The 2025 edition of Falling Stars by Peter McGarry is now available at Pilot.ie (Click Here) — and this latest release is one of the most compelling yet.
This updated edition includes two brand-new chapters that bring to life the harrowing tales of aircraft ditchings off Ireland’s west coast. One chapter recounts the dramatic 1949 ditching of a Transocean Air Lines Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Galway Bay. Famously known as the “Miracle on Galway Bay,” the aircraft ran out of fuel and was forced to ditch in the Atlantic with 58 people aboard. While eight tragically lost their lives, the successful deployment of life rafts and rapid coordination with a British trawler, aided by circling aircraft, meant 50 lives were saved in a remarkable feat of airmanship and survival.
The second new chapter covers the 1962 ditching of Flying Tiger Line Flight 923, a Lockheed Super Constellation on a transatlantic military charter. After encountering engine failure during a storm, the aircraft was ditched approximately 500 miles west of Ireland. Captain John Murray’s skillful handling of the emergency saved 48 of the 76 people on board, who survived for six hours in life rafts before being rescued.
In addition to these new accounts, McGarry has expanded the chapter on the 1961 Irish Air Corps crash at Shannon, providing new insights and new photographs that deepen our understanding of these pivotal moments in Irish aviation history.
Falling Stars is a meticulously researched and beautifully written tribute to those who’ve faced the ultimate test in the skies over and around Ireland. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, historian, or pilot, this is a volume that deserves a place on your shelf.
Available now at Pilot.ie for €22 – don’t miss your chance to own this powerful new edition.
