Co. Londonderry or Co. Derry takes its name from 'Daire' or 'Doire', the Irish word for an oak grove. The name of both the city and county of Derry/Londonderry has been a matter of political debate for centuries. Covering an area of around 2,074 square kilometres, it shares borders with Co. Tyrone to the south-west and Co. Antrim to the east.
During the Second World War, American technicians arrived in Co. Londonderry to begin construction work on bases before the nation officially entered the war. The county boasts the Sperrin Mountains, a range that claimed the lives of many airmen in training incidents. The most significant role played by wartime Derry/Londonderry was as the scene of the U-Boat surrender in 1945.
In general, at WartimeNI, we refer to the city as ‘Derry/Londonderry’ and the county as ‘Co. Londonderry’. Many wartime records from the United States will simply refer to both as ‘Derry’.
Imperial War Museum Photo: A 28898 (Part of the Admiralty Official Collection). A German U-boat crew unloads ammunition and supplies before Operation Deadlight in Lisahally in Co. Londonderry on 14th May 1945. Copyright Lieutenant C.H. Parnall.
Places of Interest
The following places will be of interest to anyone wishing to explore more of the area's Second World War heritage.