An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 41 further afield to Co Cavan, on a 'Special Patrol to Cootehill' in connection with the East Cavan by-election, where Sinn Féin's Arthur Griffith was standing against JF O'Hanlon of the Irish Parliamentary Party. (Griffith's victory in the hard fought contest helped Sinn Féin to maintain its momentum.) Meanwhile, Major Joy was feeling the pressure of being the new social focus for the area. Writing to his wife he said: 'Truly dear the RAF are "it" over all the north of Ireland. You would be truly amazed at the hospitality we are receiving from the principal people between Belfast, Derry and Sligo, and thank heaven the officers are all playing the game. Not once have I been let down by their manners, behaviour or anything else. And that is a lot to say these days.' On 25th June, for the squadron's 'At Home Day', a formation of 12 aircraft was assembled and flew to Fintona and back. Capt Bowen then performed stunts over the airfield for the guests. Another letter from Capt Joy to his wife read: 'Our "tea party" on Tuesday afternoon was a great success, fine weather. Everybody came (about 300) from the village barber to the Earl of Belmore. In the middle of the afternoon the police turned up and took the numbers of all the cars!' In August, No 3 Training Wing was formed, headquartered in Collinstown and with training depots at Gormanston, Co Meath, and Baldonnel, Collinstown, and Cookstown in Co Dublin. Both No 3 Training Wing and No 55 Wing became part of the newly formed No 11 (Irish) Group, which had its HQ at 9 Merrion Square in Dublin. On 8 November the Tyrone Constitution reported: 'On Saturday evening last, whilst two soldiers were walking on the bank of the river at Strathroy, one noticed the body of a man in the water.' He was identified as Private Charles Pryde [an officer's servant], reported missing some six weeks before and for whom an extensive search had been made in September. The coroner decided it was likely that the deceased had fallen in while trying to draw water from the river. When the Armistice was declared on 11 November it was reported that streamer-bedecked aeroplanes from the aero- drome swept low over Omagh, discharging large quantities of coloured paper on the cheering crowds below and firing coloured flares from Very pistols. However, a tragic event occurred only two days later on 13 November when three RE8s were returning to Strathroy from Oranmore. Nine miles from Omagh two of the aircraft collided. One, flown by Lieutenant James Wilson (20) and with his fitter, Corporal Thomas Bradshaw (19), in the observer's seat, burst into flames as the petrol tank exploded. The other, flown by a Canadian pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Lawrence Booth (21), accompanied by Air Mechanic Robert Gaudie (22) and Booth's dog, lost its left wings. Both aircraft plummeted to the ground, killing Wilson, Bradshaw and the pet dog, mortally wounding Booth, and badly injuring Gaudie. Farmers and labourers rushed to the scene to render what assistance they could. Doors were brought to act as makeshift stretchers for Gaudie and Booth, who were taken to a nearby cottage where the young pilot died some two hours later. Booth was subsequently buried in the town cemetery with full military honours and lies there to this day. About the Author: Guy Warner has been a regular contributor to Ulster Airmail, the journal of the Ulster Aviation Society and has written for An Cosantóir. A prolific author, he has pub- lished over 33 books through Colourpoint Books, Pen & Sword Books, Kea Publishing and the Ulster Aviation Society. His current book U-Boats Around Ireland: The Story of the Royal Navy's Coast of Ireland Command in the First World War (2018) was reviewed in An Cosantóir last month. 105 Sqn in Omagh, 1918. Lt Taylor and his fiancée with RE8. RE8 E24 of 105 Squadron. Photo courtesy of via Stuart Leslie.

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