: 0-60944), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as an F-100 Pilot of the 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron, DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, in action on 18 November 1964. On that date, Captain Martin was leading a flight of two F-100 aircraft escorting an unarmed RF-101 aircraft on a mission of major importance. As they approached the mission area, a heavy barrage of hostile ground fire was directed at the unarmed aircraft. With complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Martin reacted immediately and repeatedly flew his aircraft at extremely low altitudes over the gun emplacements to divert hostile fire. His aggressiveness and determination in pressing his attack allowed the RF-101 aircraft to withdraw safely. On his third over flight of the hostile positions, the full force of their gun emplacements was directed at his aircraft, resulting in the sacrifice of his life. Captain Martin's courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the American fighting man under attack by an opposing armed force. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Captain Martin reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Burial

Captain William Reynolds Martin is buried at Highland Burial Park in Danville, Danville City, VA, in Section 12, Lot 53, Grave B-349.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113094095/william-reynolds-martin