Desmond Arthur
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Desmond Arthur (1884–1913) was an Irish aviator in the Royal Flying Corps. Following his crash in Scotland's first fatal aircraft accident his name is connected to a ghost believed to haunt the airfield at RAF Montrose
in Montrose, Angus
, Scotland
. The case is considered one of the most famous ghost stories from the First World War, and was investigated by the British government.
, Ireland
. The son of Thomas F. Arthur, he came from a prominent Clare family and had a sister, and a brother: Captain C. W. A. Arthur. Arthur was educated at Portora Royal School
, Enniskillen
. He was an enthusiastic sportsman and won a number of prizes in motoring speed trials, before becoming Lieutenant in the Army Motor Reserve in 1908. Arthur attended the first Irish Aviation Meeting at Leopardstown Racecourse
on 29 August 1910. It was there that he was introduced to Cecil Grace
, which reinforced his desire to become a pilot. Arthur joined the 5th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers (Special Reserve) and was promoted to Lieutenant on 27 May 1911. He was known for his adventurous nature, as well as his "unassuming manner and unfailing good spirit".
On 18 June 1912, Arthur gained his Royal Aero Club
certificate after completing his trials flying a Bristol Prier monoplane at Brooklands
. He joined the No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps on 17 April 1913, based at Montrose. In 1913, Montrose Airfield was built as an operational base for the training of pilots for the Royal Flying Corps
, the first of its kind in Britain. The flying training school, like many others, experienced frequent crashes as it built up a force of skilled pilots through the First and Second World Wars. At around 7.30am on Tuesday 27 May 1913, Arthur’s B.E.2 205 biplane collapsed without warning while flying over Montrose undertaking a routine practice flight from Upper Dysart to Lunan Bay. Arthur had begun to descend when at 2500 feet, the right wing of the aircraft snapped off and it plunged to the ground. Arthur died instantly after the violence of the impact destroyed nearly every bone in his body. He was found 160 yards away from his machine. Arthur's death in an air crash was one of the first to occur in the Royal Flying Corps, and the first at Montrose. He was buried in Sleepyhillock Cemetery, Montrose.
Contemporaries were surprised at a crash from an experienced pilot. A report issued by the Accidents and Investigation Committee of the Royal Aero Club on 21 June 1913 found that the crash had occurred due to the incompetent repair of a broken spar
by an unknown mechanic. It was believed that the damage to the plane had been accidental, and shoddily repaired to prevent detection prior to the plane being transferred from Farnborough
to Montrose. A government inquiry opened on 11 July 1913. In 1914 M.P. William Joynson-Hicks complained of a "whitewash
" and that Secretary of State for War
Colonel Seely
would not admit to the faulty repair. In the Spring of 1916 the head of Pemberton Billing Ltd called for a judicial enquiry into the military and naval air service, as “certain officers had been murdered rather than killed by the carelessness, incompetence or ignorance of their senior officers or of the technical side of those two services”. An official investigation by a government committee set up on 3 August 1916 concluded that the pilot was at fault, and the crash a result of dangerous flying.
In 1940 a Hurricane pilot was distracted by a “mysterious biplane” whilst searching for a Heinkel
bomber. In 1942, a flight lieutenant (whose name is unknown) stationed at Montrose, crashed into the runway not long after takeoff, and was killed instantly. A week before the crash, he had quarrelled with the mechanic working on his plane. The mechanic became subject to an Inquiry but after little evidence of tampering, the charges were dropped. Shortly after the crash, there were reports of a ghost appearing at the airfield wearing a flying suit and goggles. The ghost was known to be encountered along the flight line, emerging from the fog. In 1949, Montrose had become a permanent training station, by which time new cadets were briefed on the ghost. Dozens of sightings occurred of an officer in a white flight suit and a hat until the airfield closed in the 1950s.
On 27 May 1963, Sir Peter Masefield was flying his Chipmunk monoplane close to Montrose while en route from Dalcross to Shoreham, when he saw what he believed was a 70 horsepower B.E.2 biplane; the pilot was wearing a leather flying helmet, goggles and a flying scarf. Masefield landed when he believed he had seen it crashing, but on reaching the ground discovered that there was no plane or crash site.
RAF Montrose
RAF Montrose was a Royal Air Force station in Forfarshire in Scotland.In 1912, the British government planned twelve "Air Stations" operated by the Royal Flying Corps...
in Montrose, Angus
Montrose, Angus
Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles north of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The case is considered one of the most famous ghost stories from the First World War, and was investigated by the British government.
Desmond Arthur
Lieutenant Desmond Lucius Studdert P. P. Arthur was born on 31 March 1884 at O'Brien's Bridge in County ClareCounty Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The son of Thomas F. Arthur, he came from a prominent Clare family and had a sister, and a brother: Captain C. W. A. Arthur. Arthur was educated at Portora Royal School
Portora Royal School
Portora Royal School for boys, and some 6th form girls, located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, is one of a number of 'free schools' founded by Royal Charter in 1608, by James I...
, Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. He was an enthusiastic sportsman and won a number of prizes in motoring speed trials, before becoming Lieutenant in the Army Motor Reserve in 1908. Arthur attended the first Irish Aviation Meeting at Leopardstown Racecourse
Leopardstown Racecourse
Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse...
on 29 August 1910. It was there that he was introduced to Cecil Grace
Cecil Grace
-External links:*...
, which reinforced his desire to become a pilot. Arthur joined the 5th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers (Special Reserve) and was promoted to Lieutenant on 27 May 1911. He was known for his adventurous nature, as well as his "unassuming manner and unfailing good spirit".
On 18 June 1912, Arthur gained his Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
certificate after completing his trials flying a Bristol Prier monoplane at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
. He joined the No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps on 17 April 1913, based at Montrose. In 1913, Montrose Airfield was built as an operational base for the training of pilots for the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, the first of its kind in Britain. The flying training school, like many others, experienced frequent crashes as it built up a force of skilled pilots through the First and Second World Wars. At around 7.30am on Tuesday 27 May 1913, Arthur’s B.E.2 205 biplane collapsed without warning while flying over Montrose undertaking a routine practice flight from Upper Dysart to Lunan Bay. Arthur had begun to descend when at 2500 feet, the right wing of the aircraft snapped off and it plunged to the ground. Arthur died instantly after the violence of the impact destroyed nearly every bone in his body. He was found 160 yards away from his machine. Arthur's death in an air crash was one of the first to occur in the Royal Flying Corps, and the first at Montrose. He was buried in Sleepyhillock Cemetery, Montrose.
Contemporaries were surprised at a crash from an experienced pilot. A report issued by the Accidents and Investigation Committee of the Royal Aero Club on 21 June 1913 found that the crash had occurred due to the incompetent repair of a broken spar
Spar (aviation)
In a fixed-wing aircraft, the spar is often the main structural member of the wing, running spanwise at right angles to the fuselage. The spar carries flight loads and the weight of the wings whilst on the ground...
by an unknown mechanic. It was believed that the damage to the plane had been accidental, and shoddily repaired to prevent detection prior to the plane being transferred from Farnborough
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
to Montrose. A government inquiry opened on 11 July 1913. In 1914 M.P. William Joynson-Hicks complained of a "whitewash
Whitewash (censorship)
To whitewash is a metaphor meaning to gloss over or cover up vices, crimes or scandals or to exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data. It is especially used in the context of corporations, governments or other organizations.- Etymology :Its first...
" and that Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
Colonel Seely
J. E. B. Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone
John Edward Bernard Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone CB, CMG, DSO, PC, TD was a British soldier and politician. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1900 to 1904 and a Liberal MP from 1904 to 1922 and from 1923 to 1924...
would not admit to the faulty repair. In the Spring of 1916 the head of Pemberton Billing Ltd called for a judicial enquiry into the military and naval air service, as “certain officers had been murdered rather than killed by the carelessness, incompetence or ignorance of their senior officers or of the technical side of those two services”. An official investigation by a government committee set up on 3 August 1916 concluded that the pilot was at fault, and the crash a result of dangerous flying.
Sightings
On 1 January 1914, the squadron moved from Upper Dysart to Broomfield Farm. Shortly after the government report was published in Autumn 1916, Major Cyril Foggin saw a ghostly figure enter the officers’ mess but did not report it, fearing he would lose his post. There were further sightings by other officers and flight instructors, all occurring in what was the old mess of the No. 2 Flying Squadron. As sightings spread more widely in the facility the ghost became known as the ‘Irish Apparition’ or the ‘Montrose Ghost’. Fear of the ghost caused guards to desert their posts and pilots to request transfer from Montrose. The ghost was named as Desmond Arthur by the editor of British flying magazine The Aeroplane, C. G. Grey. Grey, who was a personal friend of Desmond Arthur, believed that the appearance of his ghost was linked with the official investigation into the crash. A later investigative report, published at the end of 1916, reinstated the reputation of Arthur, finding that the crash was due to a damaged wing. The ghost finally appeared on 17 January 1917 and disappeared again until 1940.In 1940 a Hurricane pilot was distracted by a “mysterious biplane” whilst searching for a Heinkel
Heinkel
Heinkel Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturing company founded by and named after Ernst Heinkel. It is noted for producing bomber aircraft for the Luftwaffe in World War II and for important contributions to high-speed flight.-History:...
bomber. In 1942, a flight lieutenant (whose name is unknown) stationed at Montrose, crashed into the runway not long after takeoff, and was killed instantly. A week before the crash, he had quarrelled with the mechanic working on his plane. The mechanic became subject to an Inquiry but after little evidence of tampering, the charges were dropped. Shortly after the crash, there were reports of a ghost appearing at the airfield wearing a flying suit and goggles. The ghost was known to be encountered along the flight line, emerging from the fog. In 1949, Montrose had become a permanent training station, by which time new cadets were briefed on the ghost. Dozens of sightings occurred of an officer in a white flight suit and a hat until the airfield closed in the 1950s.
On 27 May 1963, Sir Peter Masefield was flying his Chipmunk monoplane close to Montrose while en route from Dalcross to Shoreham, when he saw what he believed was a 70 horsepower B.E.2 biplane; the pilot was wearing a leather flying helmet, goggles and a flying scarf. Masefield landed when he believed he had seen it crashing, but on reaching the ground discovered that there was no plane or crash site.