The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Montrose Air Station marks RAF centenary
Veterans lay wreaths at site of former training base
Britain’s first operational military air base has played a crucial part in marking the centenary of the RAF’s formation.
At Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, veterans laid wreaths at the commemorative stone erected to honour those who served at RFC/RAF Montrose from its beginnings in 1913.
A host of Battle of Britain aces would later take to the Angus skies.
Later this year a Freedom of Angus ceremony will mark the formation of the UK’s first fixed-wing air squadron, putting the RAF alongside HMS Montrose, 45 Commando Royal Marines and The Black Watch as holders of the honour.
Heritage centre chairman Ron Morris said No 2 Squadron established the air station at Montrose as the first operational military air base in Britain.
Another key milestone was the January 1936 formation of No 8 Flight Training School to train pilots in response to the rearmament of Germany.
That led to the setting up of No 2 Flight Instructor School to further improve standards.
British and Commonwealth pilots were tutored alongside Polish, Czech, American, Russian, Turkish, French and other Allied airmen.
Montrose also served as a base for the Spitfires and Hurricanes of operational squadrons which formed part of the air defence for the city of Edinburgh and the coastal ports along the east coast of Scotland.