Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Francis John O'Grady (1914-1943)

FRANCIS JOHN O GRADY Flight Sergeant Francis O Grady was the son of John and Lillian O Grady of Sydney, NSW and was born at Rose Bay, Sydney in 194

A Public Servant before enlisting. ( records not digitized)

Halifax JD 152 took off from Elvington at 2239 hours on the night of 27/28 May 1943, detailed to bomb Essen, Germany. CREW: Flight Sergeant F J O Grady - Pilot Sergeant G H Garrard - Flight Engineer Flying Officer B C McGrath - Navigator Flight Sergeant C Clarke - Air Bomber Sergeant W R Beadsmoore - Wireless Air Gunner Sergeant W A Manning - Mid Upper Gunner Sergeant C B Anderson - Rear Gunner A report by a Missing Research & Enquiry team stated the aircraft crashed in flames at Lavesum about 4 kms north of Haltern, Germany. All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany. Francis was the pilot of Halifax JB865, with the same crew except for Sergeant Beadsmoore, when, on 4 April, they were hit by flak as they were leaving the target area of Essen and sustained damage and loss of brake pressure landed safely at Elvington. Flight Sergeant O Grady is remembered with Honour at the Australian War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, Sydney. Flight Sergeant Francis John O Grady (cwgc) Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.

SOurce: https://docplayer.net/57197404-77-squadron-raf-raaf-airmen-killed-whilst-on-active-service-with-77-squadron-raf-world-war-ii.html