The Airmen's Stories - P/O A O'Connell

Anthony O'Connell was born on 9th July 1911 in Cahersiveen, County Kerry, Ireland and joined the RAF in August 1937 as an Aircrafthand.

In early 1940 he remustered as an Air Gunner, completed his training, was commissioned in April 1940 and joined 264 Squadron at Martlesham Heath.

His Defiant was damaged in collision with another aircraft during a scramble from Hornchurch on 24th August. At 1600 O'Connell was taxying in Defiant L6996 when a bursting bomb created a dust cloud leading to them colliding with Defiant L7006.

O'Connell was injured on 7th October when his Defiant, N1578, crashed on take-off. Both he and his pilot were admitted to hospital.

His subsequent service is currently unknown, though he stayed in the RAF postwar, ending up in the Fighter Control Branch.

He retired from the RAF on 9th September 1958 as a Flight Lieutenant.

O'Connell later settled in Zimbabwe and died on 17th December 1976 at Andrew Fleming Hospital, Salisbury from a heart attack.