JUNE 2007

Search for identity of World War II pilot

Sixty six years ago a World War II pilot's body was found at Gort Namullan shore near Malin by Garda Sergeant John Patrick Gallagher and one other person on 16th July 1941. The dead man was wearing an RAF uniform, and was never identified.

Martyn Attwell from Rooskey has spent the last four years trying to find out the tragic flyer's name. He needs one last piece of the jigsaw to be sure he's got his man.

The pilot was not wearing a crucifix and it was presumed he wasn't Roman Catholic so he was buried in the Church of Ireland Graveyard. The RAF sent a medical officer from their station in Limavady Co Derry to try and identify the body, but he failed to do so.

While on a visit to Malin four years ago in search of a holiday home, former RAF man Mr Attwell noticed the grave and was immediately intrigued. After thousands of email, letters, phone calls and countless hours reading and researching in libraries, he has whittled a total of 252 possible candidates down to a handful. "When I first saw the Commonwealth war gravestone I thought, how is it, in this day and age, with all our technology and military websites, that we can't identify this man? I thought I'd have a go. First I went to Runnymead in England where there's a record of all the airman who went missing in the war. I learned that some flyer's bodies were found a year after they'd first gone into the water so it wasn't just a matter of finding a flight sergeant who went missing on 16th July 1941. I would like to bring some closure to a family who don't know where their son, father or husband lies buried.

Where you the other person with Sergeant Gallagher when the body was discovered 66 years ago? Do you know who that person was? Did you see the body? Have you found dog tags in the area? The slightest detail may be enough to determine the pilot's exact identity. If anyone can shed some light on the subject lease contact the Inish Times or email Mr Attwell at attwell@eircom.net.

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