RNAS East Fortune – coastal patrol station
East Fortune and Belhaven Sands
Although not officially opened as an RNAS station until August 1916, flying had begun at East Fortune the year before. The airfield was used by a number of fighter aircraft during the First World War but is primarily associated with airships at this time. East Fortune’s geographical position near the mouth of the Forth made it very suitable for coastal patrols. Avro 504 and Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c aircraft were among the fixed wing types that carried out this role from East Fortune.
After being commissioned as RNAS East Fortune in 1916, the first airships began to arrive. Non-rigid Coastal Class followed by North Sea Class airships were the first, before the more famous rigid R series appeared. The R.24 was based at East Fortune from 1917 and the R.29 from the following year.
N.S. 7 and N.S. 8 North Sea class airships – note the crew crossing the walkway from the main cabin to the engine gondola!
R24 at East Fortune
Two large airship sheds were built in 1916 before a third followed to house the rigid airships in 1917. These huge buildings were dismantled in 1922.
East Fortune – airship sheds at the top, and gas generation and storage at bottom right.
IWM video of R24
The Imperial War Museum has this video of R24 test flights at Inchinnan.
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