"1943 THE ISLANDS OF BERMUDA (The Somers Isles)" Bermuda by Simonneeddy

Bermuda Travel Guide: 734 reviews and 2,263 photos

PBM flying boat

One of many that was ferried to Prestwik Scotland during 1943

Luscombe in 1943 and 60 years later

LUSCOMBE Then and now

The recent photo ( on the right) was sent to me by a resident of Bermuda VT member "AODHDUBH " One of the only two remaining Luscombe aircraft. Wing Commander Mo. Ware OBE. DFC.deceased. had the Luscombe shown in the picture at his disposal during the war years and often used it to fly around the island and go to Kindly Field ( Recently he owned one of the two remaining planes but it was damaged in a hard landing see more below)
I flew around Bermuda shore line in this plane in early 1944 with Flight Lieutenant Casgrain R.C.A.F. (HE later made many flights in Coronado's to Newfoundland and Iceland then to Scotland, He also made 10 day return trips on the southern route to Lagos Nigeria via Trinidad, Belem Brazil. Natal Brazil , Freetown in Sierra Leone, finally Lagos Africa carrying freight and passengers( FERRY CREWS RETURNING TO PICK UP ANOTHER PLANE)..

It was Beautiful at 300 ft. in the Luscombe. Everyone would wave at us Wing Commander Mo. Ware .OBE. DFC had flown the plane there from Darrell's Island to Kindley Field (our land plane base)but decided to return by ground transport with some VIP's who had arrived from Montreal. He ordered Flight Lieutenant Casgrain to fly his Luscombe back to Darrell's Island and to take me with him. We departed from Kindley Field and landed at Darrell's Island. When we left Kindley Field in the lagoon there were no waves or wind but when we arrived at Darrell's Island the water was very rough and the pilot was use to flying big two and four motor planes such as PBY's and Coronado's. I looked at him after he hit the first big wave and bounced high and the plane shook and he was white as a sheet. I guess I was Also. WE hit the second big wave just at the right angle and made a safe but rough landing. We were a little shook up but Ok.
I heard today Nov. 22nd, 2002 that two of these planes still exist neither in flying condition though.One owned by "COLIN PLANT" of Bermuda and the other one though badly damaged by a hard landing and while waiting for repairs hurricane Emily in 1987. It belongs to the deceased Wing Commander E.M."Mo". Ware ( ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS) He was Officer Commanding Station Bermuda He was attached (after the war) to the Government of Bermuda as Director Of Civil Aviation. His mandate to convert Kindley Field into a civilian airport . He also owned an airlines with two PBY's for a while.

The following is a link to a friends page (He lives in Bermuda) which gives a lot of information about Darrell's island

RAF DARRELL'S ISLAND by gpvillain

Darrell's Island

OUR BASE

This was our Base ( see travelogue for island as it is today)
Flying over I took a picture of it and the Pan AM, BOAC BASE, from the Coronado flying boat which was piloted by Wing Commander Mo Ware .OBE. DFC. on a test flight.( see it in the following picture). Only 1 PBM at anchor and one on the ramp.WE were flying in CORONADO JX 740 (WHICH WAS A 4 MOTOR FLYING BOAT, OUR FIRST ONE) (Received on Apr. 4th, 1943) This was a training and test flight . They were new to us..They had to have 40 hours test flight and inspections done in Bermuda and it was used for local training for a while as well. It departed for Halifax ( Dartmouth) on Apr. 16th. 1943) and from there to Gander Lake, Iceland and Scotland or Gibraltar.. These were used for transport of goods and passenger were unarmed.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Hot in summer cooler in fall and winter
Cons:none
In a nutshell:Paradise

Last visit to Bermuda: Jul 1944
Intro Updated Aug 12, 2008
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Reviews (29)

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Excellent pool and Golf Course.
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Comments (42)

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Ekahau Apr 1, 2006 at 8:07 AM

Wow found your bermuda page very helpful read it all before my trip last week and it was GREAT thanks for taking the time to do this. Love history and your page is chucked full
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Lady-Charisma Dec 8, 2004 at 8:09 AM

Great Bermuda page! Leaving for Bermuda in a week & wondered if you might know whether prescription meds need to be declared upon arrival & any necessary documentation. Your reply is appreciated. Thanks!
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tomsingfield Aug 12, 2004 at 1:20 PM

I am researching the history of aviation in Bermuda and all Eddy's comments/photos are very interesting and valuable. Anyone with more info can please contact me tom@singfield.freeserve.co.uk Thanks, Tom
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Bwana_Brown May 8, 2004 at 8:23 PM

It was like reading an exciting book about your wartime experiences here! The real life tales of what you went through help to bring home what you had to deal with 60 years ago (and in your memories today)!
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tpangelinan Nov 8, 2003 at 7:46 AM

Wonderful tribute to fond memories! Great stuff! Love the old PBY shots! :o)
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Ninnu Jan 8, 2003 at 5:30 PM

... this sure is a page like no other... :-)
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Tolik Dec 15, 2002 at 2:59 PM

Awesome pictures!
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o00o Dec 15, 2002 at 8:28 AM

Wish to visit Bermuda in near future.
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patrikske Sep 13, 2002 at 1:39 PM

Wonderful page !
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JudyinPA Aug 18, 2002 at 10:27 AM

Always like the old black & whites especially Bermuda