Wartime Aircraft Crashes in County Clare

1939 - 1945

The following is a table of known aircraft that crashed or made forced landings in Ireland or in Irish waters during the years of WWII:


Date Type Serial Nš Indentity Operated by Unit Location Killed Survivors Notes
25th October, 1941 Vickers Wellington I T 2506 - RAF 103rd Squadron Kilmihill - 6

The crew of six baled out successfully near Kilmihill, Co. Clare.

3rd December, 1941 Short Sunderland II W 3988 - RAF 201st Squadron In the Sea off Doonbeg 9 2

Landed at sea and sank, only two of the crew survived.

23rd December, 1942 Lockheed P-38 'Lightning' - - USAAF - Ballyvaughan Strand - ?

This aircraft made a forced-landing on the Strand at Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, on the shores of Galway Bay.

10th July, 1943 Consolidated B-24D Liberator 42-40784 "Travellin' Trollop" USAAF 389th Bombardment Group Lahinch Beach - 11

The crew of this aircraft were repatriated and the airframe was dismantled, the more valuable parts being taken to an airforce base in Northern Ireland.

16th July, 1943 DeHavilland 'Albatross' - 'Fortuna' BOAC Civilian Flight Rineanna - ?

This aircraft broke up on coming in to land at Rineanna field. There were no reported casualties which is amazing.

18th December, 1943 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress 43-37895 - USAAF - Rineanna - 10

In the face of extremely bad weather over the Atlantic this aircraft had to make an emergency landing at the 'new' airport of Rineanna.

23rd February, 1944 Consolidated B-24J Liberator 2109825 - USAAF - Rineanna - 10

This was probably on a delivery 'ferry' flight and was routed from Marrakesch to a base in Northern Ireland. It is not currently known why it landed in Rineanna, most likely cause was fuel shortage and navigational problems.

5th March, 1944 Douglas C 47 'Skytrain' 42 23395 - USAAF - Rineanna - 5

No information at the moment as to why this aircraft landed at Rineanna, shortage of fuel would be a probability.

7th April, 1944 Supermarine Spitfire XIX EN 409 "BE-?" RAF Nš 8 OTU (Photo-Recce.) Spanish Point, Miltown Malbay - 1

This made a forced-landing at Spanish Point. Unusually, this aircraft had an all blue paint finish, no camouflage markings.

Number of aircraft downed. 9 9 45



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