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**behblc** · 11-26-2007, 07:19 PM

Where she put down.

The "Inner Lough" as seen on a wet Wednesday in November - the aircraft put down in this area , to the best of my knowledge she made her approach from theNorth.

On the basis of an email from a uncle of mine I have "updated" this post.
The aircraft came in from the North , not the West.

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**behblc** · 11-26-2007, 07:28 PM

One which didn't get away.

A Sunderland of 461 which is shown being broken up at Shorts in Belfast , as far as I am aware she was damaged on Lough Neagh and was SOC.

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**behblc** · 11-26-2007, 07:36 PM

Armaments Section Castle Archdale.

The guys who kept them armed and "ready to rock" , moving the heavy charges on a cold wet morning must have been miserable work - nothing penetrates like the rain on Lough Erne , a sort of Irish version of "WD-40".

Lokks like this was

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**behblc** · 11-26-2007, 07:42 PM

Some more 423 groundcrew.

Some more of 423 armouers.
this photo was taken just to the right of the slipway - the treeline behind has not changed in almsot 70 years.
The T Sheds have not been built - this probably dates from early 1943.

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**behblc** · 11-26-2007, 07:55 PM

More on the BABS.

Absolutely delighted to find this - forgot I had it

Some more information in diagram form on the Blind Approach system to the base.
This was developed in 1942 by S/ldr Eddy Edwards , Eddy was one of the most remarkbale men I have ever had the pleasure to have met - in life we occasionally meet men who make a lasting impression - Eddy was one of this rare breed.

I honestly believe that these young men represented the best of their generation - a quite outstanding body of men and women.

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**behblc** · 11-26-2007, 08:04 PM

A little piece of history.

David Irving talks about "real history" - he has no idea

Again this diagram came from Eddy Edwards - I am quite sure that this series of diagram are quite unique .
Having been designed it had to be flown - Lynwood and Edawrds flew it and it worked well - without it getting into Lough Erne in bad weather would have been next to impossible.
I have not seen these diagrams for a number of years delighted to find them again - Christmas comes early - we each have our own wee ways of going mad - this is one of mine .

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**behblc** · 11-26-2007, 08:15 PM

Last one for tonight.

The lighting apprach system to Killadeas and th elanding area circa 1942.
this may seem dry and unintersting but without these systems the bases could not operate.
These diagrams are quite unique , having done more than my fair share of searching I have not seen them reproduced anywhere else - a piece of forgotten history .
To me these simple diagrams are a real window to the past , something really special .
Eddy told me that instructors could take off from the waters around Killadeas if conditions permitted - pupils / pilots under training could not , for them it was a long taxi up to the flare path operational aircraft had priority.

This is all for tonight - will post up some info on some tragic accidents and lucky escapes from aircraft which came down on te approaches to Killadeas.

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**behblc** · 11-26-2007, 08:16 PM

Last one for tonight.

Some info. to add to post 301.
Attached photo from an uncle of mine who saw the plane land.
Thety lost an engine from the airframe - see the photo and put down on the water landing from North to South.

The pilot Bill Stewart mentioned that they had Buzzed a monestary - this can only be St. Patrick's on Lough Derg a few miles from Pettigo - in the irish republic . ( naughty airmen .

).
Soon afterwards the engine port engine started to give trouble and a fire resulted - God must not have been amused

.

Marked on the photo the line of approach , the area where the engine fell and the shore line ( as seen in my photo in 301) where the crew came ashore.

Bill Stewarts Mail to my uncle.

Dear George Irvine,

Some 63 years ago, come May 2008, I landed a burning Sunderland on Lower Lough Erne.Through various contacts, in both America and Ireland, memories of those far-off days have lately come flooding back to me,the most recent contact being Robert Cameron James Stewart,who is related to you----once or twice removed. In any event, he is a great source of information but the most astounding story is that you witnessed the "ditching" and six blackened airmen scrambling up the bank of the Lough to a roadway! My memory of the incident is not very reliable; for example I know we "buzzed" a convent that I had always thought was located on an island in Lough Erne but an Irvinestown lady set me straight on that point and both James and a chap named Garry Pentland have suggested it may have been situated on Lough Derg. Thus, the memory that I have, after landing, is one of madly paddling a dinghy to get away from an aircraft that was about to blow up! (It never did) and being picked up by a Fireboat or Tender from Castle Archdale

If you are able to add further enlightenment to this incident, I would be most pleased to hear from you.

Best regards,

Bill Stewart

Georrges recollection is that a flaot came off as well.
Bill Stewart in his email to george mentioned that this was unlikely as the aircraft would have been impossible to land minus a wing float - no mention of this in the 1180.

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**behblc** · 12-05-2007, 09:06 AM

A view from the North Shore of Boa island looking North directly along the line of approach.
The wind on this particular day was from the South , which is very unsual for this region - after the aircraft crew got out the wreck which was on fire slowly drifted back towards the Northern Shore , it ran aground there and burnt for some considerable time.

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**behblc** · 12-05-2007, 12:05 PM

Wing tip float.

A wing tip float from a Catalina , this was on display in Irvinestown in the mid 1980's by the now disbanded L.E.A.M. , this item is currently on display at Castle Archdale - a small museum exists there with a number of flting boat related items.

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**behblc** · 12-05-2007, 12:25 PM

Mr Syd Irving EX-422 RCAF - Sid survived the crash of a 422 RCAF aircraft near St. Angelo airfield Enniskillen in February 1944.
the USnderland was on a A.F.E. with a 235 Squadron Beaufighter - a detachment from 235 had been moved over to Fermanagh to provide fighter esacort for convoys off the West Coast of Ireland which had recently been attacked by D0-217's and Ju-290's which had attacked them with "Glider bombs" Hs 293 / Fritz X.

The aircraft were down on the deck and I mean really down , much lower than they should have been , the Sunderland attempted to climb over a small hill which was looming in front of them , the pilot dipped to try and gain some speed but the aircraft's wing struck a telegraph wire and she stalled crashedin into a small hill , cutting across a minor road and coming to rest in a field.
Local people helped the crew out , one man being awarded a bravery award for his help in the rescue.
Unfortunately two member sof the crew died .
The court of enquiry and subsquenty diciplinary hearing was hard on the Sunderland's Captain but it is likely that of those judging few had not done similar and been lucky to get away with it.
I don't feel it is my place to be critical.
Both crew members are buried in Irvinestown Church of Ireland , one died at the scene the other the next day in the Militray hospital located at Necarne just outside Irvinestown .
Although badly injured Syd recovered from his wounds - in the late 1980's and early 90's he returned here several times and became well known locally.
A small memorial tablet has since been errected at the scene of the crash.

If you check back to post 45 you will find a small ememorial stone to Syd which was errected to him at CA by his friend Mr Gary Pentland of Gortin.
His home beacme a home from home for Syd.
Behind Syd is another 422 man , Bill parker- Bill settled in Kesh after the war , Bill has also passed away - a park bench with a memorial plate to him is located on the entrance to the marina at Castle Archdale looking out towards the landing area - always a welcome stop when walking round the site.
( Also see post 46 for a crew photo).

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**behblc** · 12-05-2007, 12:40 PM

Bill Parker.

Bill Parker Ex 422 (left) alongside Terry Reeves ( Ex423 and 422).
Bill was unfortunate enough to forceland in a Sunderland on the coast of Iceland in 1943 - he survived along with his crewmates but it was a close call , american servicemen from a nearby base helped them to safety - the aircraft however was a write off.

Terry flew a tour with 423 - Cook's crew before moving to Pembroke dock to do a further tour with 422.
Terry is one of the nicest men you would ever meet - I have to say again that men like him represented the best his generation had to offer - exceptional individuals in every respect.
In the forground another of his crew Joe Kilgour who again is unfortunately no longer with us.

The catalina in the background - that which crashed in the Solent - operated by Plane Sailing.
131 OTU had three Cansos on their strength - Eddy Edwards told me he never liked them - the undercarriage he hated it - meant you were slower and had less range.

See post 72 "Cookies" crew - I feel I know most of them .
Terry is third from the ring standing in the back row, 2nd from the right Don Macfie.
Joe Kilgour is second from the left standing.

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**Ralph P** · 12-09-2007, 07:56 AM

Thanks for the additional background and as usual what you have put in this thread has been informative...

**behblc** · 12-15-2007, 08:52 PM

Something new always turns up now and again.

This afternoon my eldest girl and I took the usual daft mutt for a walk around the base , the " Burma Road" track has been cleaned up quite abit now that the tourists have largely gone home and apart from the odd "power walker" and folks exercising dogs ( like me) you have the site largely to yourself.
Just below the .303 machine gun / ammunition store on the way towards the bomb dumps I noticed a freshly uncovered piece of concrete - never saw it before.
Much to Lauren's annoyance and impatience I was asked the usual question " What on earth are you doing old man ?"
"Come and see this"
" Not bloody likely" says she , catch us up and off she goes with the dog.

The cement path heavily overgrown led a short distance into the wood to what I think was the pyro technics store - I will have to look out a map to be 100% , but prior to the drains and pathways being cleaned up it has been "lost".

There are bound to be other signs of demolished buildings in the undergrowth but the warden does not welcome members of the public breaking up wood and disturbing the wildlife.

Not much to see , but for a nut like me nice to be able to mark it on a map / site plan as still being in situ.

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**behblc** · 12-15-2007, 09:00 PM

An information board in front of where the old Castle Archdale house once stood.
The illustration shows what it was like durring the war years , same house John Iverach stood in front off .
A short sighted action demolishing it.

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