Virgil Brennan
Encyclopedia
Virgil Paul Brennan DFC
, DFM
(6 March 1920 – 13 June 1943) was an Australia
n flying ace
of the Second World War. Enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force
in November 1940, he briefly served in the European Theatre
before transferring to Malta
. Over the next five months, Brennan was officially credited with the destruction of 10 Axis
aircraft from a total of twenty-four operational sorties. Reposted to England
, he was assigned as a flying instructor and collaborated in the writing of Spitfires over Malta, a book about his experiences on the island. Returning to Australia during 1943, Brennan was killed in a flying accident at Garbutt
, Queensland
, in June that year.
, Queensland
, on 6 March 1920 to Edgar James Brennan, a solicitor
, and his wife Katherine (née O'Sullivan). He was educated at the Christian Brothers' School in Warwick, before moving on to Downlands College
at Toowoomba
and later Brisbane State High School
. After leaving school, Brennan studied part time at the University of Queensland
, while simultaneously being employed as a law clerk
in Brisbane
.
, where he completed his flight training before being posted to the United Kingdom
in August 1941, where he was appointed to an Operational Training Unit. On graduating from this course, he was allotted to No. 64 Squadron RAF
. During this time, he was advanced to temporary flight sergeant
on 4 January 1942, prior to receiving a posting to the Mediterranean Theatre the following month.
. On 7 March 1942, Brennan was one of fifteen pilots sent to the island of Malta. Flying Supermarine Spitfire
s, the party took off from the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle
; they were to spend the next few months in the defence of the island. As the Axis forces
commenced a major aerial assault on Malta later that month, the Allied
fighter pilots on the island were forced to "contend with fatigue and inadequate rations while battling the enemy's superior forces". On 17 March, Brennan claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Messerschmitt 109.
On 20 April 1942, Brennan added a further two aircraft to his tally when he destroyed a Messerschmitt 109, before bringing down a Junkers 88 later that day. Praised as "a most determined and courageous pilot", Brennan was subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Flying Medal
. The announcement and accompanying citation for the award was published in a supplement to the London Gazette
on 22 May 1942, reading:
Brennan scored further aerial victories on 10 May. The following day, German Luftwaffe
General Albert Kesselring
ordered a contingent of 20 Stukas
and 10 Junkers Ju 88
s with a small escort of fighter aircraft to bomb Grand Harbour
, Malta. A formation of 50 Royal Air Force
aircraft—37 Spitfires and 13 Hawker Hurricane
s—were dispatched to intercept the group; Brennan was piloting one of the Spitfires. Attacking one of the Stukas, Brennan later recorded that the aircraft "disintegrated, with huge chunks flying off in every direction". During the battle, a total of 14 German aircraft were shot down, for the loss of 2 Spitfires. In an engagement the next day, Brennan was wounded in his left arm. He was commissioned
as a pilot officer
later that month.
By the conclusion of his combat tour in July 1942, Brennan had flown a total of twenty-two operational sorties and was credited with destroying 10 Axis aircraft over Malta, with one probably destroyed and a further 6 damaged. For his efforts in the destruction of Axis aircraft during this period, Brennan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
. The notification of the decoration was published in a supplement to the London Gazette on 6 October 1942.
. During this period, Brennan and fellow No. 249 Squadron pilot, Pilot Officer Ray Hesselyn, collaborated with journalist Henry Bateson
on writing Spitfires over Malta, a novel relating the experiences of Brennan and Hesselyn during their time on Malta. On 17 April 1943, Brennan was repatriated from the United Kingdom and returned to Australia.
Arriving back in Australia, Brennan was posted to the newly raised No. 79 Squadron
, based at Laverton, Victoria
, on 1 May 1943. Later that month, the squadron was ordered to deploy to Goodenough Island
, near New Guinea
. During this time, Brennan related his previous combat experiences to fellow pilots, however his commanding officer, Squadron Leader Alan Rawlinson, noted that Brennan appeared "strained and tired". An advance party of the squadron was moved up to Goodenough Island that month, while the pilots followed during June.
On 13 June 1943, the pilots of No. 79 Squadron continued on their journey north, arriving at Garbutt airfield in Queensland. At approximately 14:00, Brennan landed his Spitfire in the wake turbulence
of the aircraft ahead of himself and touched down on the left side of the runway. Brennan was informed that he was cutting in on the path of the Spitfire following him, which was to land on the right side of the runway. Brennan landed his aircraft short, and at the conclusion of his landing run turned across the path of the second Spitfire. In the ensuing collision, Brennan sustained severe injuries and was rushed to hospital; he died before arrival. Described as one with "an easy-going nature, an engaging sense of humour and ... loyal to his friends", Brennan was buried in Townsville War Cemetery.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, DFM
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
(6 March 1920 – 13 June 1943) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
of the Second World War. Enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in November 1940, he briefly served in the European Theatre
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
before transferring to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. Over the next five months, Brennan was officially credited with the destruction of 10 Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
aircraft from a total of twenty-four operational sorties. Reposted to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he was assigned as a flying instructor and collaborated in the writing of Spitfires over Malta, a book about his experiences on the island. Returning to Australia during 1943, Brennan was killed in a flying accident at Garbutt
Garbutt, Queensland
Garbutt is a residential and industrial suburb in the city of Townsville, in northern Queensland, Australia. Townsville International Airport is located there....
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, in June that year.
Early life
Brennan was born in WarwickWarwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, on 6 March 1920 to Edgar James Brennan, a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, and his wife Katherine (née O'Sullivan). He was educated at the Christian Brothers' School in Warwick, before moving on to Downlands College
Downlands College
Downlands College, officially Downlands Sacred Heart College, is a private, secondary, coeducational, day and boarding school in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Founded by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1931, the College began as a boarding school for boys with a total enrolment of...
at Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
and later Brisbane State High School
Brisbane State High School
Brisbane State High School is a partially selective, co-educational, state secondary school, located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a member of the Great Public Schools' Association of Queensland, and the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association...
. After leaving school, Brennan studied part time at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, while simultaneously being employed as a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
Second World War
On 8 November 1940, Brennan enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force for service during the Second World War. Accepted for pilot training, he received his initial flight instruction in Australia. He later embarked for CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he completed his flight training before being posted to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in August 1941, where he was appointed to an Operational Training Unit. On graduating from this course, he was allotted to No. 64 Squadron RAF
No. 64 Squadron RAF
No. 64 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was last disbanded on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars.- 1916 to 1919 :...
. During this time, he was advanced to temporary flight sergeant
Flight Sergeant
Flight sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and several other air forces which have adopted all or part of the RAF rank structure...
on 4 January 1942, prior to receiving a posting to the Mediterranean Theatre the following month.
Malta
On arrival in the Mediterranean, Brennan was posted to No. 249 Squadron RAFNo. 249 Squadron RAF
No. 249 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron, active in the sea-patrol, fighter and bomber roles during its existence.-First formation:...
. On 7 March 1942, Brennan was one of fifteen pilots sent to the island of Malta. Flying Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s, the party took off from the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle
HMS Eagle (1918)
HMS Eagle was an early aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. Ordered by Chile as the Almirante Cochrane, she was laid down before World War I. In early 1918 she was purchased by Britain for conversion to an aircraft carrier; this work was finished in 1924...
; they were to spend the next few months in the defence of the island. As the Axis forces
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
commenced a major aerial assault on Malta later that month, the Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
fighter pilots on the island were forced to "contend with fatigue and inadequate rations while battling the enemy's superior forces". On 17 March, Brennan claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Messerschmitt 109.
On 20 April 1942, Brennan added a further two aircraft to his tally when he destroyed a Messerschmitt 109, before bringing down a Junkers 88 later that day. Praised as "a most determined and courageous pilot", Brennan was subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Flying Medal
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
. The announcement and accompanying citation for the award was published in a supplement to the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 22 May 1942, reading:
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
General Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring was a German Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords...
ordered a contingent of 20 Stukas
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
and 10 Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
s with a small escort of fighter aircraft to bomb Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
, Malta. A formation of 50 Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
aircraft—37 Spitfires and 13 Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s—were dispatched to intercept the group; Brennan was piloting one of the Spitfires. Attacking one of the Stukas, Brennan later recorded that the aircraft "disintegrated, with huge chunks flying off in every direction". During the battle, a total of 14 German aircraft were shot down, for the loss of 2 Spitfires. In an engagement the next day, Brennan was wounded in his left arm. He was commissioned
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
as a pilot officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
later that month.
By the conclusion of his combat tour in July 1942, Brennan had flown a total of twenty-two operational sorties and was credited with destroying 10 Axis aircraft over Malta, with one probably destroyed and a further 6 damaged. For his efforts in the destruction of Axis aircraft during this period, Brennan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. The notification of the decoration was published in a supplement to the London Gazette on 6 October 1942.
Later war service and death
Embarking from Malta during July 1942, Brennan returned to the United Kingdom and was posted to No. 52 Operational Training Unit as an instructor with the rank of acting flight lieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
. During this period, Brennan and fellow No. 249 Squadron pilot, Pilot Officer Ray Hesselyn, collaborated with journalist Henry Bateson
Charles Bateson
Charles Bateson was a maritime historian, journalist and author.Charles Henry Bateson was born in Wellington, New Zealand and migrated to Australia in 1922. He worked as a journalist for many Australian papers and also worked for the Department of the Interior during World War II...
on writing Spitfires over Malta, a novel relating the experiences of Brennan and Hesselyn during their time on Malta. On 17 April 1943, Brennan was repatriated from the United Kingdom and returned to Australia.
Arriving back in Australia, Brennan was posted to the newly raised No. 79 Squadron
No. 79 Squadron RAAF
No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit which has been formed on four occasions since 1943. The squadron was established in May 1943 as a fighter unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, and subsequently saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
, based at Laverton, Victoria
Laverton, Victoria
Laverton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Hobsons Bay and Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Laverton had a population of 4508.-History:...
, on 1 May 1943. Later that month, the squadron was ordered to deploy to Goodenough Island
Goodenough Island
Goodenough Island in the Solomon Sea is the westernmost of the three large islands of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. It lies to the east of mainland New Guinea and south west of the Trobriand Islands.It should not be confused with Goodenough's Island...
, near New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. During this time, Brennan related his previous combat experiences to fellow pilots, however his commanding officer, Squadron Leader Alan Rawlinson, noted that Brennan appeared "strained and tired". An advance party of the squadron was moved up to Goodenough Island that month, while the pilots followed during June.
On 13 June 1943, the pilots of No. 79 Squadron continued on their journey north, arriving at Garbutt airfield in Queensland. At approximately 14:00, Brennan landed his Spitfire in the wake turbulence
Wake turbulence
Wake turbulence is turbulence that forms behind an aircraft as it passes through the air. This turbulence includes various components, the most important of which are wing vorticies and jetwash. Jetwash refers simply to the rapidly moving gases expelled from a jet engine; it is extremely turbulent,...
of the aircraft ahead of himself and touched down on the left side of the runway. Brennan was informed that he was cutting in on the path of the Spitfire following him, which was to land on the right side of the runway. Brennan landed his aircraft short, and at the conclusion of his landing run turned across the path of the second Spitfire. In the ensuing collision, Brennan sustained severe injuries and was rushed to hospital; he died before arrival. Described as one with "an easy-going nature, an engaging sense of humour and ... loyal to his friends", Brennan was buried in Townsville War Cemetery.