Some war time views of Castle Archdale.

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

  1. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    I recieved a pm from Mr Tim Bossenberry , his father was in photo 26 of the CA thread , a member of 423 Armament section , this is the third contact I have had as a result of posting on the forum - goes to show that what we post here is being picked up on.

    I took our mut down there again today - and being "smart" I left somew photos and a site plan behind me - I think this is a match for this photo.

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    In the trees the bases of the huts remain , cement once brushed clean is now a carpet of moss and rotting leaves as nature takes it back.

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    Over head this aircraft was the nearest to a flying boat which appears there today.
    I later learned that flights were available at £35 a shot, I would have been tempted just to get a run off from the waters of the Lough , God I will have to do that.
    Breege McCusker was also doing a walking tour of the base - would have liked to have said "hello" to her but missed both.
    A great day to walk around spent nearly three hours pottering around .
     
  2. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Be about two hours Gott approx.
    Are you from Dublin ?

    If you are up in Moville in July and want to say "Hello" let me know - ther is a Maritime Museum beside the Ferry which I must go see , like wise if you want to see Lough Erne I would be happy to show you round.
    js

    .
    Yeah, I will be up in Moville in July, from about the 3rd onwards. I was in the Maritime museum last year and its good, worth a trip alright. May well hook up with you for an afternoon if you are around!
     
  3. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Some men from 240 Squadron, and a view of Irvinestown , outside Gallagher's Bar taken in 1943.

    The men outside the hut , all aircrew from 240.

    The first aircrew into Castle Achdale taken in February 1941, from Stranraer L of 240.
     

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  4. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Some folks who came back.
    Terry Reeves of 423 and 422 RCAF with his wife Irene at Corlea bog where NJ175 / 422 crashed in August 44.

    Sadly Irene died last month , a very wonderful and unique lady.


    The gent on the left looking at the Canso undercarriage is Tuck Smith , on his left Mr Seamus Gormely.

    The man in thew blue jacket looking at the wargraves in Irvinestown - Art Mountford , his crewmates went down with their aircraft.

    At the slipway , the man in the centre is Jack campbell 423 Squadron Pilot.

    Memebers of 423 being looked after in Irvinestowns Church of Ireland hall by the RBL.
     

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  5. smelisep

    smelisep Junior Member

    Dear Sir,
    Thank you for the kind words about my Grandfather. Here's a poem he wrote about his time with the 423...

    Steph Pinder

    Reminiscence in Verse

    From the Pen of Roy Pinder, veteran of 423, the RCAF Eagle Squadron



    Memories of an X-Eagle


    I’m a 423 X-Eagle ‘twas my task to search and strike
    the dreaded Nazi U-boats that lurked by day and night
    under the salty surface, waiting to attack
    our helpless Merchant Navy ships
    when e’re they came in sight.
    Aboard a Sunderland we’d roar of Lough Erne
    before the dawn, aloft all day and after dark return.
    But often due to weather or Pegasus distress
    We’d be diverted to Oban or Alness.
    and sometimes even Iceland and sometimes Pembroke Dock .
    If further south we’d have to land beside Gibralter’s rock..
    Our homes at Castle Archdale were what’s called Nissen huts
    with half moon ends a door or two and a rounded tin on top.
    The furniture was Spartan, a lamp, a chair a cot,
    with little room for treasured things from back home we brought.
    Our pin-ups and snapshots were openly displayed
    but letters from our loved-ones were under cover laid.
    The facilities at Archdale were really not that bad
    a mess, a bar a bath hut and a movie house we had.
    Sports were not bad either, baseball, tennis, squash
    and if we felt aggressive we could have a boxing bash.
    Of course there was a chapel where we could meditate
    and silently pray we would some day, be it soon or be it late,
    safely return to families who wait by the garden gate.
    All this is now a memory, but we’ll always yearn to fly
    until the day we fly to that mooring in the sky.
     
  6. Your poem was EXCELLENT what good words!

    I also have your grandfather listed on my website and was wondering if you would allow me to place your poem on the site?
     
  7. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

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    Although I posted this earlier it is worth while doing so again to unite the man with his words , for me this is Roy as I will remember him , all that is missing is his voice , soft friendly and unassuming in life Roy Pinder was and will alwys be one of the good guys.
     
  8. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Smelisep,
    Hello and welcome to the forum.

    Your Grandfathers poem is wonderful to read and very worthy of being seen by many on the internet.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  9. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    From the DOE run Museum at Castle Archdale , too small in my view and the space is not utilised to full effect.
    Coverage is I feel incomplete in that there is no linkage to the other bases , Killadeas, St. Angelo or Roc Bay.
    The items on display have mostly been loaned from local people who found themsleves being in ownershiop of what little that remains.

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    Practise bomb rack.

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    Fuel tank from a Sunderland.

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    Shell of a .303 machine gun recovered by a diver from Gublusk bay Killaseas.

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    I think this is from a Pratt and Whitney from a Catalina. (??)

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    Wing tip float from a Catalina.

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    An anchor.

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    ASV aerial.

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    Various items of flying kit.
     
  10. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    Awesome thread James. Having people recognize their relatives in the photos and contact you is fantastic.
     
  11. northton

    northton Junior Member

    If any one out there knows anything of my Uncle Herbert walter Fell, Flight Sergeant 942837 423 sqd of DD856 Sunderland ,which went down with the lose of all crew on nov 13th 1943 ,he was 23 and died long b4 I was born ,but I feel at a loss at not knowing him ,and something draws me to him!
     
  12. skyhawk

    skyhawk Senior Member

    Hello Northton and welcome.

    Was the 423 squadron sunderland DD 863?

    F/Lt. A.F. Brazenor, F.Sgt. S.G. Brockway, F/Sgt. R.J. Money, Sgt. H.W. Fell, Sgt. H.E.E. Attwood, Sgt. M.F. Flynn, Sgt. D. Bigmore, Sgt. L. Morgan, F. Sgt. R.W. Stiff. All RAF.
    P/O R.H. Wilson & F/O H.B. Pharis. RCAF. Sunderland DD863 – 423 Sq. Lost at sea near the coast of Donegal on 13th November 1943. (Lough Erne based)
     
  13. skyhawk

    skyhawk Senior Member

    F/L A.F. Brazenor and crew took off in 3+J (DD863) for an anti-submarine patrol. Two hours into the mission, the aircraft reported it was returning due to engine trouble. Soon afterwards, it sent an S.O.S., giving its position as fifteen miles from the coast. The aircraft disappeared. Strong sea conditions were reported at the time. Five days later, wreckage identified as parts of a Sunderland was washed ashore in the vicinity of the last report. None of the crew members were recovered .
     
  14. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Northton,

    Hello and welcome to the forum.

    Robert,

    Well done with correct serial number and description of events.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  15. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    As Robert says - down in an extremely rough sea , and sadly all lost .
    Searches by aircraft from Killadeas and Castle Archdale did not result in any success and later wreckage was washed ashore , sadly none of the crew were recovered.
    This was one of two Sunderlands which crashed in the Bay , the other being a 201 Squadron aircraft in Feb. 1942) .
    240 also lost a Catalina ( March 1941) and a 201 Squadron another Sunderland ( March 1945) also crashed with the loss of all on board - both aircraft hitting high ground.

    October , November and December 1943 were very bad months for Archdale / Killadaeas.

    I used to have a photo of some of the crew members - sadly it was loaned to an author who will remain nameless , he managed to lose track of it....lesson learned.

    Attached some views of Donegal Bay taken a few days ago.
     

    Attached Files:

  16. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Some views of 201, 202 and 423 aircraft on the Lough and a party ( August 43) in the officers mess.

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    423 Squadron saying goodbye to Jock Sumner.

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    H /201 Squadron

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    423 Aircraft at moorings.

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    201 squadron's Z well up and about to get off.

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    Men from 202 Squadron.

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    Back to the beginning , 240 squadron men in 1941.

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    U-Boats at Lisahally May 1945, photographed by a member of 202 squadron.
     
  17. RAF1

    RAF1 Member

    Archdale / Killadaeas.

    I used to have a photo of some of the crew members - sadly it was loaned to an author who will remain nameless , he managed to lose track of it....lesson learned.

    Attached some views of Donegal Bay taken a few days ago.

    James S
    Would that author who will remain nameless include the letters Mac in his anonymity?
    Cheers
     
  18. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Northton
    If any one out there knows anything of my Uncle Herbert walter Fell, Flight Sergeant 942837 423 sqd of DD856 Sunderland ,which went down with the lose of all crew on nov 13th 1943 ,he was 23 and died long b4 I was born ,but I feel at a loss at not knowing him ,and something draws me to him!


    DD856 "J"-3 , on the slipway at Castle Archdale in 1943 , bert Russell sank U-610 flying her on 8/10/43 just over a month before she was lost.
    And the scene today.
     

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  19. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    James,
    Great photographs, as always.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  20. RAF1

    RAF1 Member

    James S
    I tried to send a PM says that you are not receiving them
    regards
    RAF1
     

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