Military plane crashes were common in Northern Ireland during the Second World War. At the time Ulster had many airfields, unpredictable weather and many hills.
21st January 1943
On 21st January 1943, an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber running low on fuel crashed in the small back garden of a terraced house in Sydenham Park, Belfast.
3rd October 1942
On 3rd October 1942, Boeing B-17 #41-24451 en-route from Gander, Newfoundland crashed on Slieveanorra Mountain, Co. Antrim killing 8 of the crew onboard.
1st June 1944
On 1st June 1944, Boeing B-17 #42-97862 en-route from Gander, Newfoundland crashed on the slopes of Cave Hill, Belfast killing 10 of the crew members onboard.
6th July 1944
On 6th July 1944, a Liberator took off from Langford Lodge Airfield, Co. Antrim. All 5 crew members died when the American plane came down on the Isle of Man.
8th June 1944
On 8th June 1944, an American B-24H Liberator en route to Langford Lodge Airfield, Co. Antrim came down in low cloud over Snaefell Mountain on the Isle of Man.
1st July 1945
On 1st July 1945, a solo American pilot, First Lieutenant Fred Anthony Barton fatally crashed his A-20K Havoc into a hillside near Aughnacloy, Co. Tyrone.
28th March 1944
On 28th March 1944, the nosewheel of a U.S.A.A.F. Martin B-26 Marauder collapsed during a failed take off from Station 236 at Toome Airfield, Co. Antrim.
21st June 1944
On 21st June 1944, Martin B-26B Marauder #41-18042 crashed on a non-operational flight over Slieve Gallion having taken off from Toome Airfield, Co. Antrim.
4th July 1944
On American Independence Day, 4th July 1944, Martin B-26B Marauder #41-18072 took off from Toome Airfield, Co. Antrim crashing a short time later in a bog.
10th April 1944
On 10th April 1944, Martin B-26B Marauder #41-18150, nicknamed the "Winnie Dee" crashed on Chimney Rock Mountain, Co. Down during a gunnery training flight.
4th March 1944
On 4th March 1944, Martin B-26B Marauder #41-34893 crashed shortly after take-off from United States Army Air Force Station 239 at Maghaberry, Co. Antrim.
10th January 1943
Short Sunderland W3995 of R.A.F. 228 Squadron ran aground on Gay Island Shoal on Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh while departing Castle Archdale on 10th January 1943.
5th January 1944
On 5th January 1944, Stinson Reliant I FK914 crashed on Sawel Mountain, Co. Londonderry causing the deaths of three aircrew from No. 878 Naval Air Squadron.
5th October 1943
On 5th October 1943, Sergeant Henryk Andrzej Flegier's Supermarine Spitfire came down about a mile away from Ballyhalbert Airfield, Co. Down.
20th September 1942
On 20th September 1942, Gordon Hayter Proctor joined the Caterpillar Club, bailing out of Supermarine Spitfire R6992 before it came down in Monaghan, Ireland.
9th October 1943
On 9th October 1943, Supermarine Spitfire V BM144 PK-O crash landed wheels up near Bangor, Co. Down. Polish pilot, Sgt. Lojek walked away with minor injuries.
20th December 1943
On 20th December 1943, a Vickers Wellington came down on Mount Brandon in Co. Kerry, Ireland killing all six Polish crew members from R.A.F. 304 Squadron.
10th October 1944
On 10th October 1944, Sub-Lieutenant R.J. McHaffie of No. 1843 N.A.S. fatally crashed Vought F4U-1 Corsair JT479 off the coast of Castlerock, Co. Londonderry.
9th October 1944
On 9th October 1944, Sub-Lieutenant C.H. Schwenger force landed Vought F4U-1 Corsair R JT693 in Lough Foyle where the wreckage remains visible at low-tide.
