RAF killadeas

I think it is Archdale Robert - the T sheds backing on to the shore line, the Cats are probably 202 Squadron aircraft circa late 1944.
taking a magnifying glass to it Sunderlands on the apron and a nose hanger backed on to the T sheds , definitely CA.


The same scene different angle.

The incident you mentioned , the same one - they flew between the Luftwaffe aircraft and the convoy and at the E/A putting them off.


The thaw, 1945.


Sunderland on the water.



T9087 O/201 Squadron March 1942 - the white colouration which would later be so distinctive of Coastal aircraft has not as yet been adopted. Wing Commander Derek Martin is standing on the extreme right.


Lloyd Detwiller , 422 RCAF who was killed at Troy in Feb 1944 on a FAE - with him his dog "Straddle" - a favourite photo of mine.


240 crew at Killadeas
Sgts Newtown , Dredge , Davis , unknown. circa 1941.

 

Sgt. Newton and friends making a canoe Killadeas 1941, below the completed craft.





Heliwell , Davis, Dredge, Newton at Stranraer 1941.
At this time they were at CA but frequently came to Stranraer.



A merchantman man photographed by L "The Last Stranraer" from 240 Squadron.

 

Thanks James great stuff
The photo with the dog on the flight deck is great.

 

Reminds me of our own , just loves to get up and away , I see something of her in "Straddle".





She loves to get down there and now the height of the tourist season is over she pretty much has the run of the place.

 

I hope it is okay to post these here , I didn't want to seperate them from the thread on the base.
The Duxford based "Killer Cat" which came over to Killadeas in 1990.

 

I have another strip of negatives somewhere which should show quite a few close ups of panels surfaces etc , but at the moment I can't find it.
I had these printed off to ad to this thread.

Will a Catalina ever return to these waters again ?

 

Really nice pics James thank u for posting. Did this event correspond with the Lough Erne airshow ive heard about? Back in the 90's i think?

 

It was a one off by the then Lough Erne Aviation Trust.
I was not involved with this small group , one gent from this group Mr Seamus Gormley was a exceptionally nice man - extremely well motivated and passionate about the flying boat related past.
The airshow they put on was the following year - I understand it failed because of the lack of sponsorship which was a shame.

 

Just want to say I really enjoy dipping into this thread and others like it.
Brilliant stuff.

Diane,

I have to agree with you. This thread is outstanding.

James,

You may be able to clear up a question regarding the control surfaces.

I heard that the Catalina was an excellent seaplane to fly, but was hard work on take off and landing due to not having flaps and looking at the photos you posted this appears to be the case as I cannot see any.

All the data I have and photographs are not good enough to identify this point.

Anyone any knowledge on the subject.

Regards
Tom

 

Tom , see the last photo - she was by all accounts a robust aircraft which could be stall landed - literally slapped down.
( Unfortunately I don't have the pilots notes for the Cat. so can't answer your question).

 

From what ive heard the Catalina is quit slow to respond to pitch and roll inputs made by the pilot and controls can be very stiff at high speeds. Being such a large aircraft things can take a long time to happen. The use of a lot of rudder was a must and evelator and rudder trim as an aid was used. There are no flaps and the floats can be raised or lowered to decrease or increase drag and aid slowing down for landing.
Ive seen quite a few Catalina displays but one in particular took my breath away. I was a a barbi down at Newtownards Airfield and in came this Catalina. The circuit was clear with a very strong crosswind so the pilot asked if he could do some low passes. This guy threw that aircraft all over the sky including a low pass that almost took the roof off. Looked very maneuverable for such a large aircraft and as always the best pilots just make it look easy. After finding the Bismark Dennis Briggs did a similar thing at Castle Archdale. As described by his american co-pilot "just another day at the office".

 

Last few.







A young Peter Bottomley at Killadeas , at this time attached to the Northern Ireland Office.

 

Correction here to previous - the early models did not have flaps but they were installed in later models.

 

Being a non pilot , flaps ? ( On the elevators ?)

 

Flaps are on the trailing edge inner part of an aircrafts wing. They basicly provide increased lift or drag for take-off or landing. I think proposals for a leading edge slat device to be incorporated in pby's similar to flaps was put forward. Not sure weather this came about though? I think the Navy originally wanted wing flaps but pressure on spending and delivery time meant this didnt happen.

This is the aircraft that evening down at Newtownards:-

 

A thank you to both Roberts.

Nice to know that I was not dreaming about there being no flaps, at least on the early versions.

The floats when not retracted would indeed act as airbreaks to a degree.

Regards
Tom

 

Thanks from both of us lol. Remember hearing about later proposed development. Must find out.
Regards Robert.

 

Ted Jones was stationed at RAF Killadeas on Lough Erne during World War Two. He trained the crews of flying boats.

As part of the Fermanagh seaplane festival, he took to the skies once more to retrace the top-secret route many crews flew over County Donegal.

BBC NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | Ted Jones interview

 

Catalina JX 383 131 OTU Killadeas on the slip 1945



Sunderland W6066 Killadeas Jan 1945




Catalina BN-W 240 Squadron Lough Erne 1942