Irwin, J A (Joseph Alexander)
Irwin, J A (Joseph Alexander)
Flying Officer Joseph Irwin was the son of William Wilson Irwin and Annie Craig Irwin, of Red House, Union Street, Coleraine. He had degrees B.Sc.[1] and M.Sc.[2] from Queen’s University, Belfast. Joseph had joined the RAF three years previous. His younger brother Norman was also serving along with his sister.
At 12:10pm on the 6th of March 1944, eight Typhoon fighters[3] took off from the airfield at RAF Selsey[4] to escort Boston A20 Havoc’s[5] to Conches-en-Ouches.[6]
The eight pilots were broken into two sections, Red and Blue. Joseph was part of Red.
While flying to their target the sections came across four Typhoons from another squadron. A message was passed that it was all clear north of Le Harve.[7] They were ordered to return to base.
On the trip back to England around 25 miles from St Catherine’s Point, which is located on the southern coast of the Isle of White, Flying Officer Joseph Irwin’s Typhoon[8] got into difficulty and he abandoned his aeroplane, which subsequently crashed into the sea. Blue leader, Flight Lieutenant Montgomery made a Mayday call, then Blue section returned to their base. Landing at 13:45.
Red Section continued to circled Joseph as he struggled in the water. They did so for 50 minutes, until a Supermarine Walrus[9] arrived to rescue him. By this time, it was too late as he had drowned. His body was though recovered from the sea.
Joseph’s funeral took place during Saturday 11th of March 1944, from his parents’ home to Coleraine Cemetery. It had a large turnout of members of the Royal Air Force and serving and non-serving family members. His final service was conducted at his final resting place.
Date of Death: Died 06/03/1944 (Aged 25)
Service: Pilot, Flying Officer, 174 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service Number: 124167
Burial Location: Section E. Grave 2824.
[1] Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree.
[2] Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree.
[3] Hawker Typhoon is a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft that was first flown during 1941.
[4] RAF Selsey was in West Sussex, England.
[5] Boston A20 Havoc’s are United States aircraft used light bombers and for reconnaissance. It was first flown during 1939.
[6] Conches-en-Ouches is in Northern France.
[7] Le Harve, is a port in Northwestern France.
[8] Flying Officer Joseph Irwin plane was N. JP836.
[9] Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious biplane, first flown in 1933.
