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Portmore Lough and WW2 Spitfire

Laura Smith explains why ponies matter to RSPB's Portmore Lough Reserve. Walter McManus died when his Spitfire crashed north of Lurgan, Stephen Riley uncovers the story.

County Antrim and the Soldierstown Road, between Moira and Aghalee, to the RSPB's Portmore Lough Reserve, wet grassland, meadows, cows, geese, whooper swans and ponies. It's a special place, one that Assistant Warden, Laura Smith, loves working in. She told Anne Marie why the ponies are so important to the health of the reserve.
And...
Around 70 years ago, in the second world war a young Canadian pilot said goodbye to his wife of 4 days, came to Northern Ireland, endeared himself to the people of North Down, Ballyhalpert particularly, and then sadly, was killed when his Spitfire plane crashed into farmland just north of Lurgan. Stephen Riley is Honorary Secretary with the Ulster Aviation Society and the man who uncovered this love story.
Walter McManus died when his Spitfire crashed on farmland just north of Lurgan. His remains rest in a tiny churchyard in north Down, only minutes from his RAF base at Ballyhalbert.

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16 minutes

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