January 1914 – The Move to Dundee

The Aeroplane – January 23rd 1914

Major Gordon, R.M.L.I., and Capt. Barnby, R.M.L.I., started out from Port Laing on Tuesday on Short seaplane No. 42, and alighted off St. Andrews. In attempting to start again the floats were so damaged that the machine was taken ashore.

It was there converted into a land machine by fitting it with wheels. Major Gordon had some trouble with the controls while putting the machine through its tests over the sands, but it got away safely. They arrived at the Dysart Aerodrome on Wednesday, and, on the following day they flew it down to the new aerodrome at Broomfield, where it is now housed.

The Aeroplane – February 5th 1914

The developments of the Dundee base, which have been dormant for some time, now promise to take definite shape. Orders have been received at Port Laing to make ready to move to Dundee. These operations are to be commenced on February 18th. The officers in charge of the station are Major Gordon and Capt. Barnby R.M.L.I. Much reconnaissance work has been done over the Forth, but owing to the “lie of the land,” the locality has proved bad owing to wind-gusts, and the unsuitability of the location has made it necessary to move. This is the third shift to be made by the naval aeroplanes in the district, as they have been at Leven and Port Laing, and now go to Dundee. One imagines, however, that much work will still be done at the mouth of the Forth.

The Aeroplane – February 12th 1914

The work of transferring the aviation base from Port Laing to Dundee is now rapidly going on, the three sheds being dismantled and sent by rail to their destinations. One tent is already on the way, and the skeleton of another was being rapidly demolished when the site was visited. The principal reason for the shift is now understood to be the failure of the owner of the ground and the Admiralty to come to terms. The proprietor, an artist, is apparently holding out for an extraordinary figure. Major Gordon and Capt. Barnaby, R.M.L.I., will fly over Fifeshire to the new station during this week, and it is expected to be in working order by the 18th. The departure of the base from North Queensferry is a keen disappointment to the local inhabitants, whose trade has increased since the aviators came there.

[The artist in this article was Charles Martin Hardie, of Garth Hill, North Queensferry.]

The Aeroplane – February 19th 2014

On Monday, Major Gordon, R.M.L.I., flew from North Queensferry to Dundee on the Borel seaplane carrying Leading Seaman Shaw as passenger. The flight occupied 58 mins, the coast-line being followed all the way, and ended up in a flight over the Tay. The machine was hauled up on the slip and covered up for the day, huge crowds waiting in the cold on the chance of seeing more flying. Next day, much to their disappointment, the wings were taken off and the Borel was taxied up to the dock, where she lies at anchor.

The work of transferring the hangars still goes on, and it is understood that Messrs. Cowieson, of Glasgow, have secured the contract for the erection of permanent sheds at the base – Carolina Port – indication that an extensive scheme is meditated.

The Aeroplane – February 26th 2014.

The work of erecting the sheds at Carolina Port, Dundee, is still being rushed on, and one of them was so far advanced that on Wednesday the Borel, minus its wings, which had been at anchor, was landed on bogies and taken to the shed. The strange sight of the seaplane caused quite a stir. The Maurice Farman has arrived at the base in pieces and will be assembled as soon as the second shed is ready for it. The other machine (Short No. 42) still sits in a hangar at Broomhouse Aerodrome, Montrose. Commander Scarlett was to have inspected the work last week, but has not yet done so.

The Aeroplane – March 5th 2014.

The naval base at Carolina Port, Dundee, is temporarily a land base, as all the flying has been done on Short No. 42 with a land carriage. The sheds are still being put up, but it will be some time before they are ready. They are placed about 100? yards from the banks of the Tay, so that a long slipway will have to be constructed.

On Tuesday of last week Capt. Barnby made a fine flight from Montrose and landed at the port. Flying was done by Major Gordon, R.M.L.I., on the succeeding days, each for about 15 mins. The landing-place is a long stretch of rough ground which is not in the best trim for flying, on one side being the Tay, while the other is lined by telegraph poles. It takes considerable skill to rise and land here, and the officers show much ability in handling their machines.