10th April 1944
USAAF training activities in Northern Ireland were under the control of the 8th Air Force Composite Command, based at Kirassosck House, Magherlin, Co. Down. The organization created specifically for training purposes was known as a Combat Crew Replacement Centre group, four of which were activated here. No. 3 CCRC was based at Toome.
On the 10th April 1944 at 1445hrs three B26 Marauders took off from Toome on a Gunnery Training Mission. 2nd Lt Richard A. Newman flew the lead plane No. 025. The right wingman flying aircraft No. 054 was 2nd Lt Eugene G. Wegman and the left wingman flying aircraft No. 41-18150 a B26b-4 was 2nd Lt Howell C. Osborne Jr.
Weather on that day was described as visibility four miles, Stratus clouds at one thousand feet, overcast with breaks, reported haze.
At approximately 1530 hrs the flight was circling over the Irish sea, approximately two to three miles east of Kilkeel in an attempt to get over a cloud bank building up on the Mourne Mountains. 2nd Lt Osborne's plane was out of position and approximately 1200 and 1500 feet behind and four hundred feet below the other two aircraft when it disappeared into a cloud bank never to be seen again.
Lt Newman made two attempts to contact Lt Osborne passing on his altitude and course (280 degrees) but found that radio contact had been lost. Lt Wegman stated that previously to this all aircraft had had good interplane contact by radio.
James Cousins of Glasdrumman was working in the quarries near the head of Bloody Bridge river valley that day. Low cloud and mist enveloped the Mournes on this occasion. He recalled years later to Ernie Cromie of the Ulster Aviation Society in an article in the publication "12 Miles of Mourne" how he heard the engines of a plane approach his location from the direction of the sea. The sound got louder and louder until he thought the plane was going to crash on top of him then suddenly the engines revved up the plane seemed to turn away to the south and the noise died away. He was unaware that the plane had crashed into Chimney Rock Mountain because thick mist and an intervening ridge blocked the sound of the impact.
This was the first fatal accident involving a plane of the No. 3 CCRC. The crew was listed as missing until members of the American 5th Infantry Division on a routine hike in the Mournes discovered the wreckage. Official confirmation of the accident reached the 364th Service Squadron on the 15th April 1944.
A report on the accident dated 21/4/44 by Major George Commenator concluded that 2nd Lt Osborne "Made an error in technique by permitting himself to get too far out of position in formation and that the pilot made an error in judgement by flying into clouds in a known mountainous area." No reason was offered to explain why Howell Osborne's plane had had difficulty keeping up with the formation. The fact that the plane he was flying had been retired from frontline service because it was "War Weary" may have been a contributing factor.
The crew were as follows:
· 2nd Lt Howell C. Osborne Jr (Pilot)
ID: 0-685276 (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
· 2nd Lt Chester M. Turner (Co Pilot)
ID: 0-753462 (Cowley County, Kansas)
· Staff Sgt Roy R. Cappe Jr (Aerial Engineer)
ID: 13041696 (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania)
· Staff Sgt William J. Devenney (Radio Gunner)
ID: 33367015 (Carbon County, Pennsylvania)
· Sgt Jimmie Gyovai (Engineer Gunner)
ID: 15337609(Boone County, West Virginia)
After all five casualties remains were recovered by the US Army Graves Registration they would have been taken to Wilton's Funeral Home, 255 Crumlin Road, Belfast. They were then embalmed, dressed in class A uniform and placed in an American style casket. Their funerals where held at Wilton's Funeral Chapel and then they were buried at Lisnabreeny American Military Cemetery, Rocky Road, Castlereagh, Belfast. They remained there until 1948 when the cemetery was decommissioned. Then they were exhumed and all except William Devenney were returned to the United States upon the request of their families.
William Devenney was reburied in the American War Cemetery, Madingley, Cambridge, England.
I'm in as well. (wonder if I'd be able to dump the car in the Bloody Bridge Cap site car park)
ps. Anyone 'found' the crash site just up from the Ice House in the Glen Valley? Big gash in the hill side and lots of twisted metal w/ signs of extreme heat.
Think I'll try this as an ultralight weekend as a tester.
Who wants to post a gear list.
I have a spare trekmates bivvi bag if you want to borrow it? There might also be an issue bag if andy doesn't need it.
bivvi bag
softie merlin
roll mat
1.5ltr H20
Head torch
Cheese and smoked meat
Tiple
Clothes on my back + Fleece
All in OMM 32 ;D
yeah, I'll eat before I leave and all I really need is some supper and a bit of breakie.
I have 2 bivvi bags going spare so give me a shout as to which one you want jon. One trekmate lightweight jobby and one not so light issue bag.
If we need a bit of shelter we may want to be heading for the rocky outcrop SE of the summit. Think it's pictured here:Had a wee poke about Bloody Bridge River last night (forgot my head torch so didn't push right up to Chimney Rock), but I'm now thinking that pic is from the big rock to the coll north west of the summit....we'll see what's up there when we get there...
http://mountainviews.ie/mv/_serverdata/pix/picmtn_ct-00178-8.jpg
I'm in two minds about the stove. Tempted to skip the stove, more to save space in my rucksack than to save weight. That said, a hot brew when you get camp setup is kinda nice so I'm loathe to leave the stove behind. Its times like this that one of those neat hexi block stoves and a metal mug would be handy for a quick brew :)
I'm game to bivvi, but can't be bothered bringing the tarp. I don't know how an Alpkit Hunka would hold up if we did get an overnight shower though? Dont know about any body else, but mine doesn't draw up all that tight around the face so I'm sure I'd end up lying in a soggy down sleeping bag!
Think I would still throw the solo tarp in to at least get the head under.
Think I would still throw the solo tarp in to at least get the head under.
I'd like to get a solo tarp, as I've realised the DD 3x3 is really too big for what I want to use it for. Any recommendations? I had a look on Backpacking Light but the solo tarps seem more expensive than the bigger tarps!
However, our weekend at Lough Shannagh gave it a battering and I think it might be ripping soon!If it's a rip in the material, Google "TENACIOUS repair tape", meant to be 'the' stuff for tarp repairs, got a roll to patch up a couple of holes my DD got on the iPlod.
is everyone ok to meet at meelmore lodge about 630pm......ish?
Better in yer belly than on yer back ;Dis everyone ok to meet at meelmore lodge about 630pm......ish?
Yep, 6.30... ish suits me grand! Will give me time to eat steak, mash and peppered sauce before camping ;)
is everyone ok to meet at meelmore lodge about 630pm......ish?
Montane Terra Trousers (if I can get down to Cotswold in the morning)
So I'm bringing the tent :)
Ye they are a bit on the expensive side, but luckily my brother-in-law gets a 20% discount in cotswold for being a Duke of Ed leader. I would go for something a bit cheaper but since I'm off to Sweden next Friday for 6 months I want something pretty reliable as I'm intending to go hiking as often as possible and don't want to have to be forking out on another pair of trousers when I get there, especially with their ridiculously high tax.
So I'm bringing the tent :)
Hope there's room in there for about 10 ;)
If you can get a bit of discount then the Montanes are worth every penny. I took mine on the WHW and they were the only trousers I wore day in, day out for about 10 days! They are light, comfortable and seem to repell dirt and mud easily as mine still looked clean despite all the rain and mud we had been through.
....
By the way Tim, do you need a lift or anything tomorrow night? I will be passing through B'hinch so will be no problem collecting you on the way.
If you're passing through and you're sure it's no trouble then that would be great Jon, thanks.
Well peeps I should be there ... am just about to pack my bag and have spoken to Dowser about some arrangememts to meet.
We may be arriving pretty late as I can't get away untill around 9.00pm so will only be starting at Meelmore prob about 11pm.
Guys ill not be at this one, I dont have enough clean kit. It has been washed three times and still it smells pretty bad, my sleeping bag is the worst, it's covered in bat S*&T and really pongs. couple that with no sleep for 36 hours I would be a disaster.
Well peeps I should be there ... am just about to pack my bag and have spoken to Dowser about some arrangememts to meet. We may be arriving pretty late as I can't get away untill around 9.00pm so will only be starting at Meelmore prob about 11pm.
The Mournes look largely dry from tea time tonight until lunch on Sat. Wind is more of an issue.
I'm bivvying either way - fuck it!
so I take it everyone is good for the loan of a bivvi bag.
Another stellar night guys. Heres the route we took, pics to follow (and an explanation as to why we left camp wearing underwear but weren't when we got to the car :o)).
This is how Jonno looked seconds before losing his underwear:definitly a hint of deliverance there, squeal like a pig :o
we left the summit at 0830 but due to erm..distractions we didn't get to Bloody Bridge until 1130ish.
Which way did you go up to Chimney Rock from?
left bloody bridge car park at 0920 and went the path as normal then went off piste to carrs face the hard way (i didn't know there was a path until i could see it from above :'( ) arrived at summit about 1130ishThat's the kinda route we took down as well. Better to go off piste much earlier over/around Slievenagaggagh, the path and two tracks near the quarry at Carr's Face are a great explore but don't really help to get to the top. I can't press the right button to make my mapping software display the times but I reckon we where on the same mountain side at about the same time...
(yeah, i know, i'm not that fit 8) )Away with you...it 'aint a race... ;)
Away with you...it 'aint a race...also i'm a sucker for an odd shaped rock so kept going off course to investigate unuusal geological features :D