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The Irish Adventure of Richard Kukura and Tommy Hulme and the fate of their Beaufighter JL710

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Leitrim-Observer- 14th July 2006

Commemoration of 1943 aeroplane crash at St. Mogues Island

The local JL7I0 committee in Bawnboy have arranged boat trips to St. Mogue's Island and an ecumenical service on Sunday July 16, to commemorate the events of St. Patrick’s night 1943 when an RAF Beaufighter JL7IO aircraft crashed near St. Mogue’s Island in Templeport Lake near Bawnboy.

The committee are delighted to welcome relatives of the crew, two of whom are coming from Australia to Bawnboy to discuss and commemorate the event and hopefully establish more of the missing details and record them for the benefit of future generations.
On March 17, 1943 during World War II. pilot Richard Kurkura and his navigator Tommy Hulme encountered a bad storm in a test flight to gauge the aircraft’s fuel consumption, before flying to the Middle East, Cairo, Egypt.
When their aircraft came into trouble the pilot Mr Kurkura tried to steer the plane towards Northern Ireland, but both had to abandon the plane as conditions worsened,
The Beaufighter JL7I0 crashed near St. Mogue's Island and it is believed that the Pilot landed at Moherragh and the navigator Mr Hulme landed in Corlough. Both RAF fighters were helped by locals to the border, where they rejoined their unit and subsequently continued to fly in North Africa and the Mediterranean for the remainder of the war.

The commemorative day will begin at 2pm at St. Mogues Island Council boat house at Templeport Lake, the ecumenical service will be held at 3pm and the day will end in Templeport Resource Centre where world War II memorabilia will be on display. A presentation will be made to the crew’s families and raffle prizes presented afterwards.
A booklet on the event is on sale and any profits made from the sales, sponsorship, collections and raffles will be given to St. Luke’s Hospital along with contributions from the racenight in the Keepers Arms at 9pm on Friday, July 14, a function night in the Viking Bar, Aughawillan on Saturday July 15, and the Bawnboy 2006 Festival.

From:Leitrim Observer 14th July 2006