Brian Barry McSweeney

Forenames

Brian Barry AWMM

Surname

McSweeney AWMM

Service number

• NZ431020 AWMM
• WWII 431020 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

2 Jun 1923 RNZAF Biographies (R17845613)

Birth notes

Son of Morgan Patrick & Evelyn Gertrude McSWEENEY

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 26 July 2023 - NZ BDM Birth Records

Address before enlistment

Ngatapa, Gisborne

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 26 July 2023 - Newspaper Report

Next of kin

• WW2 Parents: Major and Mrs. A. H. Russell of Gisborne Ngatapa, Gisborne AWMM
• Stepson of Andrew Hamilton RUSSELL & Son of Mrs Evelyn Gertrude RUSSELL
  Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 26 July 2023 - NZ BDM Marriage Records

Relationship status

Single/WWII AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Air Force AWMM

Service number

• NZ431020 AWMM
• WWII 431020 AWMM

Medical notes

Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

Sergeant AWMM
Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 1 Operational Training Unit AWMM

Death

24 Aug 1943 AWMM
Age  20 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed on Active Service AWMM

Obituary

AIR FORCE CRASH- FIVE DEATHS FEARED Aug. 25. Five members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force were involved in an aircraft accident near a North Island station yesterday morning and are believed to have lost their lives. They were:
Pilot-Officer Harold Hayward Beard. Wife: Mrs. D. G. Beard, Kimbolton.
Flight-Sergeant William Marshall. Sister: Miss M. Marshall, Waiuku.
Sergeant William James Plant. Wife: Mrs. A. Plant, Auckland.
Sergeant John Francis Aubrey Father: Mr. J. H. Aubrey, Silverdale.
Sergeant Brian Barry ftfcStveeney, Ngatapa.
The aircraft, which was engaged in a training flight dived steeply into the sea approximately three miles" off shore and, despite the most extensive searches, no trace of the wreckage or the occupants was found.

Sergeant McSweeney, who was born in Gisborne, was a grandson of Mr. D. J. Barry. He was farming at Ngatapa before entering the armed forces, and was educated at Christ’s College. He first joined the army, but, being too young to go\ Overseas, entered the Royal New Zealand Air Force and was completing his training in New Zealand.

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 26 July 2023 - GISBORNE HERALD, VOLUME LXX, ISSUE 21182, 25 AUGUST 1943, PAGE 2

Memorial name

• Auckland Provincial Memorial, Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
• Gisborne First World War Memorial, The Esplanade, Kaiti, Gisborne AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2964877
  Sources Used
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ma - McW. Archives New Zealand (R17845613)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845613
  Sources Used

References

• Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ma - McW. Archives New Zealand (R17845613) - Former archives reference: AIR118
• Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.