From the archives: Praise for Red Cross following 1942 Mayo plane crash
By Tom Gillespie
MEMBERS of the Red Cross played a major role is rescuing four people from a plane which crashed at Killeen, Laherdane, Crossmolina, in March 1942.
And at a meeting of the County Red Cross Association held in Castlebar on Wednesday, March 25, with the Very Rev. G.J. Prendergast, P.P., Ballyhaunis, presiding, the following correspondence was read by Mr. Bernard Joyce, county council secretary, in connection with the crash.
Dear Mr. Joyce:
I am sure it will give you as much pleasure to read the report as it gives me to make it.
It is in connection with the work of the Red Cross at the recent plane crash at Killeen, Laherdane.
Five minutes after we got word we were on our way with the ambulance fully fitted out, hot water bottles, tea flask, extra blankets, etc.
Three of the occupants were badly injured, and all four had to be removed to hospital at Castlebar.
The men were taken from the plane by a Red Cross member of the Crossmolina branch, Miss Claire O'Malley, who gave trojan service.
The ambulance team comprised of Nurse Dorr, Mrs. Courell, the driver (Mr. Leonard) and myself.
We took the first patients to Castlebar Hospital and waited there for instructions to see if we were to return to take the two remaining, who were not quite so badly injured.
After waiting quite a long time no word arrived at Castlebar.
We returned home to find that we had to again return to the place of the crash and take the two remaining patients.
We did so, arriving home at 1.15 a.m. after being out from five the previous evening.
The work of the Red Cross came in for much appreciation, and the efficiency was highly commended.
D.F. Courell,
Lahardane, Ballina, March 17, 1942.
Dear Mr. Courell:
As an eye-witness of the recent plane crash in Killeen, may I be permitted to pay my tribute to the members of the Irish Red Cross for the excellent service rendered on the occasion.
No words of mine could do justice to the splendid work performed by them.
Their skill, swift movement without fuss or confusion, the tact and gentleness and utter disregard of danger would make anyone feel proud of the Irish Red Cross.
Had the members received 24 hours notice they could not have worked more efficiently.
They had almost immediately on the field antiseptics, warm water, cotton wool, bandages, warm tea and improvised stretchers, all of which shows the splendid training they had received.
Everything that they should have done was done until the arrival of the doctors on the scene.
I would like to pay special tribute to Miss Claire O’Malley, of the Crossmolina branch, and to Messrs. Sean McHale and Joseph Marrinan, of the Laherdane unit, the work of all three being outstanding.
To yourself and your staff of the field ambulance for your prompt arrival with all necessary equipment.
In paying this tribute I am not unmindful of the invaluable aid rendered by the people the locality, especially Bill Loftus, of the prompt arrival and excellent work of the doctors, and of the cooperation of the many others who assisted.
This incident should bring home to everyone the necessity of having a branch of the Irish Red Cross in every locality, with fully trained workers, for I am of the opinion that were it not for the speedy aid rendered by the Red Cross a tragedy in this case could hardly have been averted.
John J.Harte, C.C.
The Very Rev. Canon O’Connor, Adm., V.F., Ballina, spoke highly of the efficiency of the Red Cross workers on the occasion.
On the motion of the chairman. (Fr. Prendergast) it was decided to place on record the committee’s appreciation of the valuable services rendered by all concerned and tribute was paid to the training they received from the late Dr. Nan McLaughlin, Lahardane.