Inside Stories MICHAEL COLLINS’ AIRCRAFT
One hundred years ago, the Anglo-Irish War reached a truce and nationalist Michael Collins travelled to London for talks. Fearing he might be detained there, an escape route was planned. Pete London tracks the course of events
The island of Ireland became part of the UK in 1801, governed from London. Over the following century, numerous Irish nationalist groups struggled to deter Westminster, but to no avail. In the general election of December 1918 though, nationalist Sinn Féin party candidates won a large majority. The following month, rejecting Britain’s rule and seeking independence, Sinn Féin formed the First Dáil, or Dáil Éireann (Assembly of Ireland) in Dublin. Britain sought to regain control: so began the Anglo-Irish War.
During the conflict, the RAF supported British ground forces against the irregular units of the nationalist Irish Republican Army (IRA), flying from airfields built during World War One.
Activities included reconnaissance, ferrying VIPs and carrying orders, letters and documents. British aircraft dropped leaflets with details of wanted nationalists, and provided cover for motor convoys, railway freight and troop-trains.
The nationalists…
