Wartime fiancee of Catalina crash pilot passes away

Joyce Hotson, had received letters from pilot, Captain Warrant Officer, Reg Shallis while he was stationed at Castle Archdale. He and his crew of a Catalina Flying Boat were returning from patrolling the North Atlantic when they crashed during bad weather into a hillside at Drumcose, near Ely Lodge. All nine crew died.

A memorial service was held at the crash on David Scott’s farm at the end of November in 2014, to mark 70 years of the crash. It had been attended by local residents and members of the Royal British Legion and Royal Air Force Association.

Joyce Hotson had attended a service at the crash site in 2006 when an RAF plaque was unveiled. She spoke of the letters her fiancee had written to her during his time in Fermanagh. He had written the letter the evening before the crash and it had only been received by Joyce, a short time after Reg was killed.

She married five years later but her husband died and she lived to the age of 93.

A celebration and thanksgiving for her life was held at St. Martin’s Parish Church, West Draydon, near Heathrow earlier this month and was attended by David Scott.

He described the moving service at which Joyce’s daughter, Avril Pienaar and her grand-daughter, Carla gave tributes. She was buried at a crematorium in Ruislip.

David who had previously met family members, explained how Joyce was born in Nottingham but lived in London in recent times. She had spent last Christmas in Florida.

The stone memorial to the crew of Catalina Flying Boat JX252 had been unveiled in 2006 and attended by Joyce.

Daivd explained that families of other crew members had kept in touch with him over the years.

News that the plaque was being erected at the crash site had been published in a magazine about Catalinas and spotted by Joyce in England and since then she kept in touch with him.

David said Joyce was a fascinating lady who left everyone spellbound when she started to tell her story.