Walshe, John O'Neill Died
Personal Information
| Rank | Sgt |
| Forename(s) | John O'Neill |
| Surname | Walshe |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 20 |
| Date of Death | 19-06-1941 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Henry Jordan Walshe and Ethel Ann Walshe, of Belfast, Northern Ireland. His Brother Henry Jordan Dunlop Walshe Also Died On Service. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Handley Page Hampden I |
| Serial Number | AD904 |
| Markings | KM- |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | Sec. H. Grave 193 North. |
| Epitaph | HIS BROTHER, HENRY J.D. WALSHE, MERCHANT NAVY, WAS LOST AT SEA 21ST MARCH 1943 AGE 18 |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 111 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 749452 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 44 (Rhodesia) |
| Squadron Motto | Fulmina regis iusta (The king's thunderbolts are righteous) |
| Trade | WOp/AG |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | St. Chad's Church, Dunholme, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
| Memorial Text | In memory of 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn. who served at R.A.F. Dunholme Lodge May 1943 - Sept. 1944 |
| Location | All Saints Church, Great Steeping, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
| Memorial Text | In memory of those who served R.A.F. Spilsby in 44 (Rhodesia) Sqd. Sept 1944 - July 1945 |
| Location | Memorial Gardens, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Pillar |
| Memorial Text | In memory of those who served with 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn. "We will remember them" |
| Location | In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text |
En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-632
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-632" |
| Location | On village war memorial, Salbris, 41 - Loir-et-Choir Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed marble tablet |
| Memorial Text |
En reconnaissance aux 49 aviateurs des Sqn's 44, 49, 106 en 619 de la RAF morts pour notre liberte le 8 Mai 1944
Translation "Thank you to the 49 airmen of 44, 49, 106 and 619 Sqn's RAF who died for our freedom on May 8 1944 " |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/448/12 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/448/12 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Boardman T K (Sgt) | Died |
| Greig C F (Sgt) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 19-06-1941 |
| End Date | 19-06-1941 |
| Takeoff Station | Ternhill |
| Day/Night Raid | Day |
| Operation | Ferry |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Hampden AD747 had been sent from Waddington with two crews to ferry Hampden AD904 back to base following its repair at Ternhill. Upon their return, AD904 took off first but the plugs in AD747 became oiled up in one engine with the result that the pilot took off without full power being available. As a result, AD747 lost height, stalled and crashed at Blore Heath in flames. All of the crew sustained serious injuries but survived. While witnessing the crash of AD747 and circling the scene, the pilot of AD904 banked too steeply, losing control and dived into the ground with the loss of all crew. |