Neglected Flying Boat base.

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Motor Pool.

Another photo ,some WAAF's who kept the wheels turning at the motor transport section of 131(C) OTU Killadeas.

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Officers Mess

The bar in the Officers Mess , Castle Archdale V.E. night 1945.

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Ma Shutts.

Ma Shutts , Irvinestown.
As far as I know it is now called "The railway bar" - durring the war a very popular place to eat and have a drink.
Following the sinking of Bismarck the police turned a blind eye to a rather long "siege" which took place .
( "A good night was had by all").

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Castle Archdale

Castle Archdale , aircraft and men - all gone , silent.
Today this area is covered by holiday homes , cavaravs , children playing .
Most visitors are aware that there "was an airbase here" , "planes durring the war" , few can imagine what once was.
The T sheds silent , no men whistling no sound of workshops , engines being run up.
The view across to the BOAC nose hanger - beneath the tarmac and you will find the buildings have been 2cut off2 at groundlevel , iron cut through , brick work smashed.
the cast iron anchor points to tie down aircraft - health and safety has had these filled in least a child trip on them and the owners be sued.

Compare this with post 180 the change is absolute.

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423 Officers.

423 RCAF Officers at Castle Archdale.
I have a who's who list somewhere , but can I lay my hands on it .

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Bradley and Donnets.

Clare Bradley and Peter Frizell on the steps of Castle Archdale , much the same place as Iverach stood two years before.
Hard to read anything about 423 and not hear their names mentioned.
The copy I have of these is not very good so quality is not 100% but I felt they were worth including for who they are.
Peter Frizell was to later sink U-675 ( Oblt.zur-See Karl-Heinz Sammler) on 24th may 1944 when instructing with 4 OTU. He was awarded a DFC for his success.

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Mess party

Another from the mess party thrown for Jack Sumners departure from 423.

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Smae Mess party.

It must have been quite a night.
God alnone knows what they are doing but it seems to be fun.
On the left Frank Harrison and on the rith Peter Frizell and Rabnett , the squadron Gunnery Officer.

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Ace navigator.

Ronnie Woltman , whom Jim Wright (423) described as "an ace navigator"
Jim Wright - another experienced and much respected 423 member passed away a few years ago.
I enjoyed many long conversations with Jim a really nice man.
Jim told me that Woltman had a cousin , who flew with the Luftwaffe and both men kept in touch via an aunt who was in a neutral country.

Some of the crew knew about this and asked Ronnie what they would do if they met him in the air - "we will have to shoot him down" came the reply.

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131 Crew.

An unknown crew from 131 (C) OTU at Killadeas.
the detail of flying kit is especially detailed, seems like a good day - not raining which is always good for fermanagh.
A Sunderland sits at anchor in the background.

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Birthday party.

A birthday party at Killadeas for Group Captain Castor the OC.
A rock on which a catalina ran aground was named after him " Castor's Rock" - he was a WW1 flyer.

The younglady second rom the left is Phillipa Stone ( Nee Chapman) who would later lose her fiancee Eddie Fox in November 1944 , of all that I learned about the war years this love destroyed by a tragic accident is something I wil not forget.
Like so many young lives the war brought people together and destroyed lives , without thought or pity.

[Ralph P]

Thanks for the additional posts especially post 170...the fly over of the U-boat.

Keep the pictures coming...

[Viscount]

Many thanks for a superb thread

Please keep posting.

Regards,
Robert.

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Lerwick

The flying pig which so nearly claimed Eddie Edwards and members of 422.
This photo was taken at Oban in 1941.
Ordered directly from the drawing board it was a case of need overruling development.

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Not strictly on topic.

Not strictly on topic but what you see is a good bit of Lough Erne being ditched.