Corsair wreck in Lough Foyle
 

The following photograph shows a Scout AH Mk1 of 663 Sqn AAC hovering over the wreck of a Vought Corsair that was spotted in the mud in Lough Foyle off shore near what used to be RNAS Eglington. The photograph was taken in 1972. Can anyone provide details regarding this wreck?
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...mel/NI1972.jpg

Corsair II, JT693 ‘R’, 1843 NAS RNAS Eglinton. Suffered an engine fire and force landing on mudflats on 9/10/44, the pilot Sub Lt CH Schwenger RCN, was uninjured.

So what happened to it??

Its still there, but rotton to the core

Thanks Tiger_mate. I found the photograph amongst some old photos I was sorting. I was stationed at Ballykelly in 1972 and am the guy in the back of the Scout and seeing the photograph again I was curious to find out the story behind the wreck.

Amazed it hasn't been recovered!

What a mine of information! I fly over that wreck regularly (Loganair) on the final approach to Derry and had always assumed it was a Gannet (unless it's not the one a hundred yards or so from the Runway 26 threshold). Only a portion of wing and centre section remains now, no fuselage.

It is the one just offshore, in fact so tempting close that you would have expected recovery by the Ulster Aviation Society years ago.

But in their defence, the nature of the mud makes even a land visit impossible. It is also covered by the incoming tide daily, hence the rot.

This ones destiny always was in the hands of mother nature. That there is anything still visible is in itself quite amazing.

Now for the rumour of a P38 submerged (shallow) short finals for Aldergrove/Langford Lodge, over to SeaFuryfan!!

We walked out to it in 1963 and I have photos to prove it. Unfortunately unable to scan them at present. It wasn't far offshore nor was it dangerous.However the lough may have changed its configuration since then. Nearer to Eglinton are the remains of a Firefly which crashed rather than ditched. Not accessible on foot, I believe!

The wreck, 2 days ago......
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...intonwreck.jpghttp://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...Mk2/derry1.jpg
You may need to zoom in a bit - I couldn't get much closer at the time ;) .

That's the Firefly. The Corsair is further to the east close to Ballykelly.

Worth Suffering GH For I Suppose
 

Hi Tiger Mate :)

Yep, the wreck is still there all right. I'll try and get on a trip to Ballykelly with my camera and if the tide is out will take a photo to post.

IIRC the forward fus is still intact and you can see right inside what remains of the cockpit. The wings are still recognizable in 'skeletal form'.

Hi folks - that Corsair pic is fab! :)

I'm from Ballykelly and knew there was a plane visable from the sea wall at Myroe. I took my dad to see it again recently and it really has deteriorated a lot since I last saw it about 20 years ago.

I'm now keen to find out a bit more about these planes - can anyone point me in the right direction please. I've seen a mention on the net of a war grave in Lough Foyle also - a Liberator? Does anyone have any more info on this? I don't think many local people are aware that there are still WWII planes in Lough Foyle and I would like to get a mention of them on our local history website with details of what happened and locations.

Any help appreciated folks! My email is [email protected]

See here for some details from a diving forum.

Many thanks ORAC! Got in touch with the divers and they're hoping to make a trip to Lough Foyle next year to do a through search using sonar and to take video footage under the water.

Apparently there may be as many as seven WWII aircraft in Lough Foyle. I'm going to take a picture of the Corsair at Myroe (photograh above from 1972) and post it - although as you'd expect, it's in much worse shape than 30 years ago. I'll also try like seafuryfan to get a pic of the firefly at Eglinton.

Thanks again!

SilverPony, you have a PM

All I can see on this one is a SAAB 340 windscreen wiper my friend!

Corsair - It's Easy To Walk To!
 

I Was Curious About The Wreck And Popped Over To See It. The Sands Are Fine- But Wacth Out For Tide And Beware Of Spreading Load.

To My Surprise It Was An Airplane - A Little Bit Of Internet Seaching And I Found Details - Thanks!

I Took A Pic, But Haven't Uploaded To Url Yet - There's Not Much Left Now 'though

I learned to fly there in 79 and if I remember the remains of a 4 engined aircraft could be seen on the approach to 26 at times.

Hello everyone