Some war time views of Castle Archdale.

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by James S, Oct 17, 2008.

  1. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Great Photograph that should be renamed,

    "Look what the tide brought in"

    Regards
    Tom
     
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  2. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Sadly I learned this evening that Mr Terry Reeves Ex of 423 and 422 RCAF has passed away.
    Terry was one of life's true gentlemen .

    In the photos below Terry is seat on the left opposite his friend "Red" Macfie on the flight deck of Kernit Weeks Sunderland, this taken a few years ago.

    He is on Standing on the right with his crew mate Joe Kilgour when they visited Fermanagh 7 years ago , both now gone.

    In the crew photo , back row Joe is third from the left , Terry is fifth from the left and Don is sixth from left to right.

    Leaves one rather empty
     

    Attached Files:

  3. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    I hope folks won't mind my posting these here, it somehow seems more appropriate than starting a thread in another section, there is after all a direct link from the wartime 423 to these young men serving today.

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    Above Joe (O'Loughlin) , "the boss" and Breege ( McCusker).

    I missed the initial meeting point and caught up with them at CA. Breege (McCusker) guided them around the site and gave a brief history of the base .
    After a visit to Irvinestown and lunch in Mahon's hotel the Squadron members headed for Belfast to join their ship "St.John" , they sail tomorrow morning to go on exercise.
    One had to be impressed with the respectful disciplined yet relaxed relationship which existed.
    423 providing the helicopter and support for "St.John" for the next month.

    A good bunch of lads, safe home gentlemen :)
     
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  4. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Robert,

    Very nice post and shows that the Younger Generation are Remembering.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  5. skyhawk

    skyhawk Senior Member

    Nice photos James. Is this visit a regular thing or a one off? I believe they now fly Sea King helicopters in the maritime helicopter squadron role.
    Regards Robert.
     
  6. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    On this occasion Robert the ship that 423 provided helicopter support to was in Belfast , leaving this morning for exercise with NATO forces off Scotland.
    You never know one that might happen again if circumstances are "right".
    The link man in this was John Picken who has posted here before in relation to 423.

    Warships Magazine - War on Terror Aug 2003

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  7. skyhawk

    skyhawk Senior Member

    This is the exercise in question:-
    Exercise Joint Warrior 28 Mar - 15 Apr 2011

    Europe's biggest military exercise is set to go-ahead amid US and Nato air and sea missions against forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.

    Ships and personnel have started to gather in Scotland ahead of the launch of Exercise Joint Warrior next week.

    Royal Navy, US, Dutch and Norwegian warships along with Nato air crews and ground troops are due to take part.

    RAF Kinloss in Moray and a live firing range at Cape Wrath are also to play roles during the training.

    Earlier this month the RAF said US, Canadian and French maritime patrol aircraft would be flying out of Kinloss.

    Six US F15 jets from RAF Lakenheath and three Blackhawk helicopters, along with Falcon and Hawk jets were also to operate from the station, according to the RAF.

    The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had also advised of warships and submarines in the Clyde, the Sea of Hebrides, the Little Minch, Loch Eribol and around the Western Isles.

    Troops from the Household Calvary Regiment and US Marine Corps are also scheduled to take part in Joint Warrior.


    If anyone is interested in Radio Scanning the next couple of weeks is a good time to tune in. Some interesting comms to be heard.

    skyhawk.
     
  8. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Sounds like this is the one Robert. :)
     
  9. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    IMG_0577.JPG IMG_0576.JPG IMG_0578.JPG IMG_0576.JPG IMG_0578.JPG IMG_0577.JPG IMG_0576.JPG IMG_0578.JPG Taken this morning WW2 talk member "Savo" one of the "pyro technic stores" along "Burma Road" at Archdale.

    Arron had pointed out the the site of this hut had been cleaned up and the two gable end walls had been revealed simply pushed down and left as they fell , the edge of walls still showing the imprint of the corrugated roofing.

    An hour or spent walking around the site chewing the cud , I had to wake the poor man up twice , or was it three times. :)
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2017
  10. Savo

    Savo Senior Member

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    In keeping with this great thread, James S kindly trustingly lent me a priceless Site Plan for RAF Castle Archdale dated February 1944. It is a remarkable piece of detailed history and is so revealing. The majority of the buildings have been classified as Nissen hutting, temporary brick and timbre in design except for three buildings that are recorded as “Permanent Brick”.

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    I am pleased to say that all three structures are still standing. As a result I have enclosed several images from one of these “Permanent Brick” structures. Its Building No. 51 on the site plan from 1944 which was the camps “Component Stores”. Positioned in a remote area of CA even till this day it is in very close proximity to two Bomb stores that are still in remarkable good condition as they are earth traversed. The map indicated there was a three hundred feet exclusion zone for these bomb stores and more interestingly the components store pictured below had this applied to it as well. Why was this ? From my photo’s and the site map would this store have had earth works structure surrounding it and this is the bricked wall entry into it ?

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    What would a Components Stores have entailed and what was its purpose ? Today these grey boring quick glance looking structures look like nothing to an uneducated eye but boy did this area play its role in Coastal Command when called upon.

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    The building is in good condition, as it is off the beaten track as they say. The building has been bricked up, from memory this occurred back in the 1980’s but as you can see the wall section entry appears as if it days are numbered as it really starting to crumble as it is exposed to the relentless Fermanagh elements. On a personal note, it could make a great educational centre to make folk aware of what happened in the area during the war years. This could be my next project !!!
     
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  11. Savo

    Savo Senior Member

    Another incoming Savo moment. Anyone with the location plan of RAF Castle Archdale will know where the remains are located. Its the concrete founds for buildings 107, 108 and 109, which where the “Officers bath houses and latrines”.

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    The extreme winter conditions that we all endured exposed the concrete platforms and for the first time the pathway that I had never seen before.

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    The area today is fenced off and used on a regular basis for cattle who appear to be the frequent users of the pathway to get to their feeding stations close by. Nature is slowly reclaiming these landmarks.

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    Another hint.....never tell the wife your away to seek out and take photos of bath houses and latrines :lol::lol: and if you are exploring this area make sure there are no bulls lurking in the field.
     
  12. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Very good photos Aaron. :)
     
  13. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

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    See post 1, 112, 117 and 130 from Savo.
     
  14. Savo

    Savo Senior Member

    A wonderful image of the courtyard. For anyone who has not been to Castle Archdale I would highly reccommend it. Todays courtyard has a very nice tea room located top left in James aerial shot and located at the bottom left is the WW2 Exhibition (and its free admission). Great walks with loads of interesting sights all in close proximity of the car park.
     
  15. Savo

    Savo Senior Member

    SAVO's had another Castle Archdale moment !!!!

    I wonder who the three gents where ? Are two of them in US uniform ???

    A Before and After Picture from RAF Castle Archdale. The recent picture was taken this July and as one can see the Boat House has hardly changed and in my opinion the only section of the site that is easily recognised from this time in our history. In front of the boat house the RAF built a marine craft slipway that went through the boat house and straight into the Lough. To right of this picture is the slip way from the base into Lough Erne and a long gone repair shed. To the immediate left was a piermaster cabin, marine craft duty staff hut, a marine craft pier, a resusciatation hut, a duty coxswain hut and a 1000 gallon diesal oil tank. All long gone and mostly forgotten about, but illustrates just how active this wee part of the site at the water edge was to Coastal Command. The Island across the water is called Davy's Island.

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  16. Savo

    Savo Senior Member

    Please PM if its incorrect as I am leanring too. A pciture taken from a picture at the Castle Archdale WW2 Exhibition (with permission) I have numbered it to help me and hopefully others understand the area during any tours or personal walks around the old site today. Thanks.

    1. Mechanical Transport Area
    2. Petrol Installation
    3. Fuel Compound
    4. NCO Quarters
    5. Officers Quarters
    6. Squash Courts or the cinema ??
    7. Sgt & Airmens Quarters
    8. Toilets/Drying Rooms for Sgts including Officers Quarters
    9. Dining Halls and messes
    10. Recreational/Cinema ??


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  17. pensioner1938

    pensioner1938 Member

    My sister in-law came for a visit and she brought along a couple of photographs, Castle Archdale dated 1947.

    The photograph is of the ladies who worked in the Salvation Army.


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    Mrs Wharton, she was the boss.
    Jean Grey from Lisnarick.
    Teresa McPike (my sister in-law) from Killadeas.
    Sadie McMulkin from Killadeas.
     
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  18. Savo

    Savo Senior Member

    What a nice picture. All 5 Elizabeth Taylor lookalikes. Great Fermanagh surnames. Think I know exactly where that snap was taken up beside the S A Canteen. Will need to get me camera out in Spring time to prove my point it unless JameS beats me to it !!!
     
  19. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Oh I know where it is ( I think !!).
    Very nice photos, grass has grown long !!
    :)
     
  20. pensioner1938

    pensioner1938 Member

    Sorry for the delay in answering your posts, the curse of old age, not been very well of late.


    I did ask where the photo was taken Teresa said that it was taken not far from the “Big House” as she called it.

    This photo was taken in 1947-48 at Archdale, my brother-in-law is the second from the right.

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