Did a Seafire crash at Balbriggan in 1956?

[Frank]

Tony,

I think this is a question for you. I got this email yesterday:

Hello Frank,
Photographs of an Air Corps aircraft which crashed in the sea near Balbriggan appear on website.
www.balbriggan harbour.net

The wreckage was taken to Balbriggan harbour by a local fishing boat.

The pilot, killed in the accident is named as Lieutenant Coughlin and the date is given as 1956. The historical index seems to have missed that loss.

Pictures can be found here

The historical index mentioned above is the one on the Air Corps section of the website (which is in dire need of updating, but anyway, I digress). I checked the list and from what I have it looks to have been a Chipmunk that crashed near Laytown in 1956.

Can you shed any light on the situation?


Thanks in advance,

Frank.

[Tony Kearns]

Hi Frank,
Seafire 148 flown by Lt. Coghlan (note spelling) crashed in the sea off Balbriggan on 22 May 1953. Lt Coghlan was part of a formation of four Seafires in a finger four formation exercise. The Seafire was observed to turn for an approach to Gormanston and entered low cloud /mist and was then observed exiting at low altitude  and dive into the sea with fatal results.
Best wishes
Tony

[Frank]

Hi Tony,

Thanks very much for the reply, glad to see my list is correct although it is missing some details of the crash.


Regards,

Frank.