Neglected Flying Boat base.

[behblc]

Frank paige DFC

Frank Paige DFC.
Frank , beside him two of his crew.

[behblc]

Gaynor Williams

Gaynor Williams of 240 Squadron .
When the aircraft went off to Iceland he though his chance of finding Bismarck went with them.
Gaynor trailed the Bismrck for several hours after Briggs headed for home having been directed towrds her by Briggs.
His rigger Cyril Newtown can say that he is the only member of the RAF who attempted to cook steak whilst being taken under fire by an enemy battleship.

[Ralph P]

Gaynor Williams of 240 Squadron .
When the aircraft went off to Iceland he though his chance of finding Bismarck went with them.
Gaynor trailed the Bismrck for several hours after Briggs headed for home having been directed towrds her by Briggs.
His rigger Cyril Newtown can say that he is the only member of the RAF who attempted to cook steak whilst being taken under fire by an enemy battleship.

Interesting. I little tid-bit of history...thanks...

[behblc]

Ca

When time allows I will ad a few accounts of various incidents - until then - another photo of 422 RCAF Sunderlands at anchor.

[behblc]

Last two for this evening.

I don't think I put this on before.
One of the Surrendering U-boats en route to the Foyle as seen on a low pass.

[behblc]

Art Mounford.

Art Mountford "on the set" Al Bishop's crew.
" Christ Canada arn't you ever going to pee ?"

A man I will certainly never forget - a true gentleman.

[GFM]

I think this Living History Forum is quickly becoming my favorite spot on the forum. Its easy for collectors, in particular, to get caught up in the detail and minutae of construction techniques, etc. of their collectibles and forget about the people who fought the war and possessed this memorabilia. In the past two months I've lost a couple of good friends who were WW2 vets (one German, one American). A note to young collectors; the time is passing very quickly for these men.....if at all you have the opportunity, visit with them and get them to share their history with you, before its lost forever.

[behblc]

I have to agree

GFM - I really have to agree with you - having corresponded with a great number and having met around about 80 veterans who flw on Flying boats plus maybe another 20 or so who flew Lancs and Halifax bombers I really have to say I believe them to be amongest the very best that their generation had to offer , we are the poorer for their passing - something which grieves me greatly.

Equally so having had some limited correspondence with ex-U-Boat crew who came into contact with them and with some Luftwaffe men who encountered them - equally so youngmen who by force of circumstances beyond their control they ended up pitted against each other - at another time or place they may have been friends.

Having said that the hurt and pain of war run deep , post traumatic stress is not a recent problem and in some people you can see the lasting effects of conflict - efects which they have learned to live with and to have an uneasy peace with.

Certainly I would have to extend to all who endured that terrible war my absolute respect and gratitude.

[behblc]

190 Squadron

This photo - "Goose" Gosling and his crew from 190 squadron.
They came to 190 via 131 (C) O.T.U. at Killadeas and returned to Lough Erne to fly a long range mission on 17th May 1943.
( "(Goose" told me that they had to sweep an area through which the Queen Mary was routed ).
They came down from the Shetlands overnighted at castel Archdale and left early the next morning at 1916 hours they picked up a contact which was a surfaced U=boat .
the first run in was too steep and they had to go around again by which time the submarine was going under , the 4 DC's dropped brough her back up again before she dived for a second time leaving oil and bubbles to mark the spot.
U-229 was not sunk but damaged she had to abort her patrol and return to Bordeaux on 7th June.
She was sunk in Sept. 43 S.E. of Greenland.

Sgt. Arthur Marshall went his tour was up went to Killadeas to be an instructor .
He was killed 0n 17th April 1944 when Catalina AH541 crashed near Montgomery Shoal moments after take off from Killadeas.
The aircraft had reachedapprox. 120 ft when she plunged into the Lough.
F/lt. D. Dewar , F/Officer V.Charlton, F/Sgt Arthur Marshall all died in the crash.

Goose Gosling from Bermuda returned to home to be a teacher and later represented his country as an Olympic diver.
A devout Christian and a very unassuming gentleman I was delighted to meet him in the mid 1990's.

[behblc]

131 catalina

This 131 OTU Catalina is being flown by Squadron Leader Eddy edwards, the pilot of the the martinet is Douglas Cooper who would later be killed when catalina AH551 crashed near ballinmallard.
Cooper a highly respected and expecienced pilot was demonstrating stall recovery to student pilots , the aircraft went into a spin - something which should not have happened - he dived to recover control and the aircraft crashed.
Some of the crew survived, the G force trapping them against the blisters.

[behblc]

Goose attacking U-229.

Goose Goslings crew - attack on U-229 May 1943.

[behblc]

Killadeas

The sea of mud which went along with construction - Killadeas circa mid 1941.
On a walk around the maintance area today I spent half an hour exploring some neglected and overgrown piles of rubble - whole buildings just pushed to the side and amid the brambles mases of rusting wire rope and twisted fittings - somehow it seemed to lack any dignity.

[behblc]

Killadeas

Flooded - 1944 , the white line shows where the shore line should be.
Today this area is the home of Lough Erne Yacht club and the manor House Hotel , one of the best In Nortern Ireland.
Woodland has reclaimed the area and the buildings remain some with walls down , roofs gone - the area is strictly private.

[behblc]

Flight Sgt. Artur Marshall.

Flight Sgt. Arthur Marshall , who died of head injuries when his Catalina crashed at Montgomery Shoal.
He is buried in irvinestown Church of Ireland.
I didn't know I had this photo - or it would be up beside Arthur ( post 174).

[behblc]

Castel Archdale.

Castle Archdale today.
The view in war time would have been one of T sheds, a nose hanger and assorted catalians ansd Sunderlands - today it is one of holiday homes , caravans, the trees remain - just the same - "Boss Hog" searching for a stick she thinks I threw for her - daft as a brush !!