65 years ago on Sunday past.

[behblc]

65 years ago , Sunday 7th May 1941 a Catalina of 240 Squadron appeared over Lough Erne at 4.30am having returned from patrol.
The pilots F/lt Peter Thomas circled and made his approach to land, the flare path had not been lit but nevertheless he switched on his landing light and made his approach.
The surface of the Lough was calm , just like a mirror dangerous conditions in which to try and land on water , no ripple or surface movement which might allow one to judge where the water ends and air begins.
The aircraft crashed and sank with the loss of all ten crew
It may be that the pilot was making a preliminary survey of the water when they crashed.

Catlains BN-P (AH536) was never recovered from Lough Erne , some wreckage was washed ashore over the next day or two and the body of LAC Leslie Holmes was recovered.
The remainder of the crew are listed as "missing".

On Sunday past Mrs Pauline Martin cousin of F/lt Peter Martin laid a wreath at a memorial stone errected by local historians Mr. Joe O'Loughlin and Mrs Briege McCusker.

The crew are lsited as :
F/lt. Peter Thomas.
F/O. Hugh Hirst.
P/O. Kenneth Fuller.
P/O. Denis Hockey.
F.Sgt.William Peebles.
Sgt. Joseph Elwell.
Sgt. John Hesk.
Sgt. Henry Wilson.
Lac. Henry Cottam.
Lac. Leslie Holmes.*

Leslie Holmes is buried in Newport (St.Woollos) Cemetery , Herefordshire.
The other crewmembers are listed amongest the missing remembered on the Runneymede Memorial.

The photograph below shows P/240 in flight , taken from Catalina L/240.

[behblc]

P/O/Hirst.

This photograpgh shows P/O. Hirst in the pilots set of a Stranraer L/240 , on the left RCAF Navigator Sgt John Iverach.

[behblc]

Memorial Stone.

The memorial stone errected by Joe and Briege.
I will add a photograpgh of F/lt. Martin in due course as well as one or two of Pauline placing her wreath.

[Cam_S]

Have you read.....

Hello,

Great Post.

I am sure that you already knew this but Sgt John Iverach, who you have pictured, wrote a memoir about his war time experiences.

He is actually from my Home town and grew up not far from where I live. Anyways if you have not heard of the book it is called Chronicles of A Nervous Navigator. You can find it online.

I read the book years ago and can not remember if he talked about this particular incident but in all, it was a good read.

Ca,

[behblc]

John Iverach.

Cam it was Mr. Iverach's widow Peggy who gave me the photograph of P/240 , her husband took the photograph.
He was a photographer and a darn good one - he send his films home , Peggy had them developed and indexed them as John made a note on every photograph he took.

"Chronilces of a Nervous Navigator" I had a copy but gave / loaned it to a lady who lost her father at 131 (C) O.T.U. ( Killadeas) , I must see if I can get another copy.

I have some more phopographs to add to this thread when I can get them developed, I must see about getting a digital camera sometime soon as well, watch that long finger of mine!!