John
was born on 17th January 1909 in Dublin. When the War broke out he was
already, as a part-time pilot, a member of the Airforce Reserve and
began full-time service in 1939.
After
completion of training, he became the pilot of a Blenheim Light
Bomber and served with 14 Squadron for two years in the North
African desert and also in Malta.
Following
this long and arduous service, he returned to England and a transfer
to 512 Squadron, Transport Command. In 1944 he was stationed at
Burford, Oxfordshire and was deeply involved in the training of 6th
Airborne Division for the Normandy assault.
On the Eve of
'D' day, he flew his Dakota aircraft to drop parachutists of 5th
Parachute Brigade on DZ "N', North of Ranville and returned in
the late afternoon towing a glider to the same area.
He performed
similar duties for the first three days of the Arnhem opertation and
yet again at the Rhine crossing in March 1945.
Although, not
himself a member of Airborne Forces, he exemplifies the men of the
RAF in Transport Command, to whom all Airborne soldiers owe so
much.
Sadly he died in
July 2002, aged ninety-three.
R.I.P.
