Sir, - While the film, "The Flying Boats at Foynes", on RTE 1 on New Year's Day was very interesting, particularly for those who were there, I would like to correct one statement that was made, i.e. that Winston Churchill's flight from the USA could not land at Foynes because of bad weather conditions. Churchill had gone to the US on board HMS Prince of Wales, and Roosevelt met him on board on August 14th, 1941, to found the Atlantic Charter.
He did not fly back from the US by the regular route via Botwood and Foynes, but flew direct from Norfolk in Virginia to Plymouth, piloted by BOAC's famous pilot, the Irish man Capt J. C. Kelly Rogers. It was never intended that he should land at Foynes. - Yours, etc.,
Communications Officer,
Foynes, 1939 to 1944.
Gracefield Avenue,
Artane, Dublin 5.