Castle Archdale

Note: Some time ago I made this comment: "This map only gives an rough position for CASTLE ARCHDALE within the UK. If anybody can provide a more exact location, this will be very welcome."

In January 2017 I was kindly contacted by Peter Vercruijsse who provided both an exact location and additional information. Later, in May 2017 I made my first visit to this location.



CASTLE ARCHDALE: RAF Flying Boat Station    (Aka RAF LOUGH ERNE)

Note: This picture (2018) was obtained from Google Earth ©

This picture, added in June 2019 replaces the previous picture, which was indeed of the wrong place. No excuse, but they are both superficially similar - if you don't pay proper attention to detail. I have Richard Kennedy, (see 'Comment' below), for kindly pointing out my error. 







 

Note: Pictures by the author unless notified. In recent years, although now being situated in a Country Park, caravan park and camping site, (of a very high standard), I found it surprising just how much of the WW2 heritage exists, and, was very pleased to discover that those operating the site were keen to make people aware of this heritage.

Also, I really must thank the staff for being so welcoming and helpful, and giving permission to take some pictures.

The second illustration is from a leaflet I found available in the 'Check-in' office for the caravan park.The third picture was in the terminal building at ENNISKILLEN airfield.

PICTURE GALLERY 2017

 

Military user: RAF Coastal Command                15 Group

201 Sqdn  (Short Sunderlands)

240 Sqdn  (Consolidated PBY-5 Catalinas)

422 (Royal Canadian Air Force) Sqdn    (Consolidated Catalinas, Short Sunderlands)

 

Location: On Lough Erne approx 10nm NNW of Enniskillen

Period of operation: WW2:  Operational from February 1941 to August 1948. Station closed in January 1958. 
 

Alighting area: Not really known to date


Notes: The first and third pictures were taken of photographs displayed in the terminal building at ENNISKILLEN / St AMGELO. The fourth picture of the central apron shows where flying boats would have been positioned after being drawn ashore from the slipway before being towed to their individual locations for maintenance. Indeed, if you look closely you can clearly see mobile homes positioned on two of the 'panhandle' dispersal areas. 
SECOND PICTURE GALLERY - 2017

 

NOTES: The only information regarding the alighting area(s) found so far state that area ‘A’ should be used except in strong westerly winds when area ‘B’ should be used. It seems safe to assume both these areas were fairly close to the station - or does it? Interesting to some extent, but without a map, not particularly useful to this 'Guide'.

SCUTTLED?
It appears that shortly after WW2 ended a number of nearly new PBY-5 Catalinas, (one, JX243, had only logged 48 hours), were towed out and scuttled, (sunk), in an area between this base and KILLADEAS. (See comment below). It seems the terms of the American ‘Lend-Lease’ agreement were, that any aircraft not required for use after hostilities ceased should be either returned to the USA or scrapped.

It must of course be taken into account that the US (government and establishment) have always been mostly against the British, (their main enemy initially of course - which the War of Independence was fought for), except when it suited them - and this antipathy continues at various levels. Hardly surprising then that we have a 'Special Relationship'.


A SERIOUS AND OFTEN  DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP
Needles to say the relationship between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom was very strained in the early days, after Irish independance had been won. Much has been made, in certain quarters, of the apparent willingness of the Irish government to allow Nazi submarines to use various facilities.

But, we must remember that the Republic was officially neutral during WW2 and therefore, as I understand it by international agreements, any non-hostile and reasonable request for the replenishment of vessels, and open trading of goods and equipment, should be accorded to both sides involved. The Swedes for example made a vast fortune from these arrangements.

What is perhaps not remembered too much today is that flying boats based at CASTLE ARCHDALE faced a serious detour to reach the Atlantic, if they were to remain in UK airspace. A dispensation to overfly the narrow stretch of the Irish Republic to the west was sought, and granted. In many ways it would now seem, especially when compared to Switzerland which was wholly pro-Nazi whilst claiming so called neutrality, the Irish government were very even-handed in their affairs.


Notes: I wonder how many people arriving at the cafe today, (pictured below), realise that this building was once the operations block for one of the major RAF bases in WW2 for the task of attempting to win the 'Battle of the Atlantic'? This is a story usually still kept 'under wraps'. The facts are that, despite the bombing campaign of Germany seeming to succeed, it wasn't. The UK was actually on the point of losing the war because the Nazi U-boats were having a devastating effect, sinking more ships than could be replaced.

Put simply, three major factors helped save the day. The introduction of radar, both for surface vessels and aircraft, the introduction of Sonar for surface vessels and submarines, and last but not least of course the U.S.A, deciding to get involved. As the UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill bluntly pointed out to President Roosevelt, "If we lose you are next". What is not perhaps generally known today is that German U-boats were having a 'field day' sinking shipping off the east coast of the U.S.A. because the U.S. government refused to apply black-out conditions.

THE THIRD PICTURE GALLERY 2017

 

More notes: The second picture above is of the very modest memorial to RAF CASTLE ARCHDALE, and indeed the only one found on my short visit. But, why was it placed in a position where very few visitors might see it?

The last two images, although small, have been scanned from a leaflet available to visitors, and which I think do add to the interest of this 'Guide'. The third picture, of some Nissen huts, really does illustrate the often basic, even primitive accommodation provided to RAF personal and often aircrews during WW2. Not just here but on many airfields around the UK.  
Additional note, June 2019:  This picture is incorrectly captioned. See 'Comment' by Richard Kennedy below. These were workshops - not living accommodation.

The fourth picture, of a first solo flight in a Sunderland, surely serves to remind us of the determination and sheer guts so many of these young men had in those days. Bombing Germany may have seemed to have the edge in the glamour stakes, although often amounting to being suicidal of course, but, as pointed out above, the critical stage of the war, for most of WW2, was actually taking place in the Atlantic - and what a tedious and thankless task this usually was - with, when a chance of combat occurred, a damned good chance of being shot down with nothing remaining.    



PROJECTS TO SAVE A CATALINA
A few projects to retrieve a Catalina (or more), have been mooted over the years - but did one ever succeed?

 

 

 
 

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Richard Kennedy

This comment was written on: 2016-12-11 11:57:46
 
I have been VERY regularly at the old RAF Castle Archdale base in recent years - wonderful place and history - and have been told that no flying boats were scuttled there after the war but, in late fifties, anchored planes, out of use, were still anchored off Crevinishy Island awaiting disposal. The RAF closed the base finally in 1957 having been in 'care and maintenance' since 1945. What a place ... and there is still much interest in the story. Best regards, Richard Kennedy

 
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Richard, Many thanks for this interesting observation. I shall keep it posted. Regards, Dick
 

 
 

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Richard Kennedy

This comment was written on: 2017-08-23 21:40:32
 
Thanks Dick for your reply. By the way, your aerial shot of the Castle Archdale base is actually pre-1953 as a new Care and Maintenance fuelling pier was built in 1954. A fine photograph though and I would love to be able to find a copy to frame if they are available. Best regards, Richard

 
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Richard, Many thanks, I shall keep this posted. Regarding the photograph you can scan this directly from the web-site, and I am sure that it can be much enhanced by somebody far more capable than I am, and up to speed. Best regards, Dick
 

 
 

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Richard Kennedy

This comment was written on: 2017-08-24 10:39:18
 
Many thanks Dick for your speedy reply. When I get a scanner(!) I will try and take a print of the aerial shot which is very rare ... I'd say late '40s. myself. We visited CA in 1966 when things had been pulled down and returned to the owning family and it has always fascinated me since. I know 'every inch' as they say and it is now a good country park with many wartime reminders. Best regards and keep on CA postings please! Richard

 
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Richard, You do not need a scanner, you can copy the picture from the web-site to your PC. Just right click on the picture, select 'copy' then go to your desktop and right click 'paste'. I'm not sure if any more pictures of Castle Archdale will come my way, but I'll live in hope. Best regards, Dick
 

 
 

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Richard Kennedy

This comment was written on: 2017-08-25 12:44:08
 
Thanks Dick, I'll just wait to get a scanner though I appreciate your advice as I am a 'reluctant' computer user really. There are masses of CA photographs of life during the war etc. so check these out on 'RAF Castle Archdale' etc.. Next to the fine museum there are secret, stored masses of additional photographs which I have been lucky enough to see and I had hoped the staff would put the good ones online but it has not happened yet sadly - wonderful stuff. A beautiful place still but the weather is always - nearly - disappointing! Best regards, Richard

 
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Richard, Clearly I was very lucky with the weather on our visit. I'm sure others will appreciate you advice on where to find more pictures. Best regards, Dick
 

 
 

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Richard Kennedy

This comment was written on: 2017-08-27 07:38:45
 
Thank you Dick, I have been very fortunate to have found your interesting and very worthwhile website. Continued good fortune I hope! Glad to hear the weather down there was good for your visit as Fermanagh is 'rather notorious' and, I hear, WAAF personnel had to insist on being issued with galoshes (spelling?) during the war. Still a wonderful place I say and people are very aware of its past happily. Best regards, Richard

 
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Richard, Thank you. It always gives me great pleasure to know that people appreciate the web-site. Best regards, Dick
 

 
 

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Michael Cunningham

This comment was written on: 2018-10-17 13:29:34
 
Dear Dick I have been doing some research on the Coastwatch Lookout Post at the end of St John's Point. This is close to the flight path of aircraft that used to fly to and fro from Castle Archdale during WWII. The following unusual incident was logged at 2:30pm on the 21st July 1941 by volunteers who were manning the post. "One high winged monoplane sighted 4 miles SE of LOP flying high over sea going west. Nat unknown Vis moderate poor. Same aircraft apparently dropping bombs in the sea. Column of smoke observed approx 9 miles SW of post & approx 6 miles NW of Innishmurray Island". I would be grateful if you could let me know if there are any records from RAF Lough Erne that could cast any light on what may have happened with this event. Any information would be gratefully received. Kind regards Michael Cunningham

 
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Michael, The museum at Lough Erne could contain some info - it was closed when I visited last year. Other possible sources are the RAF Museum at Hendon, The Imperial War Museum, and possibly the Public Records Office at Kew. The Airfield Research Group could be worth contacting? Best regards, Dick
 

 
 

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Richard Kennedy

This comment was written on: 2019-05-09 12:45:19
 
RAF Castle Archdale Perhaps a minor 're-think' - but I would now put that splendid, rare aerial photograph of CA at, say, 1952 or so. Lough Erne dropped in level about two feet after the building of the Ballyshannon power station/sluices in 1950-51 and I think the aerial photograph shows a 'dropped shoreline' allround. A new pier was built in 1954 and that does not show in the photograph either. Best wishes, Richard Kennedy

 
 

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Richard Kennedy

This comment was written on: 2019-06-16 15:01:14
 
RAF Castle Archdale. Your Aerial View towards the top of the page, of RAF Castle Archdale is MOST CERTAINLY NOT of this old base. I know the place today very well indeed and have much material on its role between 1941 and 1957. I hope you will check again on Google. Best wishes.

 
 

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Richard Kennedy

This comment was written on: 2019-06-16 15:10:24
 
'Basic Living Facilities in WW2' photograph .... These structures are workshops and in the repair and administration area of the base. The 'living areas' (nissen huts etc.) were up at the old Manor House and in a specially built parkland area nearby. Best wishes.

 
 

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Richard Kennedy

This comment was written on: 2019-06-17 20:01:21
 
Dick, Many thanks for changing the RAF Castle Archdale Aerial View and for explaining notes etc.. I agree - the poor stone memorial on the site of the once very fine Manor House is rather inadequate. The house should never have been demolished at all but the Archdale family took the estate back in the late '50s.and just could not 'make it all pay again' in those post-war years. Best wishes, Richard PS Some fine 100 years RAF celebrations there this year. The RAF story there will never be forgotten, rest assured.
 

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