Sunderlands and Catalinas

Re: All the above………………..

Hello Everyone,

Would anyone mind if I ‘borrowed’ the cracking pics above and placed them in a new gallery section on my flying boat site at www.seawings.co.uk?

Reason is that I have been quietly building up a ‘Then & Now’ section over the years which is close to release (So far I have done Felixstowe MAEE, Castle Archdale and Kalafrana, Malta and some in Australia/NZ) and these pics will fit in superbly well.

The idea is that if anyonbe is interested and visiting, they can take the pics with them and go have a close look themselves.

If anyone has any other pics of any base anywhere, I would love to see them.

Thanks,

Known unto God.

The headstones marking graves of two unknown airmen buried in the Commonwealth Plot in Irvinestown’s Church of Ireland .

Sgt Sherry from Australia , is buried close by – he was killed on 9/1/44 on a local bombing exercise his body was recovered several months later.

Paddy , the man who took your money to see the Catalina was Sgt Ray Hartshorn , it was Eddie Edwards who taxied the Catalina down to Enniskillen from Killadeas.
(Sadly both Ray and Eddie passed away in recent years).

Photos , the funeral is that of Sgt. Guy Wilkinson and the dead from the 201 Squadron Sunderland which hit Mount Brandon in August 43 outbound for a patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

DD843 over Biscay.

Main gate at Castle Archdale.

Pilot at the controls – Murray Wettlaufer.

Sunderlands on the workshop apron circa 1944/45.

The U-Boat one of a group of four en route to Lough Foyle in May 45.

The crew photo – John’s fathers crew , on the left at the back Bruce Whitney who took over when GF was tour expired.

The Sunderland in flight – used by aviation artist Michael Rondot as a model for his painting “Constant Endeavour”.

Attached some contrasting views to those shown by John and a few additional views of what was and what is now.

The Funeral of a 422 crew member killed on the 12/844 crash near Belleek , the Manor House at Archdale now gone from the mid 1970’s , J/423 on the slip way.

mhuxt,

Thanks for the video…..a rare shot of the Nav using a sun compass!!

G’day 😉

Another Sunderland video for you

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=2964636853298879196

Thanks!

I will add it to my website.

Hi sunderland1944

Re your grandfather’s Sunderland DD862.

The Juno Beach Centre website has this page titled “Attack on U-672 by Sunderland “A”. 423 Squadron”

http://www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-air-coa-423a-e.htm

and this nice profile of DD862 by artist Walt Drohan R.C.A. was on a C.A.F.M. website which has long since been removed.

Cheers
Richard

Thanks Richard!

This is very cool indeed, I am grateful.

Another Sunderland video for you

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=2964636853298879196

Hi sunderland1944

Re your grandfather’s Sunderland DD862.

The Juno Beach Centre website has this page titled “Attack on U-672 by Sunderland “A”. 423 Squadron”

http://www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-air-coa-423a-e.htm

and this nice profile of DD862 by artist Walt Drohan R.C.A. was on a C.A.F.M. website which has long since been removed.

Cheers
Richard

Thank you.

I have updated the URL, it now is found here:

http://www.castlearchdale.net/

I am so glad you enjoyed the website!

Welcome to the Forum Sunderland 1944

Your web site is great, especially as I could recognise all your area pictures.
I was born and raised on the shores of Lough Erne during WW2.

I have signed you guest book already.

Best wishes. Your site is a fitting memorial.

Paddy R

My grandfather flew a Sunderland (A-AB) with the 423 squadron.

He attacked and heavily damaged U-672.

I have started a website to honor both the 422 and 423 squads from Castle Archdale.

There are many photos on the site which are worth a look at.

For the site, click here:

http://sunderland1944.tripod.com

Paddy,

This one is from Killadeas. A well known incident when the Lough froze. Despite the efforts of crews to protect them, several Sunderlands were damaged when they swung against the ice.
I like the aerial view you showed – I have a simlar one here but it has a copyright stamp on it.

Allan

Thanks again for the info and pics. That will keep me busy for a while. I will be at Castle Archdale next Sunday for a couple of weeks and will have another prowl around.
In the meantime here are another few pics I have sourced.
A Cat flying over Enniskillen 1943. The 2 figures bottom left are policemen probably trying to get his number! The maintenance area at Killadeas looks busy. The cat at the bridge, again in 1943. I payed 6 old pence to go inside it ! Paddy R

The photo of the two Catalinas in close formation over Loch Erne a few messages back is of interest as, on close inspection of the original, an airman can be seen sticking his head out of the top of the bow turret. Apparently, this was possible on Catalinas because of the way the airflow went around the turret in flight.

Castle Archdale

I think there’s a good amount of photographic material held by the Canadians, I’m not sure if the Armed Forces or Canadian National Archives hold it. I’ve seen both quoted as source, alot of it has never been published.
Worth investigating if you are after photos.

Action Stations 7 is worth having, if you don’t have it, and can find a copy these days. It covers all NI’s WW2 airfields.

The last time I was at the RAF museum I saw the aerial shot of Castle Archdale (thats in Action Stations) in their Coastal Command section where they’d put a caption saying it was in Ceylon or somewhere. If it’s still there next time I’m there I’ll be filling a complaint!

Sunderlands and catalinas

Many thanks Wieesso, Hurrifan and Pondskater for your info,the pics. and the links.

Castle Archdale is now a large static caravan park and marina catering for holidaymakers.
However there is a small WW2 museum on the site. The big concrete slipway and the large dock built for the Short Shetland (which never got there) is still intact.

Paddy R

Hi Paddy,

Attached from my files is a photo of a parade at Castle Archdale when the Squadron crest was handed over to 423 Squadron (RCAF).

I’ve never been to Lough Erne but hope to get over soon for my first trip to N Ireland. Is there much left these days?

Allan

If you’re interested in the airfiled plan of Castle Archdale Seaplane Base 1944 look here
http://www.motorbooks.co.uk/showsect.asp?id=211&pageno=2

Martin

http://www.airmuseum.ca/mag/exag0208.html
http://www.leyc.net/v2/page.asp?id=95

Greetings Fellow Celt!!! 😀

There are some good shots of Sunderlands on Loch Erne , from various sources, in John Quinn & Robert Taylors book ” Down in a Free State “
ISBN 0-9525496-5-4. In addition there are many period and modern shots of the aftermath of various accidents that befell both these and other aircraft.

Reckon i have a few more in various mags/books..will let you know asap!