BY NUALA MCALOON
'Lost in Ireland' is book number seven for Belleek historian Joe O'Loughlin. Following 'A History of Camlin Castle and The Tredennick Family' which was launched last May, this latest edition sees a return to the realm of fiction.
It is not fresh territory for Joe who's third historical offering 'The Phantom Airman', presented a mixture of fact and fiction spanning 1,500 years.
This latest World War II tale was inspired by a circulating rumour in the Castle Caldwell district of Belleek that a German plane had crashed into the moorlands of Fermanagh and disappeared without trace.
Joe explains how the four-man crew are said to have escaped either by parachute or from the aeroplane when it crash-landed before sinking in soft moorland and disappearing without trace.
Having called to the house of a farmer in their distress, that same farmer many years later, produced a number of German mark notes claiming that the Germans had given them to him as a reward for his help. The Gardai however has no record of any German airmen being taken into custody, nor do the comprehensive records held in the Irish Military Archives have any information that such an incident ever took place.
Until there is evidence to the contrary, the Belleek novelist states that he will always have his doubts about a German World War II plane crashing. Yet, it is from this very rumour, and the debated question concerning whether a crash ever happened, that he has drawn inspiration.
'Lost in Ireland' is described as a story centred on the topic of kindness to strangers and that theme is prevalent throughout.
Joe's love of local history and attention to detail becomes evident as does his vivid imagination which helps make this tale a fascinating wartime adventure. As the story develops, readers will enjoy the strong Irish element featuring plenty of local links making the story all the more easier to visualise.
The novel centres on Ernst Schmitt, a German engineer and keen photographer. When his time comes, the Pulheim man knows that by law, he will have to fulfil his duties and join the military and does so by applying for a place in the Luftwaffe.
It's around this time that his romantic interest enters in the form of language student Gabriela Heling, a German of Jewish descent. Her ambition is to one day visit her aunt in Canada who is married to an Irish man.
Like his father who is a pacifist, and having studied all the aspects of the different military groups, Ernst decides the air force suits him best as there are opportunities to develop his skills and passions in navigation, photography and reconnaissance.
Gabriela's success in her exams meanwhile, secures her a study placement in Canada where she can gain more experience in the English and French language.
Before her departure however, the couple discuss their future with Ernst telling her that should the political situation in Germany develop she should stay in Canada as long as possible.
They part on the understanding that when the difficult situation resolves they are to be reunited and married.
As Ernst continues his studies and pursues an interest in aerial photography, his natural talent for flying shines through. He makes progress in his engineering class, and coupled with assisting his father in making plane parts, he becomes proficient in the mechanical works of planes.
And when he comes top of his class, it's not long until he hears word that he has received a place as a Luftwaffe pilot. He is assigned to the Junkers 88, an aircraft with great versatility as a bomber, fighter and long-range reconnaissance plane for aerial photography.
By the time war breaks out in 1939, Ernst's crew is one of the most experienced units in their department and when the Luftwaffe establish new airfields in western France, he is soon transferred to embark on a series of meteorological missions.
The novel takes depth when in April 1941, the Junkers 88 aircraft takes off from it base in north west France. Containing the most advanced photographic equipment of it's time, its mission is to photograph Belfast city to assess the damage caused by the blitz carried out by German bombers. Ernst is saddened to see the destruction caused to the residential area and makes one last low flight over Belfast with the intentions of showing the pictures to his superiors with the hope they would resist bombing innocent people,
However, cloud is low as the final pictures are taken and disaster strikes when a Hurricane fighter plane attacks. A direct target from a hit of guns, the Junkers 88 manages to escape by climbing into low cloud but on assessing the aftermath of the damage, Ernst learns the starboard engine is unserviceable. With no hope of returning to base, the crew are forced to set a flight past westwards in a bid to ditch the plane so the secret equipment doesn't fall into the hands of the enemy.
In a dramatic bid to return to family and friends, will Ernst's hard earned skills, proficient as they are, be enough to ensure his plane is ditched at a secret location, his escape plans are a success, and his dream of a future life with Gabriela is realised?
