The idea for the book Eagles Over Ireland had its beginnings back in the early 1990’s when a colleague Padriac Forde asked me “was I aware that a USAAF B17 Bomber with four American Army Generals onboard had crashed in Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland in 1943?”

I responded with great enthusiasm, for not alone had I heard of the incident... I had grown up with the story ringing in my ears.

My father Gabriel Browne had been at the scene on the morning of the crash landing and had received from one of the crew who were very happy to be alive, a pair of sheepskin lined flyers gauntlets. My father had an interest in all things to do with WWII indeed I have retained his interest and have his extensive library of books on the subject.

Then in 1995 Finbarr O’Regan, Carnaun, National School, Principal and editor of the Athenry Journal asked me to write an article about the incident. This article, which had a full two page spread, included a few photographs from my father’s books and told the story, as I then understood it. What I knew then I had gleaned from some Irish Army records and eyewitness accounts. It was evident that over the years the story had gathered some inaccuracies and was in danger of becoming folklore. Time passed, but I had not been satisfied with the information I was finding, the discrepancies were annoying and sadly the very people who would have informed me authoritatively were dying away.

I decided to commence trying to make contact with surviving relatives of the main characters. This is where the Internet and Email came into their own, especially concerning the American side of story.

The Irish side of the story almost jumped out and bit me! Once again Finbarr O’Regan was able to put me in touch with a granddaughter of Major James Timoney C.O. of Renmore Army Barracks Galway 1943, she was a friend of Finbarr’s wife Stephanie. This lady in turn put me in touch with her mother Noreen Schutte; daughter of the Major. I arranged to meet Noreen on one of the occasions she had travelled west from her home in Dublin to the home of her daughter in Barna, just outside Galway. I outlined to Noreen my interest and what I proposed to do by way of formalising it, maybe into a book. Noreen, a most pleasant lady was a mine of information, she remembered her father’s stories vividly and most importantly new her father’s nephew James B. O’Hagan had compiled his own dossier to include precious photographs taken both at the scene and in the town of Athenry. Noreen said he lived in Albuquerque New Mexico, she would email him and outline what I was proposing to do, this generous action is without doubt one of the most important breakthroughs I have made in all of my research.

James was terrific; we exchanged mail on a daily basis for months. It should be understood that I knew things that James did not and of course he knew many more. James was very well read, even though he was living in America he had spent his formative years in Ireland and his love for Irish literature had not waned. His attention to detail was truly marvellous, his insights and shared experiences, which could only come from a man who had served in the US Forces gave me a better feel for the way the military mind and consequently the military machine worked.

Then by coincidence I went to a bulletin board on the Internet, which facilitated individuals making enquiries about the 8th US Air force based in England during WWII. It was remarkable, there on the very same page was a gentleman enquiring about information relating to a B17 bomber named ‘STINKY’. I contacted him immediately; he was Steve Martin the son of Donald A. Martin the one time tail gunner on the very same plane, which had unexpectedly arrived in Athenry all those years ago. Needless to say we again exchanged information and photographs.

The research by now was going remarkably well, everyone I contacted was keen to learn about the history, it meant a lot to them, their parents had made huge sacrifices in difficult times to ensure all of our futures. My next contact was family members of General Edward Hale Brooks; they had heard of the incident and were astonished to think that it was still in the memory of the Athenry community. This family have made a tremendous contribution to the project, they are proud of their heritage some having arrived in New England on the ‘Arabella’ in 1635. The family of General Devers were much more difficult to track down; in fact it was Steve Jones a nephew of the General that found me. He too has been very forthcoming with information especially noted is the report of the mission the generals were on.

The book does not set out to be an academic work. What I hope to achieve by its publication is to record the facts, as they are known today. No doubt new facts will emerge as they always do, this work will provide a platform for another author perhaps in 60 years time to add as much more. Some things however will not change, the finest generation that ever lived will not come back, and the hard won freedom that Europe enjoys today as gift from these leaders and the men who loyally served under their command will never be lost again.

Whilst reading the book the only fictional ideas I would like you to contemplate are. What would have happened to the Allied War Effort if the intellectual strength and wealth of experience of this team of leaders had been lost in the incident?

Or…what would have happened if the Irish Government and the Athenry community did not help these crusaders for peace on their way?

The Europe we enjoy today is due to their efforts…and Athenry played its part!