The IMPARTIAL REPORTER
13th July, 2006

Templeport Lake air crash to be recalled at ecumenical service

The commemoration of an air crash in a rural part of the Border area is to be held this weekend.
The event this Sunday. July 16 will mark the crash of a plane near St. Mogue’s Island. in Templeport Lake near Bawnboy in 1943.
Pilot. Richard Kurkura and his navigator. Tommy Flulme, were able to bale out of their RAF Beaufighter aircraft before it crashed. Both men were helped by local people and taken back to Kinawley from where they joined their unit and subsequently continued to fly Beaufighters and Mosquitoes in North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Richard has lived in Australia since the end of the Second World War and has given the local committee a concise account of the events which led to the crash.
A local committee was set up to investigate the crash and to mark the anniversary of the event. This Sunday they have arranged trips to St. Mogue’s island where there is going to be an ecumenical service at 3pm followed by refreshments in the local community centre. A presentation will be made to the crew’s families.
Councillor Wilson Elliott from Florencecourt who witnessed the plane being moved across the Border by the Irish Air Corps for handover to the RAF after the accident is being invited to attend.
Other local people involved in researching information were amateur diver and marine archeologist. Willie Seaman. from Enniskillen and his colleague Eddie Brogan. Arney. Willie has dived at the crash over a number of years and attended several meetings.
Representatives of the magazine ‘Flying in lreland’ are also attending to feature the event in a forthcotning issue.
A booklet is being published to coincide with this weekend’s event and other information can be obtained from the website, www.bawnboy.utvinternct.com/Beauflghter-JL710 or alternatively www.bawnboy.com where there are links to related websites.