F/L Bernard Harold O'Neill DFC RCAF and crew – 576 Squadron - 1944/45 - J37069
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
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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
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
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O'Neill was awarded a DFC on completion of his tour gazetted 4 December 1945
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Item compiled by David Fell with photos from my archive
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