Hey all, I have been doing more research, and I have come across Irish citizens who flew in the RCAF as flight engineers in Canadian Halifax squadrons. I always thought Ireland was neutral in WW2, so how did they get into the RCAF/RAF? ~ Pathfinder
Many thousands of Irish joined the RAF. All they had to do was travel across the border and they would be accepted. And they could travel back home for leave but had to change into civvies. Ireland had only been independent for 20 years and many Irish families still held an affection for Britain. And Irish, not Irelanders
You're on the money there Kyt. Kenneth flew with a number of Irish pilots in his time with the RAF. Notably when he was flying out of RAF Aldergrove, not far from Belfast. Cheers Owen
Sorry about the typo Kyt So they'd all get back into the RAF blue when their leave finished? What would have been the consequences if they'd worn their uniforms at home?
As Ireland was neutral, any RAF (and Luftwaffe) members were suppossed to be interned for the duration of the war. In reality, a number of RAF crews who crashed in Ireland were quietly returned. But Britain was very careful to instruct visiting airmen not to antagonise the Irish because (a)it was neutral and (b) there were just as many, if not more, anti-British Irish as there were pro. Even when Irish airmen killed inaction, and whose bodies were returned to their families, were buried, and RAF representatives had to wear civilian clothes.
The Irish Free State as it was known up until 1949? was part of the British Commonwealth however it was the only one who chose neutrality. Northern Ireland was a distinct region of the United Kingdom from the 1920's.
Vince Reilly, who the Civillian Supervisor of the Edinburgh Rescue radio Room, came from Eire, he had been in the Irish Army and had guarded the Interned RAF men. At the end of the war, Vince came over to britian and joined the RAF, he served mainly in Sigs int. His claim to fame was that it was he who took Chf Tech Britton, the famous spay, through his Chf Techs, exam and was on watch when they arrest Britton. Before he went home too eire, he used to leave every indiction of his "employment" in the radio room, as he would be in trouble if someone found out that he was working for the British government.
Just a few of the most famous Irish RAF airmen: Donald Garland VC (and his three brothers, who also all died serving with the RAF) Eugene Esmonde VC Brendan "Paddy" Finucane - youngest Wing Commander, and one of the highest-scoring aces. And many more in the other services
