| James Joseph O'Meara | |
|---|---|
| 20 February 1919 – 1974 | |
 James Joseph O'Meara |
|
| Nickname | "Orange" |
| Allegiance |  United
Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  Royal Air
Force |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Commands held | No. 131 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service
Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar |
Squadron Leader James Joseph 'Orange' O'Meara DSO, DFC & Bar was a Battle of Britain Spitfire 'Ace' with 11 kills, two shared victories, one unconfirmed destroyed, four probables, 11 damaged and one shared damaged.[1]
O'Meara was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire on the 20 February 1919, and entered the Royal Air Force on short commission in April 1938.[2]
His first operational posting was to No. 64 Squadron based at RAF Hornchurch with whom he obtained his first 'kill' while over Dunkirk on 31 May 1940, when he brought down a Bf 109. He had already damaged a Ju 88 off Calais on 21 May.[2]
His next claim was a Bf 109 of JG 51, shot down in flames over the English Channel on 19 July and ten days later, while intercepting a raid over Dover, claimed twoJu 87s.[2] On the 11 August he claimed 2 Bf 109 'probables' and on the following day destroyed one more. He claimed a Bf 109 down on 13 August, and on the 15th he damaged three Heinkel He 111 bombers.[2] On the 18th O'Meara claimed shared destruction of a Ju 88 and a He 111 destroyed.[2]
O'Meara was shortly afterwards posted to No. 72 Squadron at Biggin Hill, damaging a Do. 17 on 27 September. A D.F.C. was approved the same month and then he was sent for a 'rest period' at 421 Flight at Hawkinge, working up new pilots who would eventually form the nucleus of No.91 Squadron RAF. [2]
O'Meara shot down an He. 59 of Seenotgruppe 3 on 26 November, a Bf 109 fighter-bomber of LG 2 that was attacking a Royal Navy Minesweeper on 5 December, and then damaged another one immediately afterwards.[2]
By late April 1941, he had destroyed another Seenotgruppe 3 He. 59 and temporarily returned to No. 64 Squadron RAF as a Flight Commander, bringing his score to at least 12 confirmed victories. He was rested from operations in October 1941, joining 1491 Target Towing Flight at Tain.[2]
In July 1942, after a brief spell with 164 squadron, he was posted to Nigeria, seving with 1432 Flight until August. After returning to the UK, O'Meara was appointed RAF Liaison Officer to the Army Chief of Staff.[2]
In January 1943, O'Meara joined No. 234 Squadron until March, then, with a second D.F.C. O'Meara took command of No.131 Squadron at Castledown until May 1944. [2]
He was then posted to 10 group HQ , and in October 1944 was recommended for a Second Bar to the D.F.C.. AVM Trafford Leigh-Mallory approved a D.S.O. instead, as his length of uninterrupted active service warranting higher recognition. [2]
His wartime score totals 11 and 2 shared destroyed, 1 unconfirmed destroyed, 4 probables, 11 and 1 shared damaged.[2]
O'Meara remained in the Royal Air Force after the war and retired with the rank of Squadron Leader.
   | Website dedicated to the memory of Squadron Leader James Joseph 'Orange' O'Meara D.S.O., D.F.C. - Squadron Leader James Joseph O'Meara D.S.O., D.F.C. |
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