80th anniversary of Bluestacks plane crash to be marked with memorial walk

A memorial walk to the site of the RAF plane crash in the Bluestack Mountains is taking place on the 80th anniversary of the crash.

It is being led by John McGroary of Walking Ireland, and will start at 10am on January 31. The walk is weather dependent. 

John is advising people who are considering taking part that this is a strenuous walk that will require walking boots and weatherproof clothing as well as water and lunch. Those who are interested can contact John via WhatsApp on 0866059220 for further details. 

The site at Croaghgorm, the highest peak in the Bluestacks, has been a source of much interest over the decades, and parts of the RAF plane are still in situ.

According to the RAF report at the time, the crash occurred on a steep slope 200 feet below the summit of 2,219 feet. Seven of the crew died while five managed to escape the flames and were given sanctuary in homes in the Bluestacks. 

One crew member in particular, Sqd. Ldr. Jim Gilchrist, maintained strong connections with the area until his death in 2008. His family have continued to visit the area. 

Despite Ireland’s neutrality, an agreement was in place allowing an area known as the Donegal Corridor to be used by RAF craft during World War Two. It gave the RAF easier access to the Atlantic from a base at Lough Erne.

The plane that crashed at Croaghgorm was on a south easterly course at the time and was on fire.

According to the report: “The subsequent explosion left very little worth salvaging.

“The engine, propellors etc, were torn apart and scattered about the wreckage except upper part of the centre section which had been carried forward with the wings. 

“Some wireless equipment was found in the centre section and from that it can be gathered the fire had been kept from the centre section and the starboard wing on account of the very strong wind prevailing at the time.

The tail turret and the tail plane and fin had been damaged by fire but still held together. The guns of the turret were almost undamaged, the forward guns were seriously damaged, and probably the galley guns will be of no further use, these (the guns) together with the wireless equipment found in the centre section have been held by the Eire authorities for return eventually through normal channels.”

Further equipment, intelligence documents, logs and charts, though damaged by fire and water, were still legible and were returned to Castle Archdale. 

Over the years, much of the scattered parts of the plane have been removed. However, part of the fuselage remains in place.