Neglected Flying Boat base.

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The small Commonwealth plot in the local catholic cemetery.

The small Commonwealth Plot in the local catholic cemetery.

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The slip way / workshop area

A nose hanger one of three on site circa spring 1945 , many aircraft were almost rebuilt.

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Work shop area.

Another photo which dates from the same time period , looking towards the slipway - the ASV arrays are clearly seen on the body and wings of the Sunderland.
today thesea reas are a mass of holiday trailer homes , boats and caravans.

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1945

202 Squadron assembled on the apron at Castle Archdale May 1945.
202 came up from Gibralter in September 1944 , remaining at Castle Archdale until June 1945 - a number of the Squadrons aircraft and crew were accomadated at Rock bay on Boa Island - this station was built to take the Sunderland flight from the Killadeas based 131 OTU.
Durring their time at Archdale 202 lost two aircraft one crashed at Castle Gregory Co Kerry in November 1944 and the second flew into Magho in December 1945. ( A photo of this crew to follow).

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Same view today

What I think is the same view today looking back towards the ops control building - now a shop , pub and nice wee restaurant all of which open durring the summer tourist season.

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Fitler house and tank.

one of the few war time buildings to remain - slightly to the right of and behind the ops block - the water filter house and tanks.
Water was drawn directly from the Lough ,filtered and cleaned before being ready for drinking, water quality then was much better than it is today.
Like so many water systems it has sufferred at the neglectful hands of man .

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mooring areas.

Someof the mooring areas as seen from a Catalina 202 squadron.

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201 Sunderland.

A 201 Sunderland in early 1942 beside the trelined slipway.
The base was in a constant state of evolution from the day it openned in Feb. 1941 , the previously seen "Shetland Dock" being built in 1945 just months before the end of the war.

http://www.thememoryproject.com/digi...d=298&cnf=wwII

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Engine required.

A 201 Sunderland awaiting an engine change , again circa early 1942.
A year previous to this 240 aircraft had to be nosed under a tree , block and tackle was thrown over and the engine change done in the open.
the pattern of change and development was urgent and rentles as the need was immdeiate.

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The only thing you can do.

The only thing you can do when you climb to the top of a Sunderland's tail plane - "hang on tight".

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202 crew

catalina JX242 returned from operations and was in the circuit to land when she hit on te high ground which runs along the south shore of the Lough crashing close to Lough Alaban.
It was the next day before a surviving member of the crew managed to walk out down the hillside to the main road and summon help.

Mr Joe O'Loughlin of Belleek has errected a memorial stone to the crew at the view point on Magho which affords a panoramic view over the Lower Lough , Donegal and the "Corridor" down which the aircraft flew on their way out to the Atlantic.

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131 OTU Crew.

This is Sgt Ladbrooke's crew , taken in 1944 whilst at Killadeas.
This crew crash in Nov 1944 close to Ely Lodge in poor weather whilst attempting to land.
The aircraft was totally destroyed along with her crew.

Several years ago I was greatly moved when Phillipa Stone wrote to me and told me of her time at Killadeas and of how she lost her fiancee Eddie Fox when his catlaina crashed near Ely Lodge.
Phil heard the explosion and learned the next day that Eddie had been killed , as she said in her letter "my world fell apart".
Every time I look at their photos I wonder what might have been and what they had both been so cruelly denied.
Phil later married herself but she kept in touch with Eddie's parrent's.
Behind every photograpgh there is a person and a story to tell for me this was one of the most moving , terribly sad and such a waste of a young life and a future destroyed.
Eddies photo is posted below.

The fine looking lad on back row on the right - Phil told me how they had to get him into a dance hall via the window of the ladies loo ( after the doors had been closed) - she remembered that he was a well built lad and that it was a tight squeeze - like so many young people today , how much has life changed ?
For some folks remembering is a daily event - our political masters would do well to remember this and to value more those who are in the services.
I cannot help but feel that goverments since the war ( and wars since then) have always short changed those who served - politicians have short memories - for some it is as short a time as it takes to lay a wreath and walk away.

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Eddie Fox

A fine looking lad , his life ended far too soon.

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Phillipa

A wonderful lady , what she had to say moved me greatly.

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422 Mascot.

Straddle , and this chap actually flew on ops , seen here beside the mid upper of a Sunderland.