F/L Bernard Harold O'Neill DFC RCAF and crew – 576 Squadron - 1944/45 - J37069
![576 Squadron O_Neill B H 576 Squadron O_Neill B H](../assets/images/autogen/576-Squadron-O_Neill-B-H.jpg)
Bernard O'Neill
The crew were formed and trained together as follows
28 Operational Training Unit, RAF Wymeswold
1667 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF Sandtoft
Lancaster Finishing School, RAF Hemswell
….......
The crew was at completion was as follows :-
F/O B H O'Neill RCAF - Pilot
Sgt R J Durran RAFVR – Flight Engineer
F/O S W Haakstad RCAF – Air Bomber
Sgt J G Ogilvie RAFVR - Navigator
Sgt F C Smith RAFVR – Wireless Operator
Sgt A J W George RCAF – Air Gunner
Sgt D Ranchuk RCAF – Air Gunner
They were posted to 576 Squadron at RAF Fiskerton, probably late November or early December 1944. That date is not recorded in the 576 Squadron Operational Record Book
![576 Squadron O_Neill BH Crew 576 Squadron O_Neill BH Crew](../assets/images/autogen/576-Squadron-O_Neill-BH-Crew.jpg)
L to R Ogilvie, Haakstad, Smith, O'Neill, Durran, George, Ranchuk
From late December 1945 they flew the following operations largely unchanged:-
O'Neill flew as second pilot 28 December 1944 Bonn NN749 with Basil Templeman Rooke and crew
29/12/1944 - Scholven Buer - Oil - LM227 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
31/12/1944 - Osterfeld - Railway yards - PD363 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF – Single engined night fighter sighted. Evasion action. No combat.
02/01/1945 - Nuremberg - Point of Aim - JB410 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
14/01/1945 - Leuna - PD403 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
16/01/1945 - Zietz - Oil - PD403 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
22/01/1945 - Duisburg/Hambourn - ? - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
01/02/1945 - Ludswigshafen - Point of Aim - PD363 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
03/02/1945 - Bottrop - Benzol - PD403 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
07/02/1945 - Kleve - Army support - PB785 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
13/02/1945 - Dresden - Operation Thunderclap - NF975 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
23/02/1945 - Pforzheim - Point of Aim - LM227 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF - Combat with twin engined night fighter. Sustained damage to port mainplane. Rear gunner claimed hits on EA. Damaged
02/03/1945 - Cologne - Army support - ME492 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
08/03/1945 - Kassel - Point of Aim - RA562 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
11/03/1945 - Essen - Point of Aim - SW276 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
12/03/1945 - Dortmund - Point of Aim - SW276 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
15/03/1945 - Misburg - Oil - RA562 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
16/03/1945 - Nuremberg - Point of Aim - RA562 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF
22/03/1945 - Hildersheim - Railway yards - RA562 - F/O BH O'Neill RCAF - Air Bomber wounded in face by flying Perspex
14/04/1945 - Cuxhaven - Port/Diversion - RA562 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF
18/04/1945 - Heligoland - Naval base and airfield - RA562 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF
22/04/1945 - Bremen - Army Support - RA562 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF
25/04/1945 - Berchtesgaden - Hitler's chalet & SS barracks - RA516 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF - Slight flak damage
29/04/1945 - Valkenburg airfield - Operation Manna - RA562 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF
01/05/1945 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - RA562 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF
02/05/1945 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - RA562 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF
03/05/1945 - Valkenburg Airfield - Operation Manna - RA562 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF
04/05/1945 - Valkenburg Airfield - Operation Manna - LM594 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF
08/05/1945 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - RA562 - F/L BH O'Neill RCAF
…........
O'Neill was awarded a DFC on completion of his tour gazetted 4 December 1945
….........
Item compiled by David Fell with photos from my archive
|