Neglected Flying Boat base.

[behblc]

A view across the mooring areas towards the slip way and apron at Archdale - today nothing more dangerosu than mobile homes and slowly moving cars .

[behblc]

Close up.

A close up of the slipway , apron and hangers circa 1945.
The shetland dock ( see main thread) is just in the process of being completed.
Floating pontoons can be seen on the water these provided fueling points for aircraft - fuel being piped out to them.
"T" sheds , nose hangers can be seen , ops block and maintance area , work sheds , the old castle with its huge water tower for so long a landmark which could be seen from anywhere on the Lough.
A contrasting photo within the thread shows what has gone , instead of aircraft holiday homes and caravans.
if you check out the photos of the marina area ( right of picture) you can see what has been reclaimed to make the marina.

[behblc]

Killadeas

A photo of what is now the Lough Erne Yacht Club , in th background the manor House now a major Hotel and marina / boat hire complex. - great place to eat and take it easy !
1942-45 it was a mass of activity - the woodland was full of hutted acomadation and offices - today the walls remain and the cement path ways are now walked only by tourists and guys like .

[behblc]

Site Plan.

A brief outline of the camp - via Ernie Cromie of the Ulster Aviation Society.
Ernie for any who might know him is one of life's gentlemen , a good man who carries in his hed a wealth of information and a willingness to share it.
Much of what is in this thread can be found on the plan - larger scale versions can be had from "After the Battle".

[behblc]

Burial of 423 RCAF crew.

This is the funeral of Nesbitts crew - 423 RCAF which died when their Sunderland crashed outside Irvinestown in Feb. 45.
I have "borrowed" this photo from Briege's book as it makes such a good contrast to the one I have on my hard drive.

[behblc]

Same scene today.

Today little has changed.

[Wicky]

ASV II and Catalina AH545 WQ Z

Hi fantastic photo

Do you know when it was taken? I guess May-July 41

One thing that has puzzled me is when was ASV fitted to AH545 WQ Z, as there seems to be contradictory accounts as to how exactly the Bismarck was detected.

REPORT OF THE SCOUTING AND SEARCH FOR BISMARCK BY
ENSIGN SMITH

"There is no special (ASV) equipment aboard."

Yet "A Radar History of World War II: Technical and Military Imperatives" By Louis Brown. Page 127 states

"A sighting through the swirling clouds over a rough sea by a Catalina flying boat equipped with ASV mark II established the Bismarck's position ..."

which cites as his source "Taffy" Bowen 'Radar Days' (which I'm waiting to get hold off)

I figure there were 1/5 of RAF coastal command in April fitted with brit made ASV II (Hudons, Whitleys and Wellingtons), just as the first Cats were coming over, initially to Scotland as civvy aircraft to be painted, militarised before going to their squadrons. Then as US/Canadian ASV equipment (developed by Bowen et al) came on line it was fitted in a rolling program about Sept/Oct.

The photo if it was taken where it said would confirm this and (until I get Bowens book and plus hopefully form 78) would seem that somewhere along the way Bowen and/or subsequent writers misinterpreted the general involvement of ASV in the battle of the Atlantic and blew it up to a full blown accreditation of Catalina AH545 for locating the Bismarck with ASV.

San you or anyone shed anymore light on what was happening with ASV in 1941 and specifically with AH545 - ta John

An article on USN Ensign Leonard "Tucker" Smith (Co-Pilot) and his visit to Northern Ireland before he sadly passed away.

and how AH545 almost came a cropper on its return on 26 May 1941

Z/209 which loacted the Bismarck - she would later disappear with the loss of her crew.

[behblc]

John , I was told by Tuck Smith that it was a visual sighting and that the ASV set was not a factor in locating her .
A gent who was crewed up on the 240 Catalina which took over from Briggs also told me that radar was not a factor in their locating and shadowing of Bismarck.
All rather anecdotal I am afraid.
Smith's observation on torpedos - in the case of the aircraft involved it could not carry them nor were the crew trained to drop them.
No other British aircraft (land based) had the range to go so far out and make a direct attack on the battleship.

I might be wrong but I am pretty sure the Aircraft sent out to search were not carrying charges - the mission being given over to searching and obtaining maxium endurance from the aircraft.

Castle Archdale was only operational for four months at this stage of the war and whilst Bismarck is always mentioned in relation to the base it was a chance encounter - they could just have easily have missed her.
Tuck Smith was a very gentle and unassuming man - extremely modest.
Attached a scene from the Ballard book on the discovery of Bismarck which Tuck Smith signed for me.

[Ralph P]

Thanks again for the additional photos of the before and after shots. The more I see your posts of the narrations and photos the more I think that you need to put pen to paper and put a book together with what you have.

[behblc]

Ralph , thank you for the kind comment - a number of years back I did consider this but too much money involved , family and a lack of confidence probably scuppered my resolve.
I have shared what I accumulated with some who have since written , my friend Briege McCusker being one - she approached it very much from a social history - I would have been looking at it from a different angle and probably still do.

One really amazing item which was loaned to me was a diary kept by a 423 RCAF W.Op /Air Gunner Don "Red" Macfie.
Don maintained his diary over his wartime service September 42 - March 44 of which he spent at Castle Archdale.
The observations Don made pretty much tell it as it was for the average airman who was ststioned there.
He reflects his disgust at being posted to what he regarded as "a hole" , Nissen hutted accomadation - rats , damp , cold , lack of fuel , 3 miles from the nearest town and how they "made the best of it".
As he found his feet he found that the place was not so bad , good food could be had - rationing could be got past - in Irvinestwon good Guiness was never in short supply and steak and eggs could be had every day for a modest outlay.
The local people took the airmen to their hearts - some worked on the bases and they made them welcome int heir homes - some of the local houses did washing laundry , uniform alternations , the nearby town of Pettigo which marked the border allowed the aquisition of goods which were not on sale in the "North" - short periods of leave allowed for trips to Dublin , longer periods always meant "London" - and if you were lucky you might be able to hitch a ride on a "boat" flying to Pembroke Dock or Stranraer - allowing you more time to party and less time lost travelling.
Realtionships with other Squadrons were good although the RAF found the "Cannucks" too relaxed and they frowned on their less rigid relationship between officers / other ranks.
For Don "Boat guard" was something he always opted for and took at every opportunity - this meant spending the night on board their aircraft as an armed guard - as far as I can recall they always drew flying rations , had a good warm bed , the company of a fellow crewmate and it was "all the comforts of home".
As far as their accomadation went - they supplemented the poor coal ration with wood which was never in short supply. Regular pest control was the order of the day.
Parcels from home arrived on a regular basis and the base had a good social structure , sports programe , softball and football league - there was a horse riding club , durring the summer months a ferry boat service was provided to take off duty men "up stream" to Enniskillen.
Quite a few local girls married service men and off camp quite a few NCO's / Officers from GB had their wives over to lodge with local famalies or in property which was rented.
Many men boated and took advantage of the excellent fishing on the Lough , in nearby Donegal local seaside towns could be easily accessed and servicemen were made welcome.
As stations went Castle Archdale had a lot going for it.
from an operational aspect the base was freshwater, nontidal and did not have the problem of shipping etc which likes of PD or Oban etc presented - the moorings were sheltered and there was no long taxiing from mooring to flightpath.
The highground along the southshore ( see photos) was always a problem but on "Special Equipment" it showed up adn the "Let down procedure" was well designed and safe so as the base developed it presented less of a problem - although in the early operational phase this had to be kept in mind.
As previously mentioned serious accidents did occur and operational losses through mechanical failure and enemy action were not uncommon the majority of accidents were minor - moving aircraft at night or at dawn being the main risks , that and a combination of inexperience on the part of aircrew at the neaby OTU.
Local fishermen did not pose a problem - my grandfather and uncles of mine told me that when on the Lough they knew to stay clear of the flarepath area and Castle Archdale / its approaches were "out of bounds" but by and large they found no conflict between their commercial fishing , leisure fishing and the use of the Lough by the airforce.
Apart from the RAF/RCAF the Americans were also there in force and occasionally they came to blows with the Canadians - mostly troops based in the county for training using the remote frost areas and mountain areas for exceries and live firing.
I have heard very few adverse remarks about the base and few about the local people - some did experience some hostility - the old "Ireland / England" thing but by and large this was never a problem and it was isolated in nature.

I will look out some more info when time allows .
(In some ways I am surprised at the number of views this thread has recieved. )

[behblc]

Sunderland ML743

I found this earlier today - finish a clear up of various papers etc , it may not look like much but it is almost all that remains in situ of 201 Sunderland ML743 which crashed on the mountains above Killybegs on 14/03/45 - the last aircrew to be killed on operational flying from Lough Erne.
A few months earlier they had sunk U-297 but it would be 50 years odd later that they would be credited with the "kill".
If you look at the photo taken in the Churchyard , they are the crew buried at the front - their headstones being nearest the camera.
This piece of the reduction gear and three more like it almost all that remains on site.
The aircraft was well to the North of where she should have been , I can only conclude that she was off course and flew into highground.

[Ralph P]

I completely understand what you are saying in your post...so I have posted a couple of threads in hopes that you might re-think of putting pen to paper, because I was at one point where you are with collectable items that needed to be put in a book.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=245511

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=244198

[behblc]

An account of the first Operational use of the Catalina by the RAF , March 21st 1941

the following is taken from the diary of Sgt. John Iverach ( RCAF) who was stationed at RAF Lough Erne in March 1941 .
This was given to me a number of years ago by his widow the Mrs Peggy Iverach who then in her mid 80's was a quite remarkable lady.
(Sadly she has since passed away).

Thursday March 20 th 1941.

"Spent the day as usual reading - this time a mystery novel and filing snapshots and negatives.
Tonight I had to go down to the pier to act as welcoming committee of one and guide ( at F/lt. Jack Holmes request) for the crews of the two kites from Stranraer - two PBY's from 240 Squadron.
The whole squadron is moving over here in a day or two and these two kites are the first two to come and operate from here, starting their maiden operational flights tomorrow morning - to comb the Atlantic for 16 hours out as faras 23 or 24 West , for some German cruisers alleged to be raiding in that vicinity.
Dimi Havlicek was on one and he gave me his version of the experience he had on "99" when forced down on the sea near the Mull of Kintyre. Good to see him again as it also was to see Ted Lilly, Pete Mathews and the rest.
the other kite had none other than Peers davidson as observer , who was a sight for sore eyes. P/O Seward was with them - the bloke who flew for a few trips on "95". I rode up in the lorry with Peers and Seward with the rest of thecrew in the back - Dixie Dunbar, hary Newbury , Chalky and Oldfield.
After showing them all to their quarters in what used to be the hay-loft ( tch,tch!) - and rustling up some grub for them , we all went up to the Sergeants Mess and we spent quite a nice evening talking about the new boats - over a few ales.
Finished my book and so to bed at 1.00a.m. ."

1st PBY crashed today - 8 killed.

March 21st Friday.
"This was a day of tragedy , although it wasn't until midnight that I learned the worst. Knowing of nothing out of the ordinary happening, I had gone to Enniskillen at 4.30 pm with Strap , davies and Dredge where we had a gay time , playing Russian Bagatelle at the Imperial Hotel , Ping Pong at the YMCA and seeing "Lucky partners" at the Town hall Cinema. It was not till we got into the taxi for home, that we had the first confirmation of rumours of a mishap - when the taxi driver Aiken (* fromirvinestown) said he had herad of a flying boat crashing in the Free State. We wouldn't have believed it but for a few queer things which had occurred - that could be explained by the fact that the rumour was true.
F/lt Holmes had stopped us as we were leaving the castle and asked us was on the crew of "A" - and he seemed in a stew over something; earlier when I heard went to the ops room to see if we were released for the day. I was not allowed in - an unsual thing - and Goup Cptain Btes was busy on the phones , surrounded by officers also unusual for he always phoned from his own office.
these significant occurances meant nothing at the time but now they did- and as soon as we got to the castle I rushed to the operations room and one look at the face of the controller told me the truth. he gave me what details he could , namely that A , the second one to take off this morning had crashed into a peak in the Free State and that the whole crew of eight were killed - burnt beyond recognition - F/lt. Whitworth , P/O Seward ( who was on out kite for couple of weeks) , Peers davidson ; Sgts. harry Newbury , Dixie Bumbar, chalk , Oldfield.
It seems that I was trying to climb, after jettisoning aqll depth charges and bombs, with one motor to get back to base whenthey crashed into this particular height of land which was 2100 feet high.
They're trying to get the bodies out tomight if possible.
This was the making of history for the PBY's that left here this morning were the first operational flight for an American flying boat in the RAF - the first flights for the new kites of which 240 Squadron was as proud and optimistic.
We all sat gloomily thinking how last night we were all so cheerily drinking beer in the Mess - kidding Harry and Dixie about how today would be their end and a black mark against the PBY's. Little did we dream that we spoke the truth. I thought of Peers davidson with whom I was in company as much as in training and in whoose room I sat ( on his invitation) at Stranraer last Friday Fl/lt Vince Furlong and recalling our party at the King Edward Hotel in Torranto , when he and I took Madeline and Margret Walker out.
Peers is the first of our class ( that I know) to pass on , I wonder who is next.
Bed at 1.00 a.m..

The other PBY had to land at Bowmore on account of weather after going to 23 W over the Atlantic , wonder if they heard the news yet.

(Will finish this off tomorrow).

[behblc]

Part II

Tuesday March 25th 1941.
"Very depressing day. rained like Hell from morning till night.
This afternoon the funeral for the boys killed in the crash was held at irvinestown.Only six of the eight buried there.
F/lt Whitworth , P/O Peers davidson, Sgts. Dixie Dunbar , Chalk and "Al" Oldfield. (P/O Seward , his body wassent to his folks and harry Newbury being R.C. is having his funeral tomorrow.
It was a very impressive ceremony, but therain spolied it. Slow marched for about a half a mile to the Church behind the beirs and then in.Quite a crowd mostly Army , Home-Guard , RUC and RAF but a lot of curious folks from Irvinestown who wanted to watch.
they were laid to rest in the graveyard just outside the church with full military honours , firing party, bugler ( whose bugle got water in it and wouldn't blow worth a damn).
Group captain bates and the C.O. asked me afterwards if when writing to Peers mother , I would enclose a photograph which he is having taken of the grave. damn nice of him I say.
the two crews were supposed to move down to the new quarters at Killadeas - 4 miles away - into horribke nissan huts, raining as it was and wet we were , we didn't like the idea for tonight , so when Ho,mes phoned and told us to get off down there after tea - I phoned him and persuaded him to let us stay till morning. Gotta leave at 8.30 and have breakfast there - if we can get any !
F/Sgt Barret returned today from his leave with his OBE medal which was presented to him at Buckingham palace by the King. he told me all about it. Also says London is having hell bombed out of it, especially last Thursday and Friday nights - but wedropped ten tons of bombs on Berlin last night so "Even Stephens".
Yugoslavia signed a Pact with Germany today , what now !
Lost "10 bob" at "Pontoon" tonight - but won it back and more at "Rap" Poker a couple of hours later.
Wrote a 15 page letter to Peg - til 12.30 - last out of the mess as usual.


Although I have posted this already it is worth showing again - the graves of the aircrew lost on 21st March 1941.

[behblc]

Print.

One which has been on my wall for a number of years.
"Constant Endeavour" by Michael Rondot.
If I can cop a better photo of it I will replace this one.
The sky line of Magho is shown quite well , as seen from Castle Archdale , the print is signed by Terry Bulloch , Edward Arrrighi (201 Squadron , who was pilot on the last patrol from Archdale) , John Cruickshank VC and the artist.

The aircraft themselves "captured" from other photos and "used" in the print.
All in all I like it myself dates from 1995.