The Airmen's Stories - S/Ldr. J S O'Brien

Joseph Somerton O'Brien was the son of a major killed in France in 1917. He trained on HMS Conway for a career in the Merchant Navy. After spending several years at sea, he joined the RAF on a short service commission in March 1934.

He completed his flying training at 3 FTS, Grantham, and joined 3 Squadron at Kenley on March 16th 1935. He went with it to the Sudan in September, during the Abyssinian crisis. Back in the UK, he joined 23 Squadron on July 9th 1936.

After war broke out O'Brien was a Flight Commander, still with 23. His promotion to Squadron Leader was gazetted on June 1st 1940. On the night of June 18/19th O'Brien was captain of a Blenheim which shared in the destruction of a He111 near Cambridge with a Spitfire, flown by Petra of 19 Squadron. Both British aircraft were shot down by return fire. O'Brien baled out but his observer, Pilot Officer King-Clark, and his gunner, Corporal Little, were both killed.

O'Brien received a Mention in Despatches (gazetted 11th July 1940). He left 23 shortly after this to take charge of the Operations Room at Pembrey.

On July 1st 1940 he joined 92 Squadron there as a supernumerary Squadron Leader. Awarded the DFC (gazetted 30th July 1940), O'Brien took command of 234 Squadron at St Eval on August 17th. He shared in the destruction of a Ju88 on the 21st and destroyed a Me109 on the 24th. O'Brien was presented with his DFC by the King at Buckingham Palace on September 3rd. He destroyed two more Me109’s on the 6th.

He was shot down and killed in combat over St Mary Cray the next day. His Spitfire, P9466, crashed near Biggin Hill.

O'Brien was 28 and is buried in St Mary Cray Cemetery. Orpington, Kent.