RAF Montrose
Encyclopedia
RAF Montrose was a Royal Air Force
(RAF) station in Forfarshire (now more commonly called Angus
) in Scotland
.
In 1912, the British government planned twelve "Air Stations" operated by the Royal Flying Corps
. The first of these was at Montrose
, which became operational on February 26, 1913, with No 2 Squadron in residence, firstly, at Upper Dysart, to the South of the town, then at Broomfield, Montrose from January 1914. When No 2 Squadron moved to France in 1914, the first to land there, the aerodrome was inactive until the Royal Naval Air Service and then the Royal Flying Corps took up residence again in May 1915.
It became a major training base with Americans arriving in 1918 to train for the Western Front, and Canadian and British Squadrons forming. When the RAF started to expand, the aerodrome was re-opened for training purposes. Later, during World War II
, many fighter
squadrons and the RNAS
served at RAF Montrose. Commonwealth
, Polish
, Czech
, American
, Russia
n, Turkish
, Free French
and other Allied
nationals all trained and served at RAF Montrose during this time.
It is famously said to be haunted by the ghost of Desmond Arthur
, who was based at Montrose and died in an air crash on 27 May 1913.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) station in Forfarshire (now more commonly called Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
) in 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...
.
In 1912, the British government planned twelve "Air Stations" operated by 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 these was at Montrose
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...
, which became operational on February 26, 1913, with No 2 Squadron in residence, firstly, at Upper Dysart, to the South of the town, then at Broomfield, Montrose from January 1914. When No 2 Squadron moved to France in 1914, the first to land there, the aerodrome was inactive until the Royal Naval Air Service and then the Royal Flying Corps took up residence again in May 1915.
It became a major training base with Americans arriving in 1918 to train for the Western Front, and Canadian and British Squadrons forming. When the RAF started to expand, the aerodrome was re-opened for training purposes. Later, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
squadrons and the RNAS
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
served at RAF Montrose. Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Czech
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n, Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Free French
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
and other Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
nationals all trained and served at RAF Montrose during this time.
It is famously said to be haunted by the ghost of Desmond Arthur
Desmond Arthur
Lieutenant Desmond Arthur 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...
, who was based at Montrose and died in an air crash on 27 May 1913.