Military Service
Service Number: C/13458
Enlisted: April 13, 1940 Edmonton, Alberta
Age: 30
Force: Air Force
Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
Group: No.83 Group RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF)
Squadron: No.438 (Wild Cat) Sqdn. RCAF
Airfield: RAF Station B.166 Flensburg, Germany
Aircraft: Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB - SW393/F3-B
Squadron Leader / Pilot.
Mission:
A large aerial display was planned for the people of Copenhagen, Denmark and the entire RCAF 143 Wing would perform a flyover with all of their Typhoons. It was during a practice for this event that Squadron Leader Beirnes would lose his life.
During landing Jack experienced engine failure at low level (300 feet AGL), he proceeded to carry out a forced landing in a field, but his starboard wing tip hit the ground in the final turn causing the aircraft to cartwheel and break up.
Jack perished from his wounds 10 minutes after the crash. He lost his life at the end of his third combat tour.
Honours/Citations:
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar, 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) with silver maple leaf emblem clasp & War Medal 1939-1945
DFC Citations:
"In July, 1944, Squadron Leader Beirnes led a formation of aircraft in an attack on a vital railway bridge over the rive Orne just south of Caen. In spite of intense anti-aircraft fire and much low cloud the attack was pressed home and the bridge destroyed. In this well executed operation, Squadron Leader Beirnes displayed a high degree of skill, courage and leadership. In August, 1944, this officer again proved his skill when leading a formation in an attack against enemy mortar positions near the Forest of Grimbosq"
Commemoration(s):
- Page 494 Second World War Book of Remembrance, Memorial Chamber, Canadian Parliament Peace Tower, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Next of Kin: Husband of Gwendolyn (nee Firth) Beirnes, father of Gordon Donald Beirnes, of Edmonton, Alberta.
Service Number: C/13458
Enlisted: April 13, 1940 Edmonton, Alberta
Age: 30
Force: Air Force
Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
Group: No.83 Group RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF)
Squadron: No.438 (Wild Cat) Sqdn. RCAF
Airfield: RAF Station B.166 Flensburg, Germany
Aircraft: Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB - SW393/F3-B
Squadron Leader / Pilot.
Mission:
A large aerial display was planned for the people of Copenhagen, Denmark and the entire RCAF 143 Wing would perform a flyover with all of their Typhoons. It was during a practice for this event that Squadron Leader Beirnes would lose his life.
During landing Jack experienced engine failure at low level (300 feet AGL), he proceeded to carry out a forced landing in a field, but his starboard wing tip hit the ground in the final turn causing the aircraft to cartwheel and break up.
Jack perished from his wounds 10 minutes after the crash. He lost his life at the end of his third combat tour.
Honours/Citations:
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar, 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) with silver maple leaf emblem clasp & War Medal 1939-1945
DFC Citations:
"In July, 1944, Squadron Leader Beirnes led a formation of aircraft in an attack on a vital railway bridge over the rive Orne just south of Caen. In spite of intense anti-aircraft fire and much low cloud the attack was pressed home and the bridge destroyed. In this well executed operation, Squadron Leader Beirnes displayed a high degree of skill, courage and leadership. In August, 1944, this officer again proved his skill when leading a formation in an attack against enemy mortar positions near the Forest of Grimbosq"
Commemoration(s):
- Page 494 Second World War Book of Remembrance, Memorial Chamber, Canadian Parliament Peace Tower, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Next of Kin: Husband of Gwendolyn (nee Firth) Beirnes, father of Gordon Donald Beirnes, of Edmonton, Alberta.
Military Service
Service Number: C/13458
Enlisted: April 13, 1940 Edmonton, Alberta
Age: 30
Force: Air Force
Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
Group: No.83 Group RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF)
Squadron: No.438 (Wild Cat) Sqdn. RCAF
Airfield: RAF Station B.166 Flensburg, Germany
Aircraft: Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB - SW393/F3-B
Squadron Leader / Pilot.
Mission:
A large aerial display was planned for the people of Copenhagen, Denmark and the entire RCAF 143 Wing would perform a flyover with all of their Typhoons. It was during a practice for this event that Squadron Leader Beirnes would lose his life.
During landing Jack experienced engine failure at low level (300 feet AGL), he proceeded to carry out a forced landing in a field, but his starboard wing tip hit the ground in the final turn causing the aircraft to cartwheel and break up.
Jack perished from his wounds 10 minutes after the crash. He lost his life at the end of his third combat tour.
Honours/Citations:
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar, 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) with silver maple leaf emblem clasp & War Medal 1939-1945
DFC Citations:
"In July, 1944, Squadron Leader Beirnes led a formation of aircraft in an attack on a vital railway bridge over the rive Orne just south of Caen. In spite of intense anti-aircraft fire and much low cloud the attack was pressed home and the bridge destroyed. In this well executed operation, Squadron Leader Beirnes displayed a high degree of skill, courage and leadership. In August, 1944, this officer again proved his skill when leading a formation in an attack against enemy mortar positions near the Forest of Grimbosq"
Commemoration(s):
- Page 494 Second World War Book of Remembrance, Memorial Chamber, Canadian Parliament Peace Tower, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Next of Kin: Husband of Gwendolyn (nee Firth) Beirnes, father of Gordon Donald Beirnes, of Edmonton, Alberta.
Service Number: C/13458
Enlisted: April 13, 1940 Edmonton, Alberta
Age: 30
Force: Air Force
Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
Group: No.83 Group RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF)
Squadron: No.438 (Wild Cat) Sqdn. RCAF
Airfield: RAF Station B.166 Flensburg, Germany
Aircraft: Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB - SW393/F3-B
Squadron Leader / Pilot.
Mission:
A large aerial display was planned for the people of Copenhagen, Denmark and the entire RCAF 143 Wing would perform a flyover with all of their Typhoons. It was during a practice for this event that Squadron Leader Beirnes would lose his life.
During landing Jack experienced engine failure at low level (300 feet AGL), he proceeded to carry out a forced landing in a field, but his starboard wing tip hit the ground in the final turn causing the aircraft to cartwheel and break up.
Jack perished from his wounds 10 minutes after the crash. He lost his life at the end of his third combat tour.
Honours/Citations:
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar, 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) with silver maple leaf emblem clasp & War Medal 1939-1945
DFC Citations:
"In July, 1944, Squadron Leader Beirnes led a formation of aircraft in an attack on a vital railway bridge over the rive Orne just south of Caen. In spite of intense anti-aircraft fire and much low cloud the attack was pressed home and the bridge destroyed. In this well executed operation, Squadron Leader Beirnes displayed a high degree of skill, courage and leadership. In August, 1944, this officer again proved his skill when leading a formation in an attack against enemy mortar positions near the Forest of Grimbosq"
Commemoration(s):
- Page 494 Second World War Book of Remembrance, Memorial Chamber, Canadian Parliament Peace Tower, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Next of Kin: Husband of Gwendolyn (nee Firth) Beirnes, father of Gordon Donald Beirnes, of Edmonton, Alberta.
Inscription
Squadron Leader
J. R. Beirnes, DFC. & Bar
Pilot
Royal Canadian Air Force
1st June 1945 Age 30
(Cross)
Family Members
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