LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer John Joseph BRENNAN
Service No: 404276
Born: Cairns QLD, 9 June 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 July 1940
Unit: No. 227 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Injuries: (from the loss of No. 227 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft JL524 on 9 July 1943), Libya, 10 July 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Joseph and Mary Brennan, of Hill End, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 119, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the night of 9 July 1943 Beaufighter JL524 took off from Gardarbia West and struck the ground shortly after take-off and crashed about half a mile from the flare path. The aircraft did not rise above 50 feet and held that height until just about the end of the runway. It then sank, hit the ground caught fire and burnt out. Flight Lieutenant Curtis was killed and Flying Officer Brennan received severe burns from which he died at 1120 hours on 10 July.
The crew members of JL524 were:
Flying Officer John Joseph Brennan (404276) (Observer)
Flight Lieutenant Michael Bryce Curtis (87424) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/6/199