F/Lt G. M. Kerrigan RAF Beaulieu 1943-1944

[CZ_RAF]

Hi all,

I would like to ask for help to indetify F/Lt G. M. Kerrigan who is stated in the RAF Station Beaulieu ORB as being posted from Beaulieu to Predannack on 20.2.1944 and his trade was most probably Radar Officer.
I have checked AIR 78 (AIR-78-90-56_1.pdf) - no match, I have tried also initials C. M. and O. M. but again no match. I got no hit in Air Force Lists and the LG also.

Any help will be much appreciated.

TIA

Pavel

[wwrsimon]

Pavel

Possibly Canadian?

See: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/419766432/

FLT.-LT. H. F. KERRIGAN, R.C.A.F. [Harold Fleming Kerrigan], attached to R.A.F., son of Mrs. Harold G. Kerrigan, 387 Roslyn Avenue, Westmount, who has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross according to an announcement from London. Born in Windsor, Ont, and educated in London, Ont., Flt-Lt Kerrigan enlisted in August, 1940, received his wings and commission in July, 1941. and went overseas in November, 1941, to serve with the R.A.F. Coastal command. He is 26, and prior to enlistment was in the employ of the Midland Securities Corporation, Toronto. A brother, P.O. G. M. Kerrigan, went overseas with the R.C.A.F. shortly after receiving his commission in September, 1941.

Regards

Simon

[CZ_RAF]

Simon my BIG thanks for your quick and promising reply. I have to take down blinders! Sure there is no evidence that he would be the RAF only!
So no the seach in the Canada Gazette will be the next step in my research.

Pavel

[MSIMPSON]

Pavel,
Have found R94288 Geoffrey Moore Kerrigan, commissioned Radio Branch, service number C7950, Canada Gazette 13/12/41.
Regards, Mark.

[CZ_RAF]

Thanks Mark, you have beaten me by few minutes:-)
There is important that the branch fits so I am pretty sure it is my man:
R94288 AC2 Geoffrey Moore Kerrigan (C7950) commissioned to P/O - CG 13.12.1941.

Pavel

[wwrsimon]

Pavel

A couple of family trees on ancestry.com confirm that he was the brother mentioned in the article.

Regards

Simon

[CZ_RAF]

Thanks for confirmation Simon, anyway your first find was crucial.

Edit:
This is the final confirmation for me:

Geoffrey Moore Kerrigan, 91, of Essex, died peacefully on Feb. 21 at the Middlesex Hospice, surrounded by loved ones. He was the husband of the late Marjorie Brooks Kerrigan, who predeceased him on May 13, 2009. Geoffrey was born in London, Ontario, Canada, on Nov. 6, 1921, son of the late Harold G Kerrigan and Francis Maud (Fleming) Kerrigan. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941, at the age of 19, and in 1942 was the radar training officer at the Operational Training Unit (OTU) in Thornaby, Yorkshire, England, in charge of 15 Canadian radar mechanics for the Coastal Command in the U.K. He trained new aircrew on Wellington, Hudson, B24 Liberators, and other aircraft about how to use the newest radar to search for German submarines. Crews included English, Czech, and Polish airmen.

He is survived by three sons, David and his wife Jean of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Michael and his wife Kimberly of St. Michaels, Maryland, and Brian Peter of Essex. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sisters, Barbara and Jocelyn, and his brothers, Peter and Harold.

https://www.zip06.com/article/20130307/NWS11/130309717

Pavel

[wwrsimon]

Thanks for posting that Pavel. I'd just come across his obituary on legacy.com, and I thought this bit was interesting:

In 1952, Geoffrey was commissioned as the only Canadian with the Canadian Defense Research Board and on loan to the British Ministry of Supply to assist with telemetry in their atomic weapons trials in northern Australia. One such test was named “Project Hurricane,” about which a movie was made, and in which Geoffrey can be seen several times.

Regards

Simon