CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
BRAIN |
First Name/s: |
Geoffrey John "Geoff" |
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Service No/s: |
1869404 |
Service: |
RAFVR |
Branch: |
Air Gunner |
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Awards: |
1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal |
SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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15 Jan 1944 |
No.30 Operational Training Unit, Hixon. (Exact date tbn.) Ireland crew formed. |
Wellington |
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01 Apr 1944 |
No.1481 Bomber Gunnery Flight, Ingham - course for air gunners. Actual date and posting tbc. |
Wellington |
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05 Apr 1944 |
No.11 Base, Lindholme for Heavy Conversion Unit and Lancaster Finishing School (exact date tbn) |
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06 Apr 1944 |
No.1667 Heavy Conversion Unit, Sandtoft (exact date tbn) |
Halifax |
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14 May 1944 |
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School, Hemswell |
Lancaster |
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19 May 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Elsham Wolds |
Lancaster |
576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
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28 May 1944 |
LM122 |
UL-X2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
4h00 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Night cross country |
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29 May 1944 |
JB460 |
UL-V2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
3h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Cross country |
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31 May 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
3h40 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Night cross country |
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02 Jun 1944 |
ME735 |
UL-P2 |
CALAIS |
2315 |
0235 |
3h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Coastal Railway Battery. Bombed; arrived 50 miles ahead of the Main Force. The attacks against gun batteries in the Pas de Calais was part of a plan to deceive the Germans that the forthcoming invasion was to be in this area, and not Normandy. Most aircraft could not bomb due to cloud cover and brought their bombs back. Load: 11 x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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03 Jun 1944 |
ME810 |
UL-K2 |
WIMEREUX |
2335 |
0330 |
3h55 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Coastal battery. Coastal railway gun battery The attack was part of the plan to deceive the Germans that the forthcoming invasion was to be in this area, and not Normandy. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ & 16x 500lb bombs. |
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04 Jun 1944 |
ED888 |
UL-M2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h00 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Air to sea firing |
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05 Jun 1944 |
LL799 |
UL-N2 |
ST MARTIN DE VARREVILLE & CRISBECQ |
2135 |
0225 |
4h50 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Coastal battery on the eve of the D-Day invasion of France. The Squadron was split into two waves, the slightly earlier to attack the battery at Crisbeq. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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06 Jun 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
VIRE |
2220 |
0350 |
5h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Two aiming points: a road/rail bridge (Western AP) & Rail marshalling yards. This crew attacked the bridge with 18x 500lb bombs. |
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11 Jun 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
FLERS |
0030 |
0550 |
5h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy airfield. Load: 28x 500lb bombs dropped at 2,700ft |
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11 Jun 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
A-S, bombing in the Lea Marsh Range, Gainsborough. |
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12 Jun 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
GELSENKIRCHEN |
2250 |
0355 |
5h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Gelsenberg AG synthetic oil plant at Nordstern. Engine fire and return on 3 engines. Near miss with another Lancaster (Huberman). Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ & 16x 500lb bombs. |
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14 Jun 1944 |
LM594 |
UL-G2 |
LE HAVRE |
2035 |
0055 |
4h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Docks & E-Boat pens. Load: 11x 1000lb bombs. (2h40 day, 1h30 night) ‘One of the most successful attacks of the war’ (Huberman logbook) |
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16 Jun 1944 |
LM133 |
UL-H2 |
STERKRADE |
2315 |
0425 |
5h10 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Ruhr-Chemie AG synthetic oil plant at Holten. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ & 16x 500lb bombs. |
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22 Jun 1944 |
ND903 |
UL-R2 |
MIMOYECQUES |
1355 |
1755 |
4h00 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V3 cannon construction site. Hit by flak in the target area, the starboard outer engine was hit and caught fire so was shut down. Hydraulics and mid-upper turret were also u/s. A successful crash landing was carried out at Elsham, but the aircraft was badly damaged and never flew again for 576, being sent to 103 Sqn after repairs. Load: 18x 500lb bombs. |
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23 Jun 1944 |
ME583 |
UL-T2 |
SAINTES |
2205 |
0535 |
7h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards & military stores. Load: 10x 1000lb & 2x 500lb bombs. |
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25 Jun 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
FLERS |
0145 |
0515 |
3h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ launch site. Load: 18x 500lb bombs. |
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29 Jun 1944 |
LM594 |
UL-G2 |
DOMLEGER |
1155 |
1500 |
3h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ storage & supply depot. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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30 Jun 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-V2 |
OISEMONT / NEUVILLE AU BOIS |
0550 |
0940 |
3h50 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ launch site. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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02 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
DOMLEGER |
1200 |
1600 |
4h00 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ storage & supply depot. Load: 7x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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04 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
ORLEANS |
2200 |
0410 |
6h10 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 18x 500lb bombs. |
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05 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
DIJON |
2110 |
0555 |
8h45 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 8x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. Diverted to Coningsby. |
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06 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
CONINGSBY TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
1925 |
1950 |
0h25 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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07 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
CAEN |
1925 |
2330 |
4h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy armour strongpoint on N outskirts of the city. Aircraft ‘shot up slightly’ (Huberman). Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x500lb bombs. |
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10 Jul 1944 |
LL799 |
UL-N2 |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h45 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
High level bombing, air to air firing |
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11 Jul 1944 |
UL-W2 |
Training |
1410 |
1625 |
2h15 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
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NOTES: |
"Y" (H2S) Navigation, cross country |
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12 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
REVIGNY |
2115 |
0620 |
9h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. The Deputy Master Bomber instructed aircraft to return to base (RTB) with bombs (‘Lysol’). Diverted to Sandtoft due to low cloud at base. Load: 7x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs, which were brought back. |
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13 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
SANDTOFT TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
2000 |
2015 |
0h15 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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14 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
REVIGNY |
2100 |
0540 |
8h40 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Diverted to Newmarket due to low cloud at base. Load: 7x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs, which were brought back under instruction from the Master Bomber. |
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15 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
NEWMARKET TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
nk |
nk |
0h40 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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18 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
SANNERVILLE |
0410 |
0725 |
3h15 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Area ‘H’ - Fortified positions occupied by Panzer regiments and flown in support of the British Second Army involved in Operation GOODWOOD. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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27 Jul 1944 |
LM651 |
UL-Z2 |
Training |
1520 |
1650 |
1h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Air to air firing, high level bombing |
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28 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
STUTTGART |
2115 |
0540 |
8h25 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Engineering workshops. Load: 1x 2000lb & 12x incendiary cluster bombs. |
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30 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
CAHAGNES |
0635 |
1015 |
3h40 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy troop concentrations. Load: 20x 500lb bombs. Bombed at 1,500 ft. Diverted to Castle Camps due to haze and mist at base. |
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30 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
CASTLE CAMPS TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
1250 |
1335 |
0h45 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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31 Jul 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
LE HAVRE |
1800 |
2130 |
3h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Port area. Harbour installations, shipping & U-Boat pens. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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03 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
TROSSY ST MAXIMIN |
1135 |
1605 |
4h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ supply depot. Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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04 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
PAUILLAC |
1340 |
2115 |
7h35 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Oil storage depot. Mustang, Mosquito & Spitfire escort. Load: 7x 1000lb, 2x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs. |
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05 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
BLAYE |
1445 |
2210 |
7h25 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Oil storage depot. Mosquito & Spitfire escort. Load: 4x 1000lb, 5x 1000lb & 3x500lb bombs. Low stratus and mist at Elsham necessitated a diversion to Worksop. |
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06 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
WORKSOP TO ELSHAM WOLDS |
1210 |
1230 |
0h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Returned from diversion |
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07 Aug 1944 |
ME735 |
UL-P2 |
Air test |
1100 |
1130 |
0h30 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
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07 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
FONTENAYE LE MARMION |
2050 |
0055 |
4h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Concentration of enemy armour in battle area near Caen. Load: 7x 1000lb, 4x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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10 Aug 1944 |
UL-W2 |
PARIS (DUGNY) |
0900 |
1420 |
5h20 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
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NOTES: |
Target: Aviation fuel storage depot. Spitfire escort. Load: 9x 1000lb, 4x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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11 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
DOUAI |
1330 |
1740 |
4h10 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Spitfire escort. Load: 13x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
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12 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
BRUNSWICK |
2135 |
0245 |
5h10 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up industrial area. Huberman claims a combat and ‘shot one down’. Load: 10 x 2000lb bombs. |
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13 Aug 1944 |
ME800 |
UL-W2 |
Air test |
nk |
nk |
1h05 |
P1 Plt Off W.R. Ireland |
NOTES: |
Test of the bomb doors. |
PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public |
PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public |