Irish Shipping Ltd., was set up in1941 to ensure Ireland could import and export essential goods during the 2nd World War. Britain had decided that it could no longer put its ships and men at risk by supplying a country that had decided to remain neutral. So after a meeting held in Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin […]
Letter to ‘The Catalina Society’, Crawley, West Sussex, England. 10thFebruary 1998. “ Many people did not know throughout the war and to this day, may have no idea, that despite their neutrality the Eire Government, under Mr. deValera made a concession to the British whereby our aircraft based on Lough Erne could gain access […]
The “Robert Hastie”. Eire also allowed a British rescue boat the “ROBERT HASTIE” to be based at Killybegs. There was much liaising between northern and southern intelligence personnel. The “Robert Hastie” had even been welcomed on its arrival in June 1941 by Pilot Officer Heniker – Heaton from Castle Archdale and Head Constable […]
On Monday 19th June 1944 an American Liberator made a crash landing at Abbeylands, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal. While over 40 aircraft crashed in Co. Donegal alone and a total of over 200 crashed in the neutral Irish Free State, this was but one of at least 30 recorded ferry flights that, crashed, force landed or […]
George lives in retirement on Jersey Island, a self taught computer expert he has built up a website of his WW2 service. In 1944/45 with 202 Squadron he was based on Lough Erne, N. Ireland during the Battle of the Atlantic. This was the most westerly flying boat base in the British Isles. Eighteen Catalina’s […]
On the evening of 7th November 1943 Halifax – EB134 set off on a training flight from Rufforth air field in North Yorkshire. This was a duel purpose flight, the pilot and crew had been experienced in flying twin engine air craft and now they had to train and become familiar in the four engine […]
Early in August past, Alec F. Johnston a retired member of the New Zealand Air Force who had been stationed at Castle Archdale during World War 11 returned to pay a visit to the place he first came to 65 years ago. Johnny to his friends left his native South Island home in […]
During World War 11 large numbers of American air craft were ferried across the Atlantic Ocean to be allocated to Squadrons based in England. This is the story of Boeing Flying Fortress B17 number 42-31468 – code named ‘Galley Uncle’. The plane left its base – North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, Dow Field, Bangor, […]
Sergeant Clifford Gurney Fort. Age 21. Died on 31st July 1942 when Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh based Sunderland Flying Boat number W4025 was shot down in error by ‘friendly fire’ from an Allied shipping convoy. In poor weather it was mistaken for an enemy plane Sergeant Vivian Lewis. Age 21. Died in […]