Allied flights as seen off the North Mayo Corner as sighted, reported and recorded from LOP 63.
This is a selection of pages from 1941.
With training and being in possession an Aircraft Identification Book at the look-out post, the Coastwatchers became skilled at recognizing the type of aircraft using W.E.F.T. ( Wings Engine Fuselage and Tail ) as their parameters of identification. As WW2 progressed there was an increasing diversity types/numbers of aircraft sighted and recorded. From Coastal Patrols, Ferry Flights that transported Aircraft across the North Atlantic, Training flights, to flights that protected the North Atlantic Convoys of Shipping and British Naval Vessels. Looking at the above pages, the reader can see how many flights were present in the skys above LOP63 on a random selection of dates which recorded numerous sightings. The volunteers record the directions of the flights which seem at times to form patterns with Aircraft types and number/type of flights. On 14/10/41 there are 27 aircraft sightings including 11 Hudson Bombers going W, then 11 Hudson bombers going E; Flights pass directly overhead of the post; Flights circle the post and return in the direction from which they originated; 06/12/41, 2 Boston aircraft circle the post going west. The Volunteers also witness aircraft which are towing targets that are being used for target practice by bombers. Detail is observed and recorded ie. 07/01/42 Hudson WYX (i 1652) sighted 1mile north; Hudson AVX (i 1653) directly over post w; Hudson EYX (i 1654) 1 mile north w.
Please read the Section “The Log books” for LOP63 for a full account on this website. We are fortunate that there was a considerable project undertaken by Helen Keogh to digitize the orignal hand written logbooks.
Some edited notes of the aircraft sighted are below.
LOP_63_01 Aeroplane, AvroAnsen Eire, biplane bomber, Airplane Eire, seaplane, monoplane, low winged mono plane, double winged monoplane, double winged seaplane.
LOP_63_02 IRISH AVRO ANSEN, noise of aircraft, report high/ low winged monoplane, high winged British flying boat. 16/11/40 British SUNDERLAND flying boat makes an appearance (i 373 p103)
LOP_63_03 Volunteers now record first sightings of Lerwick, Whitley, Walrus, Also sighted Sunderland, multi-engined seaplane, only British markings are recorded. Aircraft listed as Beaufort (i 591), Whitley, Sunderland, Lerwick, Walrus, Hudson (i 638). Coastwatchers clearly estimate speed and height of planes. By May ‘41, there are 106 sightings listed including high winged, twin engined, flying boat, high winged monoplane, Walrus, Whitley, Beaufort, flying boat. Spitfire type (i 678), Stirling type (i 687) NEW TYPE (could be Catalina), Dornier 26 type (i 689) GERMAN ? 4 engined low winged mono plane (i 693). By June’41 there are 74 sightings listed, including four engine high winged monoplane British, twin engine high winged monoplane, Hudson, NEW type, Whitley, Botha, Boston, Wellington, Halifax, Lockheed, Sunderland Flying boat, Wellington monoplane (i 1108), Boston type (i 1129), Beaufighter (i 1449).
As the war progresses, so does the inclusion of American Aircraft, by Oct ‘42 Aircraft sighted are listed as British Sunderland, Sterling bomber, British Catalina, Blenheim bomber, Wellington bomber, Liberator bomber, Blenheim bomber with white star, many many Sunderlands. By January ‘44 as D-Day approaches there are sighting of British Sunderland Flying boats, American Bombers, American flying fortresses, British Liberator bombers, American 4 engine bombers, British Catalina, Oxford, Mohawk, Hudson, British aircraft of Douglas type.
