The Emergency (World War II)

On 2nd September 1939 Dáil Éireann declared a state of emergency in Ireland, allowing the passage of the Emergency Powers Act 1939, giving new powers to the government and coining the phrase by which World War II would be known in Ireland. A recruiting campaign began and the Defence Forces reached a height of almost 41,000 soldiers in April/May 1941 while the Local Defence Force reached a strength of 106,000 by June 1943. Approximately 170 aircraft crashed or force landed on Irish territory during the period. Separate internment camps were established at the Curragh for both Allied and German personnel. In addition to the bombing of the North Strand in Dublin, bombs were also dropped in Campile, Dundalk, Monaghan, Carlow and the Curragh.

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip, he discusses in detail the bombing of Campile in Wexford (26 August 1940), during World War II or 'The Emergency' as it was known in Ireland. He first briefly discusses the bombing of Belfast which he states was a deliberate act. He refers to Camp Group 100 which was a pathfinder unit which had a special 'X System, which he states were not involved on the night of the Dublin bombings. In relation to Campile, Tony affirms that it was deliberately targeted. He speaks in detail about the nature of this action, the explosives used, timings of the action etc. Tony discusses the contention that the bombers thought they were over Wales. He rubbishes this theory and outlines that Captain Andy Wood was detailed to fly down the coast in a Gloster Gladiator and reported that visibility was seventy-five miles and that he could see the coast of Wales. MA Note: Tony states that only one man was killed in the incident. However, three women were killed in the bombing, sister Mary and Catherine Kent and Kathleen Hurley."

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip, Tony speaks about a number of German Bombing incidents during World War II (Emergency) including the bombing of the North Strand. He affirms that after significant research he can conclude that the bombing was an accident. He discusses the various theories which have emerged over the years regarding the bombings including the 'Bending the Beams' theory (which he dismisses). He outlines in detail the way in which the North Strand bombing occurred. MA Note: The bombing of the North Strand area which Tony is recalling, occurred on 31 May 1941, when four German bombs fell in north Dublin. 28 people were killed in the North Strand during the bombing.

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. Here, Tony discusses meeting German pilots and crews who had flown during World War II as part of his research. He refers to a German air craft commander who flew a plane that crash landed in Faha Mountain on the Dingle Peninsula and relates some of the conversations he had with the German Commander about actions he had been involved in.

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip which comes from the third in a series of interviews undertaken by Michael J. Whelan, Tony outlines the position of Irish neutrality including the reaction to a potential German invasion. Tony does state that Ireland was 'in no position to fight an invasion' and both Tony and the interviewer discuss the dynamics and challenges of remaining neutral during World War II (the Emergency).

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip which comes from the second in a series of interviews undertaken by Michael J. Whelan, Tony and Michael discuss Lieutenant Colonel Louis (Louie) Lawrence Treacy (22nd October 1919 - 19th February 2001). Tony states that the brother of Louis Treacy was in the RAF (Royal Air Force) and was shot down, captured and held for a year. He later returned to England and went back to the war but was shot down and killed. Tony also reflects on the feelings of members of the RAF towards Ireland as a result of Ireland's neutrality in World War II (the Emergency).

Lieutenant General Gerry McMahon, a native of Limerick, retired in August 1998 as Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces. He entered the Cadet School in 1953 and served for forty-five years. In December 2016 and February 2017, he was interviewed for the MAOHP at his home in Kildare. In this clip, Lieutenant General McMahon speaks about his aunt Una Moroney who trained as a nurse in the UK in the late 1930s and was living there when World War II started. The hospital which they were meant to work in was bombed and Una joined the 'Land Army' for a farmer in Little Rissington near the Red Arrows Air Base. Una later joined the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps and served in a Field Hospital in the Burma Campaign in India. Una later became a district nurse in Somerset. In contrast to his aunt Una, Lieutenant General McMahon noted that his father never left the island of Ireland.

Colonel Seán Norton enlisted in the Irish Army in January 1955 at the age of nineteen. Sixty-two years later, he sat down at Cathal Brugha Barracks to offer his memories to the MAOHP. In this clip, Colonel Norton recalls Pearse Square in Dublin during World War II (The Emergency) and recalls the bombing of the North Strand. The bombing of the North Strand area which Seán is recalling, occurred on 31 May, 1941 when four German bombs fell in north Dublin. 28 people were killed in the North Strand during the bombing. Colonel Norton also recalls around the same time being in Sandymount, when he saw an American plane chasing a German plane in the sky over Sandymount.

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip which comes from the third in a series of interviews undertaken by Michael J. Whelan, Tony discusses some of the many plane crashes which occured in Ireland during World War II (the Emergency). He speaks about the circumstances of some World War II crashes, including one incident when the pilot drowned in a bog, due to the plane turning upside down, which was caused by the pilot landing wheels down. Tony also refers to a Mosquito aircraft which crashed in Galway after circling for a long period of time and the plane caught fire. Tony states that a local man tried to help the pilot out but wasn't able to free him from the aircraft.

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip which comes from the third in a series of interviews undertaken by Michael J. Whelan, Tony discusses the position of Air Corps pilots who were taking to the skies to confront belligerent aircraft and outlines the frustration of Air Corps personnel at not being able to engage belligerent aircraft. He also speaks about the danger for pilots given the limited resources available to the Air Corps as well as their inexperience.

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip which comes from the second in a series of interviews undertaken by Michael J. Whelan, Tony discusses a little known piece of Air Corps history. He speaks about a Walrus plane which was stolen by Lieutenant Alan Thornton to fly to France in order to join the German army in 1942. He speaks about the conditions for Fighter Squadron in Rineanna where Thornton was held under house arrest. Tony explains that British aircraft intercepted him and forced him to land at Cornwall. Thornton was then taken back to Ireland under arrest and jailed for six months. He was later dishonourably discharged but went and joined the Allied Forces and became a fighter pilot. The Interviewer states that Thornton did an interview with Marian Finucane of RTE Radio. This event occurred in January 1942. It also seems that Thornton got sixteen months in prison for his offence. Thornton spoke on the Marian Finucane Show on RTE Radio in 2005. It seems that the plane in Yeovilton Museum is the one stolen by Thornton.

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In the clip, Tony refers to Paul Stormer, a German pilot who spoke to him about flying on a photographic reconnaissance mission to the Belfast area when they were attacked on the way there by the RAF (Royal Air Force), forcing them to land in Tramore in Waterford. Tony explains that he became good friends with Stormer and as a result he received a lot of information and insight into the experience of a reconnaissance pilot.