Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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1233707   Sergeant James Joseph Kearney
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Dated added: 03/09/2016   Last updated: 05/04/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (British Air Force)
Died: 05/07/1944 (Killed in Action)
Age: 20
Summary      
James Joseph Kearney was the son of Patrick Joseph and Jennie Kearney. He was born about 1924. He served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two. By July 1944, Sergeant Kearney was serving with 106 Squadron. Sergeant Kearney was on-board a Lancaster bomber when it was shot down en-route to an attack on a V1 rocket storage base in France on 6th July 1944.
Sergeant James Joseph Kearney
Further Information
James Joseph Kearney was the son of Patrick Joseph and Jennie Kearney.
He was born about 1924. He lived in the parish of Greenlough. Joey Kearney came from Newton Corner.
About 1938, Joseph Kearney left Greenlough at the age of 14 to learn to be a priest at Salesian College in Manchester. This is believed to be Thornleigh Salesian College near Bolton, although Joseph is not listed on their Roll of Honour.
James Joseph Kearney served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two. He as a wireless operator and an air gunner.
By July 1944, Sergeant Kearney was serving with 106 Squadron.
At 23:25 on the evening of 5th July 1944, a Lancaster bomber (serial number ME832), with Sergeant Kearney as part of the seven man crew, took off from Metheringham on a night raid.
Lancaster bomber
The target was Saint Leu d'Esserent, a the flying-bomb storage site. Bomber Command sent a force of 231 Lancasters and 15 Mosquitos to attack the V1 supply depot at Saint Leu D'Esserent.
The aircraft crashed at 0130, fully loaded in a small woodland two kilometres south west of the village of St-Germain-la-Poterie, eight kilometres from Beauvais.
Photo of crash site
Of the crew of seven, only F/S O J McNaughton RCAF survived and evaded capture. The crew who perished were:
bullet Sergeant Ronald BENTLEY (1698420) Flight Engineer
bullet Sergeant Alfred BRADLEY (1594893) Air Gunner
bullet Pilot Officer Stanley Montague FUTCHER (177861)
bullet Sergeant James Joseph KEARNEY (1233707)
bullet Flying Officer William Hannah Clingen RAMSAY (52128) Air Gunner
bullet Flight Sergeant Francis Henry STOKELD (1577610) Navigator
Sergeant James Joseph Kearney has no known grave and is commemorated on on Panel 232 of the Runnymede Memorial.
Sergeant James Joseph Kearney is also commemorated on a plaque in the small woodland near St-Germain-la-Poterie where the aircraft crashed.
Plaque in woodland near St-Germain-la-Poterie
Plaque in woodland near St-Germain-la-Poterie
 Sergeant James Joseph Kearney  on plaque in woodland near St-Germain-la-Poterie
The CWGC record Sergeant James Joseph Kearney as the son of Patrick Joseph and Jennie Kearney of Newton, Portglenone, Co. Antrim.
There is a townland in County Antrim called Newton Crommelin, but it is many miles from Portglenone.
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Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Newton, Portglenone (?) Portglenone CWGC lists parents in Newton, Portglenone 54.876202 -6.469662
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 ASAA - Summer 1944 Summer 1944 - Saint-Leu-d'Esserent in turmoil
2 Facebook - Forces Veteran Courier Service Details of raid
3 Facebook - Photos of Portglenone Photo and details of Sergeant Kearney
4 International Bomber Command Details of crew and crash
5 Lancaster ME832 Photo of crash site
6 Memorial at Saint-Germain-la-Poterie Photos of memorial at Saint-Germain-la-Poterie
7 RAF Commands - ME832 Details of crew and crash
8 Runnymede - panel 232 Middle Photo of Sergeant James Kearney's inscription
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023