Wartime Aircraft Crashes in County Kerry

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 Nº Indentity Operated by Unit Location Killed Survivors Notes
14th September, 1939 Short Sunderland N9023 Unknown RAF 228 Sqn Ventry Bay 0 8

Landed safely in the sea, carried out repairs and left.

20th August, 1940 Focke Wulf 200 ''Condor''Unknown F8+KH Luftwaffe I/KG40 Faha Ridge, Mount Brandon 0 6

This aircraft crash landed on Faha Ridge above Cloghane. The crew of six survived and were the first aircrew from Germany to land in Ireland during the war years. A plaque commemorating this event is on the wall of O'Connor's Bar and Guest House in Cloghane, Co. Kerry. Some interesting relics of that and other aircraft can be seen in the bar of these premises.

October, 1940 HE-111 or FW 200 - - Luftwaffe - The Bull Rock 0 8

This aircraft attacked the collier 'Kerry Head' and sank it. The blast from the exploding ship brought down the attacking aircraft. The crew were rescued and brought to Castletownbere by the ship 'Nabro' and eventually interned. In 1950 the propeller of a FW-200 Condor engine was dredged up by a trawler near the Roncarrig Lighthouse. This may have come from this aircraft. The propeller was subsequently built into the new Pier at Castletownbere.

25th November, 1940 Blohm und Voss Bv138A-1 381 8L+CK Luftwaffe 2/Kflgp906 Blasket Island coast 0 5

Due to engine trouble this aircraft, a flying boat, made a forced landing on the sea off the Blaskets. It was their intention to attempt engine repairs. Choppy seas swept the aircraft towards Inishvickilane where it hit a submerged reef. The crew of five lived on the western end of Great Blasket for three nights and were eventually rescued by the Irish Naval Service and interned in the Curragh. The aircraft was towed away and sunk by Irish Naval Service.

23rd February, 1941 HE-111 or FW 200 1605 1G+LS Luftwaffe 8/KG.27 Crashed in Kenmare Bay. 8 0

This aircraft crashed into Kenmare Bay, off Lauragh, at night. One crew member was found alive but died some days later and is buried in Cnockahareen, Dingle. A further body, that may have been from this aircraft, was recovered and buried in Kenmare.

3rd March, 1941 Focke Wulf 200 ''Condor'' Unknown Unknown Luftwaffe Unknown near Dingle - - -
26th December, 1941 Junkers Ju-88 D-1 or A-4 - - Luftwaffe - Waterville - 1

This aircraft was forced to land with engine trouble. It came down at Mastergeehy, near Waterville. The crew were interned in the Curragh. It is locally reported that the maps and instruments were thrown into Lough Currane before the plane came down. The engines are known to have survived in Cahirciveen for many years afterwards. The pilot lived on until 1981.

28th July, 1943 Short Sunderland III G-AGES G-AGES BOAC BOAC Mount Brandon 1015

This was a civilian BOAC Flying Boat en route from west Africa to Foynes flying boat base and planned to circle Kerry Head before landing. Insufficient allowance was made for wind drift and this led to the crash on the lower slopes of Mount Brandon. Ten of the twenty five on board were killed. A plaque, commemorating those killed can be seen on the wall of O'Connor's Bar and Guest House, Cloghane, Co. Kerry. An ahchor from the aircraft is on display in the bar.

22nd August, 1943 Short Sunderland III DD848 N RAF 201 Sqn Brandon Head 83

This aircraft was flying a patrol in the Atlantic, out of Castle Archdale. It crashed into the lower slopes of Mount Brandon. Eight of the crew of eleven were killed. A plaque commemorating those killed can be seen on the wall of O'Connor's Bar and Guest House in Cloghane, Co. Kerry.

17th December, 1943 Douglas C-47A-60-DL Skytrain 43-30719 Unknown USAAF 437 TCG MacGillycuddy Reeks 50

Severely damaged on impact and burnt out.

20th December, 1943 Vickers Wellington XVI Unknown - RAF 304 Squadron Mount Brandon 6 0

Crashed on the lower slopes of Mount Brandon. The entire crew, who were Polish, perished. Their base was in Predannack in South Wales.

27th February, 1944 Consolidated PB4Y-1 63939 - USN VB-110 / Air Wing 7Collided with Skellig Mhiceíl11 0

This crashed into 'Skellig Rock' and burst into flames. No wreckage was ever recovered and the crew of eleven were presumed killed.

29th May, 1944 Boeing B-17F-40-DL Fortress 42-3279 'Badger Beauty'USAAF Unknown North West of Ballydavid, Dingle. 0 8

Made a forced landing in the sea five miles north west of Ballydavid. It was on a weather reconnaissance flight. The crew were rescued.

20th December, 1943 Vickers Wellington XVIHF208 Unknown RAF 304 (Pol) Sqn Mount Brandon 6 0

The last sighting of this aircraft was over Lismore, Co. Waterford. It is not known why it crashed into Mount Brandon some hours later. A plaque commemorating all 6 Polish flight crew, who were killed, can be seen on the wall of O'Connor's Bar & Guest House, Cloghane, Co. Kerry.

20th December, 1944 Catalina Flying Boat - Unknown RAF 202 Squadron Beenoskee Mountain, near Stradbally,Castlegregory 9 0

This flight was from Castle Archdale en route to patrol over the Bay of Biscay. Probably due to a navigation error it crashed into Mount Brandon at Benoskee, near Castlegregory, Co. Kerry. The entire crew of 9 Polish nationals died in the crash.

Number of aircraft downed. 15 63 54
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