Skellig Michael, 27 February 1944

John L. Williams

Charles W.Quigle

  Lee Kendall Bowman

Elijah G. Willis

Gordon E. Davison

Herbert C. Crow

John E. McLaughlin

Ernest W. Libby

Jack T. Flener

Morris J. Olson

John A.Huffman

Those 11 men where on a anti-German submarine patrol as part of the United States Navy Fleet Airwing 7  when  the Liberator PB4Y -1 aircraft struck the highest point of Skellig Michael, on February 27, at 1.03 am . The aviation fuel in the wing tank exploded and the ammunition on board the aircraft followed immediately . When the lighthouse keeper on the Skellig went out to see what has happened, he saw a huge fireball on the north face of the rock. A search for any survivors began instantly without any result. No wreckage was ever found.

The northside of the South Peak, Skellig Michael,

February 2010, the scene of the crash. 

The  Warplane Research Group of Ireland published a book

about the tragedy under the titel "The Fatal Echo".

ISBN 0951637908

I have used some details about the incident from this source.

South Kerry Camera Club

Our next meeting of the South Kerry Camera Club will be held on
Thursday, 25 February, 2010
at 7pm - here in Ballinskelligs, in Barbara´s Coffeeshop at the entrance to Ballinskelligs Beach.
All are welcome!
By the way, I took the photo of that cheeky little robin there in Barbara´s garden, I suppose he is used to beeing fed crumbs of scones...

Sunset and Skelligs

 

Yesterday, for the  first time this year I could enjoy to see the sun sinking in to the sea, not to far from the Skelligs.

It is always a powerful and special moment and reminds me how privileged I am to live in the South of Kerry.

Portmagee Pier in January

Who says that January is not a good month for taking Outdoor Photographs?
This past month has given us exceptionally good opportunities to capture clear light and with that strong colours and deep shadows, ideal for any kind of photography, really.
One of my favourite haunts, Portmagee Pier, with its fishermen´s gear was interesting as usual.
Colour and shape,  light and shadow, all coming together to a feast for the eyes.
It was almost picture book constellations for practising photography tasks like composition, depth of field or trying to tell a story with some unusal view of well known subject.
Well, we enjoy Portmagee in Winter...
The next Weekend Photography Workshops here in Portmagee will be held on

• 6th-7th February 2010 and on
• 13th-14th March 2010

If you are interested, check out the details on my website www.skelligphototours.com or contact me (above), see you...