Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada)     RCAF HALIFAX LW170 Recovery (424 Squadron)

IRISH NATIONALS in the RCAF-

Killed-in-action on the Halifax bomber

"We would very much like to hear from all family and friends of our Irish RCAF Warriors

so that we may suitably tell the story of  these unknown crews who fought for Canadian Freedom."

Please email us at 57rescuecanada@rogers.com

(The master list of Irish names is courtesy of Martin Gleeson and Chris Charland)

The following names were sourced from Bill Chorley's RAF Bomber Command Losses series, supplemented by other sources.

All are shown in the Flight Engineer position in a Halifax crew as per Chorley.

Unfortunately all died. There are certainly more from experience to date.

 

Sgt. M.J. O'Donovan KIA 8/9-10-43 427 Sq., Halifax LK900 RCAF (from Rosscarbery)

 

P/O J. Gilliard KIFA 15/16-2-44 432 Sq., RCAF Halifax LK761 RCAF (from Killester)

 

Sgt. P. Furlong KIA 30/31-3-44 425 Sq., RCAF Halifax LW429 RCAF (from Killincarrig)

 

Sgt. J.K. McMahon KIFA 29/30-8-44 434 Sq., RCAF Halifax MZ626 RCAF (from Limerick City)

 

Sgt. R.L. Dinnen KIFA 5/6-3-45 420 Sq., RCAF Halifax NA190 RCAF (from Ballyjamesduff)

 

Sgt. J.K. Gilvary, MIA 17/18-8-43, 419, RCAF Halifax JD458, Air Bomber, from Bray, Co. Wicklow.

 

Sgt. W.P. MAHER , KIA 23/24-9-43, 419 Sq., RCAF Halifax JD457, Air Bomber, from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

 

Sgt. H.B. Hill, KIA 20/21-1-44, 434 squadron, RCAF Halifax LL135, Air Gunner, from Ballycanew, Co. Wexford.

 

P/O A.C. Middleton, KIA 25/26-2-44, 427 Sq., RCAF Halifax LK759, Air Gunner, from Dublin.

 

F/O R.R Irvine RCAF, KIFA 5/6-6-44, 426 Sq., RCAF Halifax LW382, Air Bomber, from Dublin.

 

For completeness the following were noted as coming from Northern Ireland;
 

Sgt. R.W.S. MCNALLY, KIA 23/24-9-43, 419 Sq., RCAF Halifax JD457, Wireless OP, from Lisburn, Co. Antrim.

 

P/O J.C. Harris MID, KIA 2/3-2-45, 428 Sq., Lancaster KB792, Flight Eng., from Belfast, Co. Antrim.

 

James McMahon was one of (at least) 15 Limerick-born aircrew who died in WW2 while serving in RAF Bomber Command. These featured in a recent book titled;

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE (The Memorial Record of the Limerick Casualties of World war 2) by Patrick J. McNamara.

 

 

Photo of the Sollie Halifax crew with the SGT. DINNEN of Ballyjamesduff, Ireland showing on the far right.

The photo of the crew is courtesy of Richard Koval.