Leading Aircraftman DONCASTER, ARTHUR
Service Number 743595
Died 03/12/1941
Aged 30
201 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of Ernest Arthur and Ida Dorothy Doncaster (nee Howard) from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.
At 0630hours on 3rd December 1941 the crew of British Short S.25 Sunderland II Flying Boat ZM-P Serial No. W3988 left their base at Lough Erne, County Fermanagh on anti-submarine escort duty to an outbound convoy in the Atlantic. As a result of very poor weather conditions they didn't make contact with the convoy. On the return journey they got lost and were running low on fuel so they searched the West Clare coast dropping flares to help find a suitable place to land. At about 1830 hours they made a crash landing at sea about 2 ½ miles from land at Carrowmore near Doonbeg, Co. Clare during which their flying boat sustained damage. All eleven crew members escaped the damaged plane but in rough seas they were thrown from their two dinghies. Two of the crew made their way to shore and survived but the remaining nine airmen perished. The remains of six crew-members washed ashore and three crew-members were lost at sea.
The pilot, F/Lt James Grant FLEMING, was first to come ashore on Doughmore strand located North of Doonbeg where he was rescued by local men Mr. Simon McCarthy, Mr. Michael John Stack and his nephew Mr. Michael Stack.
That evening Aircraftman Albert G BENNETT was recovered from the water just off Doughmore strand by local men Mr. Patrick Shanahan and Mr. Simon McCarthy. He was still alive but attempts to revive him failed and he died within an hour.
Mr. Shanahan returned home to change out of his wet clothes and found another airman, Sgt James MASTERSON, who had made his way ashore and up to his house where he fell unconscious outside. Mr Shanahan and his wife succeeded in reviving him and he survived.
Later that evening the body of Leading Aircraftman Arthur DONCASTER washed ashore on Doughmore strand. He and Aircraftman BENNETT were both buried with full military honours by the Irish Army at Killard Church of Ireland graveyard outside Doonbeg at 1630hours on 5th December 1941.
Over the following days the bodies of Sergeant EPPS and Leading Aircraftman LEA washed ashore at Seafield beach outside Quilty. They were both buried in Miltown Malbay Church of Ireland Graveyard with full military honours by the Irish Army.
On 21st December another airman washed ashore near Seafield but he could not be identified. He was subsequently buried next to his comrades in Miltown Malbay with a gravestone inscribed AN AIRMAN OF THE 1939 – 1945 WAR ROYAL AIR FORCE.
On 18th January 1942 Sergeant FOX's remains were found on the shore of Mutton Island by Mr. Thomas Boyle from Quilty. He was also buried next to his comrades in Miltown Malbay.
Three other members of the eleven strong crew were lost at sea.
The casualties:
Pilot Officer Wilfred Sefton EMMETT NZ401377 RNZAF (Pilot) + Missing in Action age 26
Pilot Officer Eric Gerald MARKER 101048 (Obs) + Missing in Action aged 20
Sgt Eric Willows JACKSON 999009 (Pilot) + Missing in Action aged 24
Sgt Sydney James EPPS 522263 (W.Op./Air Gnr.) + Buried in Miltown Malbay aged 25
Sgt Maurice Walter Gerald FOX 933498 (W.Op./Air Gnr.) + Buried Miltown Malbay age 20
LAC Arthur DONCASTER 743595 (Fitter) + Buried in Killard,Doonbeg aged 30
LAC Frederick Walter LEA 904349 (Rigger/Flt. Mech.) + Buried Miltown Malbay aged 21
LAC Andrew Patrick WALKER 972825 (Fitter) + Missing in Action aged 19
AC1 Albert Everall BENNETT 1081395(Rigger) + Buried in Killard,Doonbeg aged 19
Of the four crew-members classified as Missing in Action, three were lost at sea and one is the unidentified airman buried in Miltown Malbay.AN AIRMAN OF THE 1939-1945 WAR
The survivors:
F/Lt James Grant FLEMING DFC 40380 (Pilot) + Interned
Sgt James Cannell MASTERSON 911625 (W/Op./Air Gnr) + Interned
F/Lt FLEMING was brought to Mallow Military Hospital with Sgt MASTERSON where they were treated for shock and minor injuries. They were both then interned at the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. F/Lt FLEMING escaped in August 1942 to Northern Ireland. He was later promoted to Squadron Leader but sadly he was killed in action on 6th September 1944 aged 26 when his Mosquito photo reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by a Messerschmitt Me262 jet while on a mission to Munich. Sgt MASTERSON ultimately survived the war and passed away in 2006. His ashes were scattered at the spot where he almost died in 1941.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.
See the following link: http://www.ww2irishaviation.com/w3988.htm
Service Number 743595
Died 03/12/1941
Aged 30
201 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of Ernest Arthur and Ida Dorothy Doncaster (nee Howard) from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.
At 0630hours on 3rd December 1941 the crew of British Short S.25 Sunderland II Flying Boat ZM-P Serial No. W3988 left their base at Lough Erne, County Fermanagh on anti-submarine escort duty to an outbound convoy in the Atlantic. As a result of very poor weather conditions they didn't make contact with the convoy. On the return journey they got lost and were running low on fuel so they searched the West Clare coast dropping flares to help find a suitable place to land. At about 1830 hours they made a crash landing at sea about 2 ½ miles from land at Carrowmore near Doonbeg, Co. Clare during which their flying boat sustained damage. All eleven crew members escaped the damaged plane but in rough seas they were thrown from their two dinghies. Two of the crew made their way to shore and survived but the remaining nine airmen perished. The remains of six crew-members washed ashore and three crew-members were lost at sea.
The pilot, F/Lt James Grant FLEMING, was first to come ashore on Doughmore strand located North of Doonbeg where he was rescued by local men Mr. Simon McCarthy, Mr. Michael John Stack and his nephew Mr. Michael Stack.
That evening Aircraftman Albert G BENNETT was recovered from the water just off Doughmore strand by local men Mr. Patrick Shanahan and Mr. Simon McCarthy. He was still alive but attempts to revive him failed and he died within an hour.
Mr. Shanahan returned home to change out of his wet clothes and found another airman, Sgt James MASTERSON, who had made his way ashore and up to his house where he fell unconscious outside. Mr Shanahan and his wife succeeded in reviving him and he survived.
Later that evening the body of Leading Aircraftman Arthur DONCASTER washed ashore on Doughmore strand. He and Aircraftman BENNETT were both buried with full military honours by the Irish Army at Killard Church of Ireland graveyard outside Doonbeg at 1630hours on 5th December 1941.
Over the following days the bodies of Sergeant EPPS and Leading Aircraftman LEA washed ashore at Seafield beach outside Quilty. They were both buried in Miltown Malbay Church of Ireland Graveyard with full military honours by the Irish Army.
On 21st December another airman washed ashore near Seafield but he could not be identified. He was subsequently buried next to his comrades in Miltown Malbay with a gravestone inscribed AN AIRMAN OF THE 1939 – 1945 WAR ROYAL AIR FORCE.
On 18th January 1942 Sergeant FOX's remains were found on the shore of Mutton Island by Mr. Thomas Boyle from Quilty. He was also buried next to his comrades in Miltown Malbay.
Three other members of the eleven strong crew were lost at sea.
The casualties:
Pilot Officer Wilfred Sefton EMMETT NZ401377 RNZAF (Pilot) + Missing in Action age 26
Pilot Officer Eric Gerald MARKER 101048 (Obs) + Missing in Action aged 20
Sgt Eric Willows JACKSON 999009 (Pilot) + Missing in Action aged 24
Sgt Sydney James EPPS 522263 (W.Op./Air Gnr.) + Buried in Miltown Malbay aged 25
Sgt Maurice Walter Gerald FOX 933498 (W.Op./Air Gnr.) + Buried Miltown Malbay age 20
LAC Arthur DONCASTER 743595 (Fitter) + Buried in Killard,Doonbeg aged 30
LAC Frederick Walter LEA 904349 (Rigger/Flt. Mech.) + Buried Miltown Malbay aged 21
LAC Andrew Patrick WALKER 972825 (Fitter) + Missing in Action aged 19
AC1 Albert Everall BENNETT 1081395(Rigger) + Buried in Killard,Doonbeg aged 19
Of the four crew-members classified as Missing in Action, three were lost at sea and one is the unidentified airman buried in Miltown Malbay.AN AIRMAN OF THE 1939-1945 WAR
The survivors:
F/Lt James Grant FLEMING DFC 40380 (Pilot) + Interned
Sgt James Cannell MASTERSON 911625 (W/Op./Air Gnr) + Interned
F/Lt FLEMING was brought to Mallow Military Hospital with Sgt MASTERSON where they were treated for shock and minor injuries. They were both then interned at the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. F/Lt FLEMING escaped in August 1942 to Northern Ireland. He was later promoted to Squadron Leader but sadly he was killed in action on 6th September 1944 aged 26 when his Mosquito photo reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by a Messerschmitt Me262 jet while on a mission to Munich. Sgt MASTERSON ultimately survived the war and passed away in 2006. His ashes were scattered at the spot where he almost died in 1941.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.
See the following link: http://www.ww2irishaviation.com/w3988.htm
Leading Aircraftman DONCASTER, ARTHUR
Service Number 743595
Died 03/12/1941
Aged 30
201 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of Ernest Arthur and Ida Dorothy Doncaster (nee Howard) from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.
At 0630hours on 3rd December 1941 the crew of British Short S.25 Sunderland II Flying Boat ZM-P Serial No. W3988 left their base at Lough Erne, County Fermanagh on anti-submarine escort duty to an outbound convoy in the Atlantic. As a result of very poor weather conditions they didn't make contact with the convoy. On the return journey they got lost and were running low on fuel so they searched the West Clare coast dropping flares to help find a suitable place to land. At about 1830 hours they made a crash landing at sea about 2 ½ miles from land at Carrowmore near Doonbeg, Co. Clare during which their flying boat sustained damage. All eleven crew members escaped the damaged plane but in rough seas they were thrown from their two dinghies. Two of the crew made their way to shore and survived but the remaining nine airmen perished. The remains of six crew-members washed ashore and three crew-members were lost at sea.
The pilot, F/Lt James Grant FLEMING, was first to come ashore on Doughmore strand located North of Doonbeg where he was rescued by local men Mr. Simon McCarthy, Mr. Michael John Stack and his nephew Mr. Michael Stack.
That evening Aircraftman Albert G BENNETT was recovered from the water just off Doughmore strand by local men Mr. Patrick Shanahan and Mr. Simon McCarthy. He was still alive but attempts to revive him failed and he died within an hour.
Mr. Shanahan returned home to change out of his wet clothes and found another airman, Sgt James MASTERSON, who had made his way ashore and up to his house where he fell unconscious outside. Mr Shanahan and his wife succeeded in reviving him and he survived.
Later that evening the body of Leading Aircraftman Arthur DONCASTER washed ashore on Doughmore strand. He and Aircraftman BENNETT were both buried with full military honours by the Irish Army at Killard Church of Ireland graveyard outside Doonbeg at 1630hours on 5th December 1941.
Over the following days the bodies of Sergeant EPPS and Leading Aircraftman LEA washed ashore at Seafield beach outside Quilty. They were both buried in Miltown Malbay Church of Ireland Graveyard with full military honours by the Irish Army.
On 21st December another airman washed ashore near Seafield but he could not be identified. He was subsequently buried next to his comrades in Miltown Malbay with a gravestone inscribed AN AIRMAN OF THE 1939 – 1945 WAR ROYAL AIR FORCE.
On 18th January 1942 Sergeant FOX's remains were found on the shore of Mutton Island by Mr. Thomas Boyle from Quilty. He was also buried next to his comrades in Miltown Malbay.
Three other members of the eleven strong crew were lost at sea.
The casualties:
Pilot Officer Wilfred Sefton EMMETT NZ401377 RNZAF (Pilot) + Missing in Action age 26
Pilot Officer Eric Gerald MARKER 101048 (Obs) + Missing in Action aged 20
Sgt Eric Willows JACKSON 999009 (Pilot) + Missing in Action aged 24
Sgt Sydney James EPPS 522263 (W.Op./Air Gnr.) + Buried in Miltown Malbay aged 25
Sgt Maurice Walter Gerald FOX 933498 (W.Op./Air Gnr.) + Buried Miltown Malbay age 20
LAC Arthur DONCASTER 743595 (Fitter) + Buried in Killard,Doonbeg aged 30
LAC Frederick Walter LEA 904349 (Rigger/Flt. Mech.) + Buried Miltown Malbay aged 21
LAC Andrew Patrick WALKER 972825 (Fitter) + Missing in Action aged 19
AC1 Albert Everall BENNETT 1081395(Rigger) + Buried in Killard,Doonbeg aged 19
Of the four crew-members classified as Missing in Action, three were lost at sea and one is the unidentified airman buried in Miltown Malbay.AN AIRMAN OF THE 1939-1945 WAR
The survivors:
F/Lt James Grant FLEMING DFC 40380 (Pilot) + Interned
Sgt James Cannell MASTERSON 911625 (W/Op./Air Gnr) + Interned
F/Lt FLEMING was brought to Mallow Military Hospital with Sgt MASTERSON where they were treated for shock and minor injuries. They were both then interned at the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. F/Lt FLEMING escaped in August 1942 to Northern Ireland. He was later promoted to Squadron Leader but sadly he was killed in action on 6th September 1944 aged 26 when his Mosquito photo reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by a Messerschmitt Me262 jet while on a mission to Munich. Sgt MASTERSON ultimately survived the war and passed away in 2006. His ashes were scattered at the spot where he almost died in 1941.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.
See the following link: http://www.ww2irishaviation.com/w3988.htm
Service Number 743595
Died 03/12/1941
Aged 30
201 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of Ernest Arthur and Ida Dorothy Doncaster (nee Howard) from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.
At 0630hours on 3rd December 1941 the crew of British Short S.25 Sunderland II Flying Boat ZM-P Serial No. W3988 left their base at Lough Erne, County Fermanagh on anti-submarine escort duty to an outbound convoy in the Atlantic. As a result of very poor weather conditions they didn't make contact with the convoy. On the return journey they got lost and were running low on fuel so they searched the West Clare coast dropping flares to help find a suitable place to land. At about 1830 hours they made a crash landing at sea about 2 ½ miles from land at Carrowmore near Doonbeg, Co. Clare during which their flying boat sustained damage. All eleven crew members escaped the damaged plane but in rough seas they were thrown from their two dinghies. Two of the crew made their way to shore and survived but the remaining nine airmen perished. The remains of six crew-members washed ashore and three crew-members were lost at sea.
The pilot, F/Lt James Grant FLEMING, was first to come ashore on Doughmore strand located North of Doonbeg where he was rescued by local men Mr. Simon McCarthy, Mr. Michael John Stack and his nephew Mr. Michael Stack.
That evening Aircraftman Albert G BENNETT was recovered from the water just off Doughmore strand by local men Mr. Patrick Shanahan and Mr. Simon McCarthy. He was still alive but attempts to revive him failed and he died within an hour.
Mr. Shanahan returned home to change out of his wet clothes and found another airman, Sgt James MASTERSON, who had made his way ashore and up to his house where he fell unconscious outside. Mr Shanahan and his wife succeeded in reviving him and he survived.
Later that evening the body of Leading Aircraftman Arthur DONCASTER washed ashore on Doughmore strand. He and Aircraftman BENNETT were both buried with full military honours by the Irish Army at Killard Church of Ireland graveyard outside Doonbeg at 1630hours on 5th December 1941.
Over the following days the bodies of Sergeant EPPS and Leading Aircraftman LEA washed ashore at Seafield beach outside Quilty. They were both buried in Miltown Malbay Church of Ireland Graveyard with full military honours by the Irish Army.
On 21st December another airman washed ashore near Seafield but he could not be identified. He was subsequently buried next to his comrades in Miltown Malbay with a gravestone inscribed AN AIRMAN OF THE 1939 – 1945 WAR ROYAL AIR FORCE.
On 18th January 1942 Sergeant FOX's remains were found on the shore of Mutton Island by Mr. Thomas Boyle from Quilty. He was also buried next to his comrades in Miltown Malbay.
Three other members of the eleven strong crew were lost at sea.
The casualties:
Pilot Officer Wilfred Sefton EMMETT NZ401377 RNZAF (Pilot) + Missing in Action age 26
Pilot Officer Eric Gerald MARKER 101048 (Obs) + Missing in Action aged 20
Sgt Eric Willows JACKSON 999009 (Pilot) + Missing in Action aged 24
Sgt Sydney James EPPS 522263 (W.Op./Air Gnr.) + Buried in Miltown Malbay aged 25
Sgt Maurice Walter Gerald FOX 933498 (W.Op./Air Gnr.) + Buried Miltown Malbay age 20
LAC Arthur DONCASTER 743595 (Fitter) + Buried in Killard,Doonbeg aged 30
LAC Frederick Walter LEA 904349 (Rigger/Flt. Mech.) + Buried Miltown Malbay aged 21
LAC Andrew Patrick WALKER 972825 (Fitter) + Missing in Action aged 19
AC1 Albert Everall BENNETT 1081395(Rigger) + Buried in Killard,Doonbeg aged 19
Of the four crew-members classified as Missing in Action, three were lost at sea and one is the unidentified airman buried in Miltown Malbay.AN AIRMAN OF THE 1939-1945 WAR
The survivors:
F/Lt James Grant FLEMING DFC 40380 (Pilot) + Interned
Sgt James Cannell MASTERSON 911625 (W/Op./Air Gnr) + Interned
F/Lt FLEMING was brought to Mallow Military Hospital with Sgt MASTERSON where they were treated for shock and minor injuries. They were both then interned at the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. F/Lt FLEMING escaped in August 1942 to Northern Ireland. He was later promoted to Squadron Leader but sadly he was killed in action on 6th September 1944 aged 26 when his Mosquito photo reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by a Messerschmitt Me262 jet while on a mission to Munich. Sgt MASTERSON ultimately survived the war and passed away in 2006. His ashes were scattered at the spot where he almost died in 1941.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.
See the following link: http://www.ww2irishaviation.com/w3988.htm
Inscription
In Loving Memory
Of
ARTHUR DONCASTER
Died Dec 3rd 1941 Aged 30 Yrs
Sponsored by Ancestry
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