WW1 commemorations at Britain's first military airbase

[Paul K]

Very interesting, I think...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-28614778

[cstorey]

Yes, very interesting except that it is wrong, as is almost anything promulgated by BBC Scotland these days . Upavon and Larkhill were operational from about 1912 onwards, and I suspect although I cannot be sure that Netheravon also preceded Montrose

[gordon-in-aberdeen]

Thats just down the road from my humble abode

I believe the BBC text is technically correct though, because it was the first purpose built RFC "Operational" Air Station. Upavon, Netheravon and Larkhill all did proceed Montrose to varying degrees, (according to various sources) but they were training & development establishments to start with etc. whereas Montrose was the first Operational Station. It housed No.2 Squadron RFC from the 26th of February 1913 to August 1914. and many other squadrons afterwards.

If any of you are passing through the area, I recommend a visit. You'd not believe how many of the buildings in the aerial photo in the BBC article still survive to this day and are still used by various local businesses alongside the museum, which is housed in the old dispersal hut etc.

If your interested, have a look at : -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montrose_A ... age_Centre
and
http://www.rafmontrose.org.uk/



Gordon
Edit some minor typos above, in case anyone noticed any changes, sorry

[Airspeed]

Just thinking recently how we don't hear much of ghosts in Australia, then I heard of a book that tells stories of our most haunted places.
Was terrified of them when I was a kid, especially after "seeing" something happen right in front of me, that turned out not to have occurred.
Now I see that Montrose is the most haunted airbase. Should I start getting the shivers again?

Anyway, thanks for posting, chaps, whether or not it is absolutely the "first" is outweighed by the great restoration and maintenance that's gone into it.
The information on line seems to strongly support the status.