Warbird Information Exchange

A man known by many as the deHavilland Moth expert of Canada passed away earlier this week. Wat Martin owned a flew many different Moths and was well respected around the world. Earlier today was his funeral and a small gathering of aircraft staged in Guelph Ontario to do a fly over of his funeral which was held in the small town of Eden Mills.

Blue skies and fair winds sir.




Fleet 16 C-FDAF ( fleet16's bird )



DH-82A CF-MAD


DH-82A C-GSTP ( its been a wet week here in southern Ontario)


Fairchild 24 ( Dave Hadfield's bird )


Thruxton Jackaroo CF-PHZ


DH-82C CF-TBS


DH-82C CF-CTN


DH-82A C-GNGS



Fleet 16 CF-GER ( my "ride" for the day")

Cheers,

Jeff

Sorry to hear of the passing of your friend. It sounds like he was the kind of guy who would have loved the flight you put in the air in honor of him.

It was pretty cold flying down from Edenvale to Guelph.
We came in a "loose deuce" formation with C-GSTP. Cold but pretty fun. It was also something we had to do to honour our friend Wat.

Here are a couple of shots of him from last summer. This first one is from the day we made our first flight.


This one is from the day that Wat helped us assemble CF-MAD. As it would turn out, ours would be the last for him. We were privileged to have him help us. An honour I will never forget.


Blue skies and tail winds Wat. You will be missed.

Andy Scott

MARTIN, Watkin Thomas
August 25, 1924 – April 20, 2014

With his sons at his side in his 90th year at Headwaters Health Care Centre, Orangeville, two months after suffering a stroke.
Was loving husband of Doreen (predeceased). Loved father of David (Tina predeceased) and Donald (Josee) and loved grandfather of Stuart and Jaclyn. Was loving brother to Elsie Haywood, Denzil (predeceased) and Alfred (predeceased). Cherished by many dear friends.
Watt was born in Carephilly, Wales. He served in the RCAF during WWII, October 1943 – May 1946. He operated an aircraft maintenance and restoration business and airfield in Grand Valley, currently and Milton, previously. He was known all over the world for his expertise and knowledge of antique airplanes and had clients in New Zealand, Australia, England, U.S.A. and Israel. Watt held a current Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence and a partial pilot licence to the time of his death. He also owned and flew 3 biplanes, 2 Gypsy Moths and a Tiger Moth and was building a 3rd Gypsy Moth at the time of his death. Watt was a member of the Canadian Historical Automobile Society and owned a Ford 1922 Model T Touring, 1930 Model A Pickup Truck and 1930 Model A Roadster.