James Joseph "Orange" O'Meara, DSO, DFC & Bar (20 February 1919 – 5 July 1974) was a Royal Air Force officer and fighter pilot of the Second World War.

He had an early passion for aviation and worked as a bank clerk in Norwich, Norfolk to earn money to afford flying lessons.

15093 at Norfolk & Norwich Aero Club on 19 June 1937[2] and entered the Royal Air Force on short commission in April 1938 aged 19.

[7] His citation in the London Gazette read: Pilot Officer O'Meara has displayed a very high degree of skill and devotion to duty in all operations against the.

[3] 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.

[8] The citation published in the London Gazette reported that: This officer has performed excellent work as a fighter pilot in the many and varied missions which have been allotted to him.

On a recent occasion he led an offensive operation which extended as far as Holland, and in which troops and a gun-post were machine-gunned; an armed ship was also attacked.

After returning to the UK O'Meara was appointed RAF liaison officer to the Army Chief of Staff.

[3] His citation, published in the London Gazette stated that: Squadron Leader O'Meara has completed a notable tour and throughout has displayed a high degree of skill and gallantry.

[12] After his retirement from the RAF, O'Meara worked as an architect for Wimpey Homes before running several business enterprises.

[citation needed] O'Meara died in 1974 in the Barnstaple Hospital in North Devon after suffering for several years with a liver infection picked up from a parasite while stationed in India.