Portballintrae air force memorial approved by Causeway Coast and Glens Council
Following a postponement due to land ownership issues, Causeway Coast and Glens Council has greenlit plans for an Air Force memorial in Portballintrae.
In January, members of the Council’s Leisure and Development Committee were due to approve an application from Bushmills Through the Wars (BTTW) to install a memorial on council-owned land near Runkerry Beach in the village, subject to planning permission being granted.
However, Council’s Director of Leisure and Development, Pat Mulvenna, informed members that the item could not progress at that time due to “land ownership issues”.
The original proposal was postponed until this month’s committee meeting, when members were assured that all ownership issues had been resolved and the proposal could progress.
The proposed location overlooks the site where the plane crashed and will be sited on a concrete platform that was used for a hut during the Cold War, therefore enhancing the current site.
On November 28, 1943, the crew of Vickers Wellington DV664 had successfully completed bombing practice and were turning when the aircraft stalled and dived into the water just off Runkerry Beach.
The memorial will commemorate four members of the Royal Air Force and two members of the Royal Australian Air Force who lost their lives as a result of the incident.
TUV councillor Allister Kyle seconded a proposal to approve by DUP alderman John McCauley, and said BTTW “are to be commended” for putting forward the application and self-funding the memorial.
He concluded: “I think that will be very good to have an Portballintrae and it’ll be a great memorial to the Air Force.”