Date of birth:

December 17th, 1917 (Toronto/Ontario, Canada)

Date of death:

April 15th, 2007

Service number:

33329

Nationality:

Canadian

Promotions:
?: Flying Officer;
February 16th, 1940: Flight Lieutenant (war subs.);
?: acting Squadron Leader;
December 16th, 1941: Temporary Squadron Leader (as from December 1st, 1941);
August 21st, 1942: Squadron Leader (war subs.);
November 20th, 1942: Squadron Leader (seniority December 1st, 1941);
?: Temporary Wing Commander (until November 1st, 1947);
January 1st, 1949: Wing Commander (seniority July 1st, 1947).

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 247 (China-British) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

December 2nd, 1941

Citation:
"This officer has commanded the squadron for the past 13 months and has participated in a large number of sorties both by day and night. On one occasion, he participated in one of the longest night flights ever undertaken in a single-seat fighter aircraft during which he displayed good judgment and fine navigational skill. His outstanding qualities as a leader have set an excellent example."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Wing Commander

Awarded on:

August 6th, 1943

Citation:
"This officer has displayed high qualities of leadership, great skill and courage, setting an example which has contributed in a large measure to the high efficiency of the squadron he commands.
Wing Commander O'Brian has completed a large number of sorties and has invariably displayed great keenness. On one occasion, when he had to abandon his aircraft over the sea, he was subsequently adrift in his dinghy for 8 hours before being rescued. Despite this, he led his formation on its next operation."

Second DFC received in the form of a bar to be worn on the ribbon of the first DFC.

• Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
• - The London Gazette of 14th January 1941, Issue 35042
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 28th November 1941, Issue 35364, dated 2nd December 1941
  - The London Gazette of 16th December 1941, Issue 35383
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 6th October 1942, Issue 35736, dated 9th October 1942
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 17th November 1942, Issue 35791, dated 20th November 1942
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 3rd August 1943, Issue 36122, dated 6th August 1943
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 14th November 1947, Issue 38125, dated 18th November 1947
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 28th December 1948, Issue 38490, dated 31st December 1948