I was able to buy this extremely well preserved later War Irvin from the son of the War time owner, Flight Lieutenant John Raymond Weeds, D.F.C. (119824). His son, Bob Weeds, was able to tell me about his father and I did some further research to fill in some gaps.
John Weeds was a pilot in No. 224 squadron flying Liberator Vs in the RAF Coastal Command. As an RAF career officer post War he flew the Lancaster GR3, Halifax and the Shackleton, ending his career in 1959. He is mentioned in the London Gazette in 1954 and 1959 when he was awarded the Air Force Cross.
Here is a brief history of 224 squadron. In April 1941 No.224 moved to Northern Ireland for anti-submarine patrols, a further move being made to Cornwall in December to fly patrols off Brest and attack shipping off the coast of Brittany. In February 1942 the squadron returned to Ulster for two months before moving on to Tiree, where it converted to Liberators in July. These greatly increased the range of patrols over the Atlantic and were brought to southern England in September for anti-submarine operations over the Bay of Biscay and attacks on shipping over the French Coast. With the capture of most of France, No.224 was transferred to Scotland for attacks on U-boats and shipping off the Norweigian and Danish coasts which lasted until the end of the war. Returning to St.Eval in July the squadron converted to Lancasters before disbanding on 10 November 1947. A detachment was based in the Azores for air-sea rescue purposes between July and October 1945. In February 1946, the squadron had been divided into Nos.224X and 224Y Squadrons. No.224Y became No.228 Squadron on 1 June 1946 and Nos.224X reverted to being No.224 Squadron.
On 1 March 1948, No.224 reformed at Aldergrove as a meteorlogical reconnaissance squadron equipped with Halifaxes. A detachment was based at Gibraltar which became the squadrons base in August 1951, the last meteorlogical flight having been made on 30 March 1951. At the same time as it moved, No.224 began to convert to Shackletons for maritime reconnaissance duties and was based at Gibraltar until disbandment on 31 October 1966.
The Irvin was made by Links under their 1943 contract and was issued to Weeds in early 1944. It has the typical features of jackets from this prolific London maker, the rounded collar, bare metal under-arm vent rings and belt eyelets and medium width belt loops. Clearly he looked after the jacket very well indeed as it is in fantastic condition with very little wear to the fleece and no holes or patch repairs etc.. I had to do some re-stitching on one seam tape and replace the sleeve zip pulls with the correct ones as the zip tracks had been sewn up. The main zip is a brass Lightning whilst the sleeve zips are the "N" variety seen on many later War jackets. As a size 4 it is a good fit and very warm!
John Weeds was a pilot in No. 224 squadron flying Liberator Vs in the RAF Coastal Command. As an RAF career officer post War he flew the Lancaster GR3, Halifax and the Shackleton, ending his career in 1959. He is mentioned in the London Gazette in 1954 and 1959 when he was awarded the Air Force Cross.
Here is a brief history of 224 squadron. In April 1941 No.224 moved to Northern Ireland for anti-submarine patrols, a further move being made to Cornwall in December to fly patrols off Brest and attack shipping off the coast of Brittany. In February 1942 the squadron returned to Ulster for two months before moving on to Tiree, where it converted to Liberators in July. These greatly increased the range of patrols over the Atlantic and were brought to southern England in September for anti-submarine operations over the Bay of Biscay and attacks on shipping over the French Coast. With the capture of most of France, No.224 was transferred to Scotland for attacks on U-boats and shipping off the Norweigian and Danish coasts which lasted until the end of the war. Returning to St.Eval in July the squadron converted to Lancasters before disbanding on 10 November 1947. A detachment was based in the Azores for air-sea rescue purposes between July and October 1945. In February 1946, the squadron had been divided into Nos.224X and 224Y Squadrons. No.224Y became No.228 Squadron on 1 June 1946 and Nos.224X reverted to being No.224 Squadron.
On 1 March 1948, No.224 reformed at Aldergrove as a meteorlogical reconnaissance squadron equipped with Halifaxes. A detachment was based at Gibraltar which became the squadrons base in August 1951, the last meteorlogical flight having been made on 30 March 1951. At the same time as it moved, No.224 began to convert to Shackletons for maritime reconnaissance duties and was based at Gibraltar until disbandment on 31 October 1966.
The Irvin was made by Links under their 1943 contract and was issued to Weeds in early 1944. It has the typical features of jackets from this prolific London maker, the rounded collar, bare metal under-arm vent rings and belt eyelets and medium width belt loops. Clearly he looked after the jacket very well indeed as it is in fantastic condition with very little wear to the fleece and no holes or patch repairs etc.. I had to do some re-stitching on one seam tape and replace the sleeve zip pulls with the correct ones as the zip tracks had been sewn up. The main zip is a brass Lightning whilst the sleeve zips are the "N" variety seen on many later War jackets. As a size 4 it is a good fit and very warm!
