Air craftsman Mathews did his bit in Kuwait incident

A story from 1961 and people from Flanagan’s Terrace might know more.

In 1961, Leading Air craftsman J. Mathews, 4 Flanagan Terrace, Drogheda, played an important part in the airlift of troops and equipment to Kuwait when trouble appeared to be brewing there and he was one of a 17-strong air movement team from Aden which was rushed to Kuwait at the start of the emergency.

The team had to carry out their duties in temperatures up to 130 degrees and in the teeth of raging sandstorms. staggering 49 seconds. Son of Esta and Breffni Kilmurry owners of the Educational Supply Centre in the Abbey Shopping Centre, he also saw off local opposition to win the title. Brendan Sweeney (12) a first year student at St. Joseph’s C.B.S. from Brookville came third with a time of 81 seconds.