大象传媒

[interview 3 = Nat McGlinchey, 14 mins
secs]
This story is taken from an interview with Nat McGlinchey, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions. The interview was by Deirdre Donnelly, and transcription was by Bruce Logan.
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The RN Fleet Air Arm Aircraft at Eglinton AFB, Co Londonderry.

3 Barracuddas were visiting from Easthaven in Scotland, a Deck-landing station.
Even servicemen were rationed. Nat鈥檚 father gave the Barracudda crews a lift to Maydown in the 3-ton lorry. They went across the border and bought spuds, cabbage, eggs.
The second one took off but had engine trouble at 200ft. It crashed in Enaugh Lough, in the swampy part behind school. All 3 men killed.
The plane was partly on the surface, and my cousin Lawrence dashed over got an inflated dingy. A local farmer Mr Long offered to pull the plane out with his steam-roller.
It was Dec 44. The plane was out of way, and became almost forgotten about. A Local family named Coyle put a cross up. The Parents of 1 pilot from Scotland stayed and left a wreath.
In May 1971 the RN recovered it 鈥� drained it, recovered the bodies and buried it with full military honours at Eglinton.

There were many US Aircraft at the AFB. Corsair Wildcat and Hellcat 鈥� Massive, the Greatest naval fighter of the war.

The RN had many Corsairs, taxiing round the runway. It was run by a Pratt and whitney engine started by cartridge [6xbigger than 12-bore] named the 鈥淐oughman Starter鈥�. Inside was a solid piece of green plastic with hole. It didn鈥檛 explode, but it contained a Powerful gas needed to start engine.

The young Boys had penknives. They would get the cardridges, Light grass and drop the cartridge on. 鈥渋t was like putting a Gallon of petrol onto a hot stove!鈥�

A family was staying near the AFB. One of the sons put something in the chimney. It erupted with 15ft flame and smoke. They had used 2 鈥淐oughman Starters鈥�!
Their father got full blast of soot. That night they wouldn鈥檛 come into the house.

Summer 45
Nat鈥檚 dad had worked for Stuart and Partners, who built the AFB. Theyb wanted him to move elsewhere, but he had a family so he got a Job at driving with RN
McNichols had a Daughter lived next door.
AFB built over road

One day, Nat was going to School with 4-5 kids. They let aircraft taxi past. At the Western end 鈥�09鈥� a Seafire landed halfway up, going very fast. Nat shouted 鈥渞un back, that plane鈥檚 not gonna stop鈥�
The plane careered past end of runway, into drain on its nose. The Pilot climbed down, unharmed. It was about 9.15am, so the ditch-digger told them to get to school. Their teacher quizzed them, but the Officers congratulated them for 鈥渉elping the pilot鈥�.

Nat watched a Seafire to land on its own. On south runway, 21, the starboard wheel buckled on fuselage, folded inwards [should fold out].
The pilot circled while a Crash-wagon and ambulance moved in, while the control van went to a safe area. He circled so the Ground crew could look up and examine the damage. Then he circled again. There were now 2 ambulances
folded other wheel up
perfect touchdown.
Just climbed out.
Perfect, but could have been tragic.

Most crashes were Naval planes lost at sea.

Lt Prendry was lost at Ardmore. The Seafire had a powerful Centurus engine, which had oiling probs. He must have had engine probs. He would have made it, if not for the tall trees at Beresfords. As he was coming in he clipped one, went and crashed to the left of Corryneeran. He鈥檚 buried in St Kennis鈥�.

Mick Harty knew Lt Prendry, served with him in Korea and Eglinton. 鈥淗e was a fine fellow, good pilot, he was just unlucky. If it hadn鈥檛 been for the trees he would have made a belly-landing and got away with it. There were plenty of good flat fields in front of him at that stage.鈥�

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