Lieut. Pat O'Brien

Anyone with any post-war details on Lieut. Pat O'Brien?

His wartime experiences as a fighter pilot (May to Aug 1917) and later as a POW (shot down Aug 17th) as well as his subsequent successful escape across Germany, Belgium and into Holland, are described in his 1918 book entitled, "Outwitting the Hun". His story ends with his having an audience with King George before returning home to America in Dec 1917.

I am curious about a comment I had seen on a website on WWI aviation books that stated he had committed suicide after the war.

-wj

I found info on Lieut. Pat O'Brien that I was looking for quite by accident while reading responses to Alex Revell's question on Capt. W.R. Gregory.

The response by "john g" included a reference to a website on the 66th Squadron, RFC (www.66squadron.co.uk/index.html). While looking down the list of biographies on the site, I came across one for Patrick Alva O'Brien, MC. It turned out to be the very same O'Brien I was interested in. The biography includes the actual newspaper clipping that describes his suicide. Its seems he was distraught over his failing marriage to motion picture actress Virginia Allen (screen name Virginia Dale).

Also, included on the web page is a couple of follow on articles where the death was briefly investigated as a murder.

Thanks to "john g".

--wj

[john_g]

Wiilyj
I was pleased my website was of use to you. A couple of years ago a colour post for his film"Shadows of the West was auctioned in L.A. it fetched a good price needless to say.

The mark 2 version of the web site will go on line this Friday at www.66squadron.co.uk/index.html it includes the citation for O'Briens MC.

Any contributions or information is always welcome.

john-g