Donegal Corridor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Donegal Corridor Erne Corridor
Region
Donegal Corridor Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Ulster
County	County Donegal
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	G874616

The Donegal Corridor (Irish: Muinchinn Dúin na nGall) was a special air route in Ireland during World War II. It was a narrow strip of Irish airspace that allowed British military planes to fly from Lough Erne to the Atlantic Ocean. This was a secret agreement, as Ireland was officially neutral during the war. It helped the Allies fight German submarines in the Atlantic.

Why the Donegal Corridor Was Needed

When World War II began in September 1939, Ireland decided to stay neutral. This meant they would not pick a side in the war.

Soon after the war started, the Battle of the Atlantic began. German U-boats (submarines) attacked ships carrying supplies across the Atlantic Ocean. Many ships were sunk, and many lives were lost. This was a very serious problem for the Allied forces (like Britain and the US).

In 1941, flying boats (planes that can land on water) were based at Lough Erne. This lake was the most western point in the United Kingdom where planes could take off to patrol the Atlantic. However, these planes were not allowed to fly over neutral Irish land. This meant they had to fly north first, then turn west, which wasted valuable time and fuel.

The "Black Gap" Problem

Ships coming to the UK from the US and Canada needed protection. But there was a large area in the mid-Atlantic where U-boats could attack without being bothered. This area was called the Black Gap.

Britain and even the US (who were also neutral at the time) put a lot of pressure on Ireland. They wanted Ireland to stop being neutral and join the Allies.

A Secret Agreement

In January 1941, a meeting took place between Éamon de Valera, Ireland's leader, and Sir John Maffey, the British representative in Dublin. They made a secret agreement.

The agreement allowed the Lough Erne flying boats to fly across a 4-mile (6.4 km) stretch of Irish land. This route went from Belleek in County Fermanagh to Ballyshannon in County Donegal. This gave them direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. This agreement was written down in The Cranborne Report.

To keep the Germans from getting suspicious, these planes were supposed to follow a specific route. They were also only supposed to fly on air/sea rescue missions. However, these rules were soon changed.

Turning the Tide of Battle

The flight path became known as 'The Donegal Corridor'. The flying boats soon started going on missions to the mid-Atlantic, the west coast of France, and Iceland. They protected convoys on these important routes.

This was a major turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic. This battle was the longest one of the Second World War. The flying boats from Lough Erne helped sink at least nine German U-boats. Many others were so badly damaged that they had to return to their bases in France.

Where Was the Corridor?

The Donegal Corridor was about 7-mile (11 km) long. It was located where County Donegal narrows, separating County Fermanagh (in Northern Ireland) from Donegal Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

The route followed the River Erne between Belleek and the coast near Ballyshannon. The main base for these flying boats was at RAF Castle Archdale.

How It Was Used

The first official flight through the Corridor was on February 21, 1941. It was made by No. 240 Squadron RAF's Supermarine Stranraer flying boats.

The agreement had some conditions. Flights were supposed to be at a "good height," and planes should not fly over the military camp at Finner. However, both sides often ignored these rules.

The Bismarck Incident

A famous event happened in 1941. A Consolidated Catalina flying boat from No. 209 Squadron RAF, based at Lough Erne, spotted the powerful German battleship Bismarck. This important discovery helped lead to the warship's destruction.

By the end of the war, many airmen died during these missions from Lough Erne. In 2007, special memorial plaques were put up in Counties Donegal and Fermanagh to remember them.

See also

• The Emergency
• Treaty Ports (Ireland)