George Harrison FURNEY. D.F.M. Posthumously. Flight Sergeant, Wireless Operator, Air Gunner 816134 of 84 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force, stationed at RAF Aqir in Palestine.
Born 20 June 1919 to Benjamin William Bolton and Elizabeth Downes Furney, nee McCelland of Finaghy, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
He was part of a crew of three in a Blenheim IV No, L9316 which was involved in the Battle for Habbaniy, May 1941. Their plane was shot down near Musaiyab, Iraq on the 31 May 1941 all perished, he was aged 22.
London Gazette dated 15 July 1941
Distinguished Flying Medal. 566025 Flight Sergeant, (Pilot) Alexander GORDON,
No. 84 Squadron. (Since reported missing.)
816134 Sergeant George FURNEY, Auxiliary Air Force, No. 84 Squadron. (Since reported
missing.)
Flight Sergeant Gordon and Sergeant Furney have flown together as pilot and wireless operator air gunner respectively on numerous operational flights. In October, when carrying out an attack at Tobruk, their aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters. The engine was disabled but the attackers were beaten off and Gordon successfully force landed in the desert. On another occasion Gordon and Furney participated in an attack on Kucove oil wells. Harassed by enemy fighters, Furney fought back fiercely until he received a severe head wound. Despite damage to the aircraft Gordon skilfully flew it some 200 miles back to his base. In March, 1941, Gordon, accompanied by. Furney, carried out an attack on the Italian Fleet off Cape Matapan. In spite of intense anti-aircraft fire Gordon descended to 4,000 feet and scored two direct hits on a cruiser causing it to slow down, and compelling other vessels to stand by. By their success in this operation, Gordon and Furney helped to bring the Italian Fleet to action. Both these airmen have displayed great skill and determination in accomplishing their allotted tasks.
At rest in Habbaniya War Cemetery, Iraq.
The other crew member was Sergeant 580544 Observer, George Francis HUMBER
Photograph taken near the Comber War Memorial, County Down, Northern Ireland on Remembrance Day 2020.
Born in Wexford, Ireland, Flight Sergeant George Furney DFM lived in Finaghy, Co. Antrim. He died on 31st May 1941, shot down by a Vichy French plane.
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