Neglected Flying Boat base.

[behblc]

The opposition.

Some photographs taken at Lisahally when Castle Archdale aircrew visited the surrendered submarines in late May 1945.
Some German crew men had been retained to maintain the boatswhilst the fate of the vessels was decided.
All would disappear beneath the North Atlantic in "Operation Deadlight".

My late father (who was in the Royal Navy) was mustered to a boarding party which took several U-boats from Loch Ryan to Lisahally on the Foyle.
On one trip the German crew ( those not operating the boat) were confined to the forwarad toprdo room. Half way to Ireland they emerged with a huge enamel bowl filled with "fruit cocktail" - tinned fruit floating in a potent cocktail of alcohol anthing that they had which could be drunk pured in and stirred up.
The "Tommies" were invited to take some and huge mugs were handed out and the end of the war was drunk to - the only sober people to reach "Derry2 - the geran Commander and the officer in charge of the RN party.

[behblc]

Surrendered Submarines.

the airmen were not permitted inside the boats , decks only.

[behblc]

Lisahally 1945.

A good study of the U-boats moored up at Londonderry.

[Ralph P]

I am have been following this thread with interest and want to say thanks again for the continued posts...

[behblc]

Thanks

As long as people seem to be intersted I will keep ading to it it Ralph , this is all stuff I have not looked at for sometime - have a good bit more if folks want to see it.

[behblc]

Opposite Reihiils / Bothwells.

Peter gallaghers pub another favorite watering hole for aircrew - Red Macfie and two of his crew stop for a pint of the dark stuff.

[behblc]

423 Sunderland

A 201 Sq. Sunderland on patrol over Biscay.

[behblc]

On the step , ready to take off

A Sunderland moving towards take off on Lough Erne , an engine failure would mean disaster - the aircraft was underpowered and a fully loaded aircraft left no margin for error or failure.

[behblc]

422 Rcaf

Some groundcrew men from $22 squadron , without them all was lost.

[behblc]

423 Sunderland

Another sht of a 423 Sundreland , again over Biscay - the rear turret has been turned to face the friendly aircraft.

[behblc]

On the water.

The tree lines and shorelines have not changed greatly awaiting the return of aircraft which linger just out of earshot - how it seems to me anyway.

[behblc]

422 Sunderland.

Having sunk U-625 the day before the aircraft and crew did a flypast for the official photographers.

The crew of U-625 having made if off their sinking submarine in good order were all lost - the send the signal "Fine Bombish" to the Sunderland as they got into their survival gear and liferafts.
A storm moved through the area that night and aircraft sent to locate the sirvivors and to home naval ships to them met only an angry and empty sea .
Jim Wright of 423 was one man who reported this to me - it would have been good that the submarines had been rescued , sadly it was not to be.
the are " still on patrol" , "missing".

[behblc]

U-516.

U-516 surreners to a 202 Catalina in May 1945.

[behblc]

Landing areas.

Another document showing the take off and landing areas.
"Sandy Rock" is "Gravel Ridge" - today it is a no landing area - only the birds land there.

[behblc]

L /240 Squadron

L of 240 squadron moored on the Lough about to under go some minor checks.