BRENNAN, Virgil Paul
| Service Number: | 404692 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 November 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Acting Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 79 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Warwick, Queensland, Australia, 6 March 1920 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers School, Warwick & Brisbane State High School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Law student |
| Died: | Flying Accident, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 13 June 1943, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia Plot A, Row D, Grave 12 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane State High School Honour Board |
World War 2 Service
| 8 Nov 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, 404692, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 404692 | |
| 9 Nov 1940: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 404692, Air War SW Pacific 1941-45 | |
| 10 Nov 1940: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), No. 2 Initial Training School Bradfield Park, for recruit training | |
| 4 Jan 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School Narrandera | |
| 4 Jul 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 1 "M" Depot Halifax | |
| 4 Jan 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, RAF Station Hornchurch | |
| 15 May 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, No. 249 Squadron (RAF) | |
| 15 Nov 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, Operational Training Units (RAF), (52OTU) | |
| 1 Dec 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Acting Flight Lieutenant, Operational Training Units (RAF), (52OTU) | |
| 13 Jun 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 404692, No. 79 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 13 Jun 1943: | Wounded Royal Australian Air Force, Acting Flight Lieutenant, 404692, No. 79 Squadron (RAAF), Fatally Injured from an Aircraft Accident, Garbutt Queensland. |
Help us honour Virgil Paul Brennan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography
Virgil Paul BRENNAN was born in Warwick, Queensland on 6th March, 1920
His parents were Edgar James BRENNAN and Katherine O'SULLIVAN
-----------------------------
Service number: 404692
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Unit: 79 Squadron
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of death: 13 June 1943
Place of death: Townsville, Queensland
Cause of death: Accidental
Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force
Two Spitfires from 79 Squadron RAAF collided when landing at Garbutt aerodrome on Sunday 13 June 1943.
Flight Lieutenant Virgil Paul Brennan (404692), DFC, DFM, was killed when his Spitfire EE 954 caught fire. He was buried at the Townsville War Cemetery, Grave Reference/Panel No. A.D.12. Virgil, or Paul as he was known, was one of four sons of the late Mr Edgar James Brennan and Mrs Katherine Brennan who was living at Hendra at the time of her sons death. Paul was born in Warwick, Queensland on 6 March 1920. He was 23 years old at the time of his death. Flt. Lt. Brennan was en route to join 452 Squadron RAAF at the time of this accident. Prior to being in 79 Squadron RAAF, he had been in 64 and 249 Squadrons RAF and had served at Malta. He had been credited with 10 kills during combat missions. He was a co-author of a 96 page book "Spitfires over Malta" published in London in 1943 by Jarrolds. He became known as "Brennan of Malta".
The squadron designations for the two aircraft were UPK and UBH.
The other pilot, Sergeant (newly appointed) Gardner, survived the writeoff of his Spitfire JG 897.
Click images to start slideshow.