Patrick O'Flynn/ Flynn

Rank:	Sergeant Observer
Street:
Townland:
Town/Village:	Newtownforbes
Civil Parish:	Clonguish
Catholic Parish:	Clonguish
Country:
Alternative Address:
Census 1901:	Resident at Newtownforbes www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Newtownforbes/Newtownforbes/1553199/
Census 1911:	Resident at Newtownforbes www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Longford/Newtownforbes/Newtownforbes_Town/586783/
Regiment/Unit:	Royal Air Force (Royal Flying Corps)
Regiment Number:	110604
Date of Death:	12-02-1919
Cause:	Died of pneumonia, St. Omer.
Memorial:	Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, St. Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France
Information:	Patrick Joseph Flynn was born 19 May 1896* in Newtownforbes, Co. Longford; he was the son of John Flynn, a school teacher. Prior to the war Patrick was working as a clerk. Patrick originally enlisted for war service iwith the British Army, before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in December 1917,, which became the Royal Air Force in April 1918. At that time, Patrick held the rank of Private 2nd Class, and was promoted to Sergeant in August 1918. His role as an observer, part of the non-pilot flight crew whose role was primarily reconnaisance and, where necessary, engage with enemy aircraft. Flynn died of pneumonia in 1919, not long after the war ended, which was likely connected to the 'Spanish Flu' pandemic of 1918-1919.
Parents Names:	Son of John J. Flynn and Jane (née Farrell), Newtownforbes, Co. Longford
Notes:	*Patrick's birth year is recorded as 1895 in his RAF record. It is likely that Patrick amended his name to O'Flynn on joining military.
Links:	Link to CWGC entry; link to Civil Record of birth; Find a Grave entry;