RAF Bases in Northern Ireland WW2

Discussion in 'War Cemeteries & War Memorial Research' started by spidge, Apr 28, 2008.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thanks Peter,

    Great Sleuthing!
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Geoff,
    Do you have details about exact location of Killead - St Catherines? Is it Co Antrim? I know a Killead, but only pass it a few times a year ... Had any take ups on that yet?
    d
     
  3. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Geoff,
    Do you have details about exact location of Killead - St Catherines? Is it Co Antrim? I know a Killead, but only pass it a few times a year ... Had any take ups on that yet?
    d

    There is not much detail or directions on the CWGC site. Other searches fail to give the address. It is definitely in County Antrim.

    Sorry I could not be more definite.


    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Geoff,
    Checked out the cwgc site too, strange that there is a photo but no location details.

    However, not as certain as the Hillsborough case, but may be able to drop by sometime and check if the cemetery is next to the church I am thinking of. Only noticed the place because an American asked about it on a genealogy forum. Kind of place you drive past and never notice... near Belfast Int. Airport which is NOT in Belfast.
    d
     
  5. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Geoff,
    Kind of place you drive past and never notice... near Belfast Int. Airport which is NOT in Belfast.
    d

    I am not saying a word!!!!!:rolleyes:
     
  6. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Sgt. Falkner Cotton Young No.220 Squadron.

    Geoff,

    The aircraft involved in the loss of Young was Lockheed Hudson V. Serial AM615 'Z' Zebra.

    The following is an extract from the No.220 Squadron ORB.....

    1.2.42
    The concluding stages of the Station Defence Exercise were marred by an accident to a Hudson of this Squadron which crashed. The six Sergeants on board all lost their lives. They were :- Sgt. Ireland. Sgt. Morley. Sgt. Young RAAF. Sgt. Walker. Sgt. Watts. Sgt. Horton.


    Air Britain Serials AA100 to AZ999 gives the following for the loss of the Hudson - Hit tree during dummy attack and crashed. Nutts Corner.

    For the time being the loss of A D. Campbell and H G. Fraser of No.206 Squadron remains a mystery. No.206 Squadron carried out no operations on 1.2.42 consequently, no losses are reported in the ORB.

    Regards
    Peter
     
  7. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    A D. Campbell and H G. Fraser. 1 February 1942.

    A very good possibility for these airmen's loss is Hudson AM604 C/206. Hit tree low flying Aldergrove 1.2.42.

    Regards
    Peter.
     
  8. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Geoff,
    If Aldergrove and Nutts Corner are both mentioned, then I am correct about the location for the cemetery. I will try and get up there but may take me a while. If someone else manages to get them sooner, please let me know...
    D
     
  9. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Geoff,
    If Aldergrove and Nutts Corner are both mentioned, then I am correct about the location for the cemetery. I will try and get up there but may take me a while. If someone else manages to get them sooner, please let me know...
    D


    Will do Diane.
     
  10. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  11. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Great photo Diane!
     
  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  13. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

  14. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    I had a great response also from a member on GWF MarkinBelfast who has provided me with those from Belfast City Cemetery and will try and get the remainder in County Antrim - those at Killead & Lisburn cemeteries.

    Now I am only looking for two in Ballyhalbert in County Down & those in County Londonderry.

    Thanks to all!
     
  15. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Geoff,
    He is better placed than I to get the Belfast and Killead ones then.


    A link on that BBC page takes you to this with some more photos and detail
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/fermanagh/st_angelo.shtml

    "St. Angelo became a military airfield in April 1941 and, because of poor drainage and boggy conditions, grass landing strips were out of the question and solid runways were built; one on a North/South axis the other East to West. The RAF took it over in August 1941 and it opened as a fighter station on September 15th with parts of 133 and 134 squadrons, equipped with Spitfires and Hurricanes, who used St. Angelo as a base to intercept enemy reconnaissance aircraft off the west coast of Ireland....

    So St. Angelo is likely to have been one of the first airfields where protective pill-boxes, housing machine gun crews, were built facing inwards facing towards the runways, ready for the attack from within. On top of the hill at the side of the N/S runway, with a commanding view over the whole area, stands a massive blockhouse that was the battle headquarters from where any battle for the airfield would be directed. (To afficianados of such buildings, this was built to the 11008/41 design).
    In August 1943, Coastal Command took over the station and it became a satellite of the Catalina and Sunderland flying boat base at Killadeas...

    The airfield also became the home for 235Sqn in October 1943 and they flew the long range torpedo bomber, the Beaufighter, in the ceaseless war against the U-Boat packs who were harrying the convoys fighting their way across the Atlantic with desperately needed supplies.
    One recorded incident out of St Angelo reads:
    On 10th March 1944 Short Sunderland MKIII, RAF s/n EK591, aircraft “2-U” of No. 422 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at St Angelo, County Fermanagh, Ireland with Warrant Officer 2nd Class W.F Morton and crew, sank U-625 at 52-53N 20-19W. This was W/O Morton’s first operational mission as an aircraft commander "

    dbf
     
  16. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Geoff,
    He is better placed than I to get the Belfast and Killead ones then.


    A link on that BBC page takes you to this with some more photos and detail
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/fermanagh/st_angelo.shtml


    Hi Diane,

    Mark made the offer on GWF as he was going there to do some WW1 photos so I thought it would be easier for you and save you some petrol.

    Thanks for the link as I did miss it. There was an RAAF crew who was first to sink a U-boat from a Sunderland (in the Irish Sea??) so I will have to delve as to where they were operating from.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  17. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thought I would bump this back up to the top to see if anyone knows anybody who can assist with these photos.

    <table x:str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 649pt;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="865"><col style="width: 174pt;" width="232"> <col style="width: 46pt;" width="61"> <col style="width: 76pt;" width="101"> <col style="width: 273pt;" width="364"> <col style="width: 80pt;" width="107"> <tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="height: 12.75pt; width: 174pt;" x:str="CAMPBELL, ARCHIBALD DETHRIDGE " height="17" width="232">CAMPBELL, ARCHIBALD DETHRIDGE </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-left: medium none; width: 46pt;" x:num="15373" width="61">1/02/1942</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-left: medium none; width: 76pt;" width="101">Sec. 23. Grave 5.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-left: medium none; width: 273pt;" width="364">KILLEAD (ST. CATHERINE) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-left: medium none; width: 80pt;" width="107">County Antrim</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="FRASER, HUGH GAVIN " height="17">FRASER, HUGH GAVIN </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="15373">1/02/1942</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Sec. 23. Grave 6.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">KILLEAD (ST. CATHERINE) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Antrim</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="CAPEL, DAVID FARQUHAR " height="17">CAPEL, DAVID FARQUHAR </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="15563">10/08/1942</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Sec. 23. Grave 8.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">KILLEAD (ST. CATHERINE) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Antrim</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="YOUNG, FALKNER COTTON " height="17">YOUNG, FALKNER COTTON </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="15373">1/02/1942</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Sec. 24. Grave 18.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">KILLEAD (ST. CATHERINE) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Antrim</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="SPROGE, RICHARD HENRY " height="17">SPROGE, RICHARD HENRY </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="16158">27/03/1944</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 32A.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">KILLEAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Antrim</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" height="17">FRASER, ALEXANDER WILLIAM (DFC & BAR)</td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="16257">4/07/1944</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Sec. A. Grave 390.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">LISBURN CEMETERY</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Antrim</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="LINDEMAN, ROSS WELLESLEY " height="17">LINDEMAN, ROSS WELLESLEY </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="15366">25/01/1942</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 2.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">BALLYHALBERT (ST. ANDREW) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Down</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="WILLS, STANLEY DONALD " height="17">WILLS, STANLEY DONALD </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="15487">26/05/1942</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 4.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">BALLYHALBERT (ST. ANDREW) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Down</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="PITHER, VERNON JAMES " height="17">PITHER, VERNON JAMES </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="15543">21/07/1942</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 05.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">DRUMACHOSE (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Londonderry</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="BERGER, COLIN BRUCE " height="17">BERGER, COLIN BRUCE </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="15737">31/01/1943</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 10.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">DRUMACHOSE (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Londonderry</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="WEEKS, GEORGE VICTOR " height="17">WEEKS, GEORGE VICTOR </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="16390">14/11/1944</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 23.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">DRUMACHOSE (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Londonderry</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="WOODS, LESLIE " height="17">WOODS, LESLIE </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="16038">28/11/1943</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 26.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">DRUMACHOSE (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Londonderry</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="CLARKE, ERIC GEORGE " height="17">CLARKE, ERIC GEORGE </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="15997">18/10/1943</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 27.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">DRUMACHOSE (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Londonderry</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="WALSH, JOHN JOSEPH " height="17">WALSH, JOHN JOSEPH </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="16015">5/11/1943</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 5.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">LIMAVADY (ST. MARY) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CEMETERY</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Londonderry</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="GILLIAN, ROBERT HUGH " height="17">GILLIAN, ROBERT HUGH </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="16502">6/03/1945</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Grave 7.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">LIMAVADY (ST. MARY) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH CEMETERY</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Londonderry</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="APITZ, KENNETH JOHN NIELSEN " height="17">APITZ, KENNETH JOHN NIELSEN </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="16242">19/06/1944</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Plot W. Grave 09.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">TAMLAGHT FINLAGAN CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Londonderry</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; height: 12.75pt;" x:str="COOPER, NORMAN ATHOL " height="17">COOPER, NORMAN ATHOL </td> <td class="xl24" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;" x:num="16242">19/06/1944</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">Plot W. Grave 10.</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">TAMLAGHT FINLAGAN CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD</td> <td class="xl23" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none;">County Londonderry</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
     
  18. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Geoff, I will be in Co. Donegal for a week and a half at the start of July and have teed up the family of a possible expedition to Co. Derry/Londonderry to see these graves. So I'll see what I can do. :D
     
  19. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Geoff, I will be in Co. Donegal for a week and a half at the start of July and have teed up the family of a possible expedition to Co. Derry/Londonderry to see these graves. So I'll see what I can do. :D

    Thanks Gott. Appreciate it.


    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  20. Capt Bill

    Capt Bill wanderin off at a tangent

    Spidge

    I live in Lisburn, County Antrim - just south of Belfast.

    I live a short distance from Aldergrove / Nutts Corner / Meghaberry / Long Kesh etc.

    It would be an honour - if you email me a list of locations, I'll go around and take some photos for you too.


    Info on airfields - WW2 Airfield & Control Tower Home Page

    This is a photo of the infamous Maze prison / Long Kesh Prison just outside Lisburn. You can see that it was built on the old site of RAF Long Kesh.
    There are a few Aussie and Kiwis in the local graveyard
    [​IMG]
     

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