YOUR RESPONSES

John Mc Farline - July '08
Sadly it is not just theairfield defences that are now gone. The old parachute store which was sited at the entrance to St Angelo has also gone as has the Buttress wall at the old RAF Killadeas base where the aircraft guns were tested. There is now very little left to remind us of those days when the free world fought for the principle of freedom. Gone are the reminders of what those who lie in the Irvinstown commonwealth Graveyards died for. Is nothing sacred in the modern world? do we have to pander to those who believe that profit means more than a principle? It would be nice to see a museum to the wartime period established in the county but alas tourism is more important so I doubt that a museum dedicated to the wartime period would ever come into existance here. It would be nice to hear others thought on the idea of a museum for the county.

Tony Lockyer - Oct '06
My father served at St Angelo in 1941. He has some fine memories of the locals and how good they were to my mother and siblings (I wasn't born until 1944) until he (and they) were posted back to England.

Gordon Marshall (Isle of Man) - Aug '06
I remember St Angelo as this is where I was first taught to drive in a Land Rover whilst in the Army Cadets at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. That must have been about 1967 or 68. I also remember the control tower being in a different position to where the current new one is. Even though historic structures have been destroyed it is good to see the airfield being developed and used commercially.

John Mc Farline - May '06
It is interesting to read the responses regarding the destruction of the W.W.2 defences at St Angelo. I well remember when I first took on the mantle of trying to preserve only two items of defence on the eastern side of the airfield namely the control and command battle center and the three interlocking bunkers a short distance away. I only wanted these two preserved as the other defences were on the western side of the airfield on farm land. The EHS took it upon themselves to preserve everything in sight and as some might think, the Fermanagh District council were in no way involved nor were they responsible for their destruction. I never involved the Town hall. it was due to my becoming ill with cancer that i relinquished the project to two other friends who tried to save the defences sadly in vain. I understand a large organised detachment of sightseers descended upon the airfield to cross fields to look at the defences. The land owner was annoyed and who could blame him!

Though this does not excuse him for the wanton destruction. Sadly the defences are now gone but it is too late to complain as the damage is done. It should be noted that except for a few wartime enthusiasts the majority of aviation enthusiasts in the county never gave much support if any to saving the defences which was very much needed. Those who did try to save the defences should be congratulated and those who failed to give support should be ashamed of themselves.

James Stewart - March '06
The Beaufighter detachment from 235 Squadron were at St. Angleo for only a short time , post in to provide air cover for shipping which was coming under attack from Dornier 217's and JU-290's armed with " Glider bombs".

A 422 RCAF Sunderland crashed near Trory in Feb. 44 whilst taking part in a FAE with a 235 Squadron Beau. One Ju-290 was shot down and several Dorniers chased off. The detachment was withdrawn in March 44.

The Airfield defense systems around the airfield were quite unique and should have been preserved. The excuse given for their destruction was totally invalid and the action unjust.

It is unfortunate that so little now remains of the RAF Coastal Command presense which contributed so much to the securing of the sea lanes to these Islands.

I do trust that the land owner will reflect on those often spoken words to which he pays lip service , " At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them".

John Mc Farline - Oct 05
I along with other in the Hailstone Aviation Club believe that the World War 2 period especialy in Fermanagh should be preserved...

... This does not discourage me and my friends who wanted to keep everything preserved for the future. we are not discouraged and still carry on with the W.W.2 preservation project. There is absolutely no reason as to why a w.w.2 museum should not be established in County Fermanagh, The problem seems to be that the powers that be are not intrested simply because progress is more important. When I was at my best I worked hard to keep the w.w.2 history alive as a cross community project. I and many other visited Aircraft crash sites and collected artifacts from all over the place. Many people both at home and abroad donated and supported the project of establishing a museum and because we proved on many occasions that we are cross community we are supported by both Unionist's and Nationalists. We are proud of this support and hopefully we may finally establish a museum that would be a boon to the county, indeed many people agree with us. We as a group have a very good collection of artifacts relating to W.W.2 all we need is somewhere to show them.

John Mc Farline. Hailstone Aviation Club

John Hanna - October '05
Born and raised in Northern Ireland, I left in 1988 to seek a new life in Australia.

I have many fond memories of St. Angelo, in January 1982 I learned to fly there. The trial lesson spread "the flying bug" and it wasn't long before I was literally hooked on the concept of flying.

I recall with delight my first solo, 1,800 ft cloud base, drizzle, strong cross wind from the west, and how the P.A.28 piper cherokee bounced like a kite from the Atlantic westerly's. Great cross wind practice. Then there were the cross country flights, St. Angelo to Eglinton, to Aldergrove.

Newtownards was another regular favourate. The funiest memory ever, I had just completed circuit training, ready for cross country. I had never been away from the airfield. Newtownards as usual, were hosting an airshow. My instructor at the time offered me the opportunity to learn cross country navigation, by flying with him to the 'Ard airshow. I was asked to treat it like a trip, and had to calculate fuel etc. With my girlfriend (at the time) and her friend, we flew St. Angelo to Newtownards for the airshow, on a beautiful September day.

The instructor when there, had to use the cherokee for private joy flights. At the end of the day, a very tired instructor, said to me: " I'm exhausted, you know your way back to St. Angelo, how do you feel about doing all the flying, navigation, the lot?" Remember this was my first trip away from the airfield! I answered: " yep, no problem."

It was a calm, tranquil evening, CAVOK as we say in aviation. In the air at 3,000 the instructor settled into his seat for a "cat nap" (alert, but eyes closed.) Prior to shutting his eyes, he said: " See the Mourne MTNS? keep them to your left, keep this heading, you will come over Dungannon with two lakes, more importantly, follow the sun and you will see the glistle of Lough Erne, happy?"

"Great" I replied. All was silent, I was in my element, amazed with the green countryside and view. It was that calm, the plane whilst trimmed, flew itself. I, whilst looking all round, forgot my real task in hand, and after some time got a jolt (coming to my senses) Immediately I looked for Dungannon and the little lakes, but to my horror, couldn't see them. Looking at the instructor who was relaxed head tilted, eyes closed, I felt embarressed to admit I was lost.

There was never any danger. I looked 90 degrees to my left, and saw in the distance, a large town with two Cathedral spires, and immediately thought to myself " how did I get that far out" I gently in gradual turns, moved left until I had the town at the nose of the aircraft. I glanced quickly at the instructor, hoping he didn't notice.

Approximately two minutes later, I noteced the instructor's left eye open, and fix upon the instrument panel, then discreetly casted a look outside. "John, where does the ! sun normally set?" " West, " I replied. " Tell me then, what's that big yellow thing up there 90 degrees to our right?" "em, that would be the sun" " yep, so why ............... are we heading south???" Once track was regained, it was clear that Dungannon was under the right wing at the time I "came to my senses" therefore, all was well anyway!

I concentrated harder than ever, whilst the instructor had another cat nap. I successfully got us all back home, the instructor waking up on a three mile final approach for R/W 33. and a text book landing by yours truely.

The next day, my cross country training started, and I never let that incident down!!

Indeed, many more fond memories.

Ryan Keys - March 05
I' m sad to see that the WWII shelters have been demolished.

Samuel Knight - December '04
I was evacuated to colebrook during WW2 , close to the american base at ashbrook, I was 10 yrs old , we had many visits from them at the farmhouse and lots of candy and gum, and white bread! I remember the day a platoon stopped for a break at one of the farm sheds and the whole platoon wrote their names on the shed door, I wish we had been able to take a photo, I visited the farmhouse this year but the door had been removed , I noticed the photo of the beaufighter aircraft, I remember the day I heard the roar of aircraft engines and saw the plane with flames coming out of it just above the treetops, I saw the pilot struggling with the controls as it passed I often wondered where it crashed, it probably came from the airfiefd in the article, many more stories.

JC Heffernan - July '04
These people have no soul or historical perspective. I was looking forward to visiting St Angelo - Now I don't think I will bother.

James O'Neill - 25 June '04
In response to Chuck Irons, this was Langford Lodge. Operational from late 1942 and designated the 3rd Base Air Depot from 1943, Langford would eventually re-assemble/modify 3,250 aircraft and service 11,000 more with the help of 2,600 civilian employees of the Lockheed Overseas Corporation. After August 1944 the station was used as an experimental station and aircraft storage depot. It returned to the RAF in March 1946, later to be taken over by Martin Baker for ejector seat testing and production.

( source : Smith , David J (1983) Action Stations 7, p.123-127 )

Chuck Irons - June '04
Could you please tell me which airfield in Northern Ireland Lockheed built or helped build or maintain in 1944? Thank you.

Charles Singer - May '04
My vague memory of this air field was when they transported our injured crew from there to a hospital in England. What a shame the powers to be let this happen.

George Dixon - April '04
There is a certain responsibility upon all of us to realise and recognise what is historical and what consititutes heritage. It's the same as knowing what is right from wrong.

If you bought land and discovered that there were neolithic tombs, standing-stones, or a dolmen on it you should know that it's simply not the done thing to demolish it. In reality the only difference with WWII heritage is the age of it. It's still a violation of common sensibility to destory such things whether you are the legal owner of the land or not.

Perhaps in legal terms a crime has not been committed but an offence most certainly has. The person who did this should hang his head in shame for the land on which it stands may have had a very different owner indeed had the airmen who manned it 60 years ago not given such fine and unselfish service. What they did deserves our gratitude and praise. What this destroyer did deserves the contempt of the Fermanagh community.

Ellen Sowden - Austin TX USA - April '04
Those of us who have truly studied history will know that Neanderthal man had more respect for his forefathers than this.

Jonathan Stewart (April '04)
Where else can you find more information on the history of St Angelo?

Your Place & Mine reporter Breege McCusker has kindly suggested that the best information can be found in a book called Action Stations by David Smith, publisher Patrick Stephens Ltd. (Editor)

Richard Martin - I was deeply saddened and angered to hear of the destruction of the wartime structures at St Angelo airfield. The person responsible must have little regard for Ulster's heritage.

Helen, Bangor NI - April 04
Mr. Blean, I think that you have got the wrong end of the stick. No-one is talking about "bulldozing the airfield". It was the WW11 defences in fields around the airfireld that have been destroyed not the airfield itself. These are important to our heritage and as they were so well preserved would have been excellent specimens for future generations to see in years to come but unfortunately that has all gone and there are no more like this left in NI.

Jason Blean - April 04
Thanks for your thoughtful article, Mr Crooks. I think something should be preserved in the spirit of the Normandy WWII memorial sites but not everything, to show future generations what we have come through. In this I agree with Messrs Maguire and Johnston in that this protest seems to be a bit late!

As a pilot myself, I´d be a little disheartened to see the airfield I landed at 5 years ago during training completely bulldozed. However I´m not sure this is going to happen. (see http://www.emigrant.ie/article.asp?iCategoryID=72&iArticleID=27800:) "Alan Cathcart and Stephen Finlay are hoping to buy the one-hundred acre airfield at Ballycassidy with a view to having the first flights resumed by the early summer." If it was demolished, it wouldn´t be a bad thing if they build a different runway with a better approach. In the words of my flying instructor, you had to make a sharp turn from base and "drop like a brick" over the church to get in. I remember it being pretty hairy and I´m sure that factor didn't endure it to pilots coming from Jersey and Zurich on scheduled flights.

Some of the comments smack of good old Norn Iron emotional blackmail to me and are very predictable, on both sides of the debate. However if we´re going to see its renewal, realistically I would have thought a Republican MP for the area wouldn´t be the best for the airport - I don't know where she stands on it, but while the opposition continue their selfish factional bickering it´s unlikely to get a mention at Westminster...

Jason Blean - April 04
Landing a Cessna 152 there in October 1998. I contacted the control tower before entering the zone and was given the customary wind speed and direction. Shortly after landing, while taxying to the tower, the "controller" landed and taxied in behind! There were very few facilities and the only real cost appeared to be runway maintenance.
Running something on a shoestring like that for years means no money for preservation...

Alan Jamison - April '04:
William,
What you say may well be true about the white elephant factor and so on. However none of this makes it right, or even vaguely acceptable for anyone to carry out such a foolish act of selfishness. I'll bet that when the truth eventually comes out it'll all be about money. Thats what makes men do such irrational things.

William Watts - April 04:
St Angelo has been a great white elephant hanging arond the necks of the Fermanagh ratepayers. Wether it be WWII preservations or the cost of operating it as an airfield. I was pleased when it closed and now happy to see the traces of WWII removed. Any preservation order would have only inhibited the right of development to local land owners. Those locals who have been going on and on about it would do better sticking to flying their flags.

Catherine Dawson - April 04:
Utterly and totally appalling!
It's so very difficult to get inside the mind of someone who does this kind of thing. It is so crass and shows such complete lack of understanding and empathy with our history and our heritage. The mind boggles. Just as well there weren't any Spitfires left on the site or they'd probably have been smashed up for scrap metal.

R Johnston - April 04:
World WarII ended fifty nine years ago. What took the Heritage people so long to recognise the historical value of retaining this site and preserving all that it stood for. The late owner who belonged to the generation that remembers the role played by all who served there would in all probability have agreed to its preservation.

J Devine - April '04:
The man who did this sets new standards in arrogance and stupidity. He thinks he is important enough to wipe out bits of history as he sees fit with no regard for anyone else in his community. How wrong he is.

R Craig - April 04:
The demolition of St Angelo is a disgrace.

Gareth Maguire - April 04:
Lets not park the total blame for this at the landowners door. They were acting legally. Until the heritage and environment authority can overcome the bureaucratic red tape involved in listing a property / site then other such sites will not have the protection that the law provides. The words door, horse and bolted spring to mind when reading the comments to date.

Charles Singer R206461 RCAF - April 04
The more I look the more I see about 422 Sqdrn from Lake Erne in Castle
Archdale. My last flight from that base was August 1944. Can not seem to get enough of those stories?
Keep up the good work.

Ken Ingram: - April '04
I was shocked when I heard of the destruction of the WW2 Heritage structures at St. Angelo, Co. Fermanagh, this past week.
What a historical loss for Northern Ireland!
We were looking forward to seeing these structures on our next visit to Fermanagh but, sadly, selfishness on the part of someone or some group has made this impossible. I am sure that many other visitors to beautiful and historical Fermanagh will feel the same.
Perhaps the party or parties saw the misdirected, in my opinion, destruction, two years ago, of the control tower at St. Angelo as licence to continue the removal of historical buildings.
Ken Ingram
London, Ontario, Canada

Ruth Watterson - March '04
The District Council and the Heritage Service are an incompetent bunch and ought to be chased out of Fermanagh following more eradication of our ancient landmarks. I think Group 4 could do a better job at protecting our heritage!

Fermanagh War Veteran - March '04:
I was at the building of the airfield defences and I'm distraught that a piece of history could be wiped out overnight. I blame the council bosses for not helping to preserve these sites.

Ernest Cooke: - March '04
How very very sad. These buildings were built to withstand enemy attack and defend our land against hostile intruders who threatened everything we had. They have stood for 60 years. Servicemen served there, protected us there and many even died there. Now some person has chosen to destroy them regardless of what they mean to the community or the country for that matter. May those who built them haunt the dreams of the destroyer.

Alan Cardy:
The owner(s) of the St Angelo site should be fined to the full extent of their total financial worth - in other words skin them. This is the only way we will stop such outrages from taking place.

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