A group of Doonbeg residents organised a special commemoration ceremony recently for the 80th anniversary of the crash landing of an RAF flying boat in Doughmore Bay. Dan Danaher chronicles this fascinating tale involving the tragic death of nine airmen, the heroic rescue of two colleagues, an eye witness account of the wreckage, salvaged items such as a 1940 aircraft tool kit box, and relatives’ accounts of the extraordinary bravery of those who risked their own lives to help save the lives of others.
On Friday September 1 1939 German armed forces invaded Poland without any prior declaration of war ending many months of uncertainty in European capitals concerning German intentions towards Poland.
Having previously undertaken to come to Poland s aid in the event of being attacked by Germany, Britain and France demanded that Germany cease military operations and immediately withdraw from Poland. When Germany ignored the British protest note which set a deadline of 11 a.m. Sunday September 3 1939 to respond or otherwise a state of war would exist between them. At 11.15 a.m. that morning British prime minister Neville Chamberlain broadcast to the British people via the BBC, informing them that state of war existed between them and Germany.