April 2014 – back to bonnie Dundee

The Aeroplane – April 23, 1914.

Dundee naval air base is regaining something of its old activity. The manoeuvres at Leven have now finished and preparations are being made for the return of the machines to Carolina Port.

On Thursday, Major Gordon flew the Borel, No. 86, from Leven to the Tay. Leaving the Forth about a quarter to seven, he made a good flight round the coastline, arriving above Dundee half an hour later. Owing to fog, he was compelled to fly at a low altitude, and before landing he flew up to the Tay Bridge, above which he turned. About 9 o’clock the machine was brought ashore and housed in a Bessonneau canvas hangar. Major Gordon also inspected the slipway which is under construction, but which was badly damaged by the waves during the gales of last week. Stronger and larger piles are now being put in to replace the ones which were washed away, and a much stronger slipway is now to be built than was originally intended.

Major Gordon, R.M.L.I., and six men still remain at Leven, and some little flying continues there. On Wednesday morning (April 15th), Major Gordon flew Borel 86 back to Dundee. On Thursday, with one of his men as passenger. Major Gordon made a half-hour flight on Short 42, and on Saturday morning four flights, apparently on the same machine.

One gathers that the temporary sheds are to be removed, and the station vacated within the next fortnight.

The Aeroplane – April 30, 1914

The transferring of the seaplanes from Leven to Dundee was continued on Monday afternoon, when Major Gordon, with A.M. Usher, flew the Short tractor (100-h.p. Gnome) No. 77 round the coast to Carolina Port. There was a thick haze and the pilot flew at about 500 ft., following the coastline. After entering the Tay he twice circled H.M.S. Vulcan and then glided down to the slipway.

Next morning Capt. Barnby created a new record between Leven and Dundee. At 5.50 a.m. he got into the Short biplane No. 42 and was in Dundee at 6.10 a.m. He then motored back to Leven and flew Short tractor (100-h.p. Gnome) No. 74, with A.M. Croucott as passenger, round the coast to the base. He was followed a little later by Major Gordon on the sister machine, No. 75, carrying A.M. Noonan as passenger. They followed the same route as Capt Barnby and landed shortly after him. Capt. Barnby then took No. 75 and, with Leading Seaman Shaw as passenger, gave a fine exhibition flight over the Tay. Short No. 42 was brought out to the cinder-track and Capt. Barnby flew over Broughty Castle.

On Wednesday, shortly after eleven, Capt. Barnby, on Short No. 77, with Lieut. Curtiss, R.N., as passenger, flew west up the Tay, and after 40 mins came back to the base. He repeated this flight accompanied by Cadet Curtiss, R.N., as passenger. No more flying was done during the week, and the men who were busy dismantling the hangars at Leven have gone on six days’ leave.

By Tuesday of last week all the machines had been flown from Leven to Dundee, and the Bessonneau hangars are now dismantled, nothing but the barbed wire fence remaining.

Prior to the departure of the Short on Monday several exhibition flights were made, and the numerous visitors from Edinburgh and other places had the chance of witnessing the flying. General regret is expressed locally that the Corps are not to be stationed here all the summer. The Town Council of Leven are to make an effort to get a seaplane base permanently established here. Mr. Asquith is to be approached, one learns, but whether the “oracle will work” or not is a matter of speculation.

Permission has been granted by the Town Council of St. Andrews for the erection of two aeroplane sheds on the West Sands, to accommodate aeroplanes which land there occasionally.

The Aeroplane – May 7, 1914.

Flying was resumed at Dundee on Saturday, May 2nd, and the Short tractor 100-h p. Gnome No. 74 was out from eleven to four. Major Gordon, R.M.L.I., made the first flight with .A.M. Johnstone as passenger. He flew up and down the river for 24 mins. Capt. Barnby, R.M.L.I.. then boarded the seaplane with .A.M. Wellburn, and flew the same course as the previous flight for 40 mins. Major Gordon again took the Short, and, after flying down the river for some time, turned the machine south and flew to St. Andrews. An hour later he returned, and landed before the slipway. Capt. Barnby then made his second flight, accompanied by A.M. Noonan, and flew from between the Tav Bridge and Broughty Ferry.

After keeping up this circuit for an hour he descended and handed the machine over to Major Gordon, who made the last flight of the day, being in the air about 20 mins.

The Aeroplane – May 14, 1914.

On Wednesday, Major Gordon, R.M.L.I., made a trip from Dundee to St. Andrews on .Short tractor (100-h.p. Gnome) No. 74, accompanied by A.M. Crancott. He circled the “Mars” training-ship and then flew down the Tay and round the coast to St. Andrews, where he landed safely. He then went aboard H.M.S. “Dreadnought” for lunch, after which he made several flights over the bay with some of the officers as passengers. He started back for Dundee at 3.30 and flew at a height of from 500 to 1,000 ft. On Friday afternoon Major Gordon was out again in the same machine, and after a few minutes’ flight was forced to descend with an engine stoppage. He made a second start, but had not gone far when a rainstorm made flying disagreeable, and he landed. He was accompanied by Capt. Fane, of H.M.S. “Vulcan,” and at their third attempt made off in the direction of Montrose. When still five miles from that place they encountered so heavy rain that they turned and came back to Dundee, when the machine was put back in the hangar.

Capt. Barnby, R.M.L.L, and half the men at Dundee went on leave about the middle of the week as the first batch returned. The work of levelling up the ground between the sheds and slipway is making good progress.

The Aeroplane – May 21, 1914.

On Tuesday, at Dundee, Major Gordon, R.M.L.I., with A.M. Fitall, on Short 75 (100-h.p. Gnome), flew over the Tay. On his return to the slipway, Capt. Kilner, who has lately been transferred to this station, took charge, and with A.M. Hamilton flew up the Tay. Coming back with the wind, he was flying at 90 miles per hour, but had a stiff fight facing it. On Thursday, on the same machine. Major Gordon, with Chief A.M. Russell, made a test flight to the Tay Bridge and back.

As he descended, Capt. Kilner, with. C.A.M. Usher, set out on Short 74 for the Tay Bridge. He turned and came back down the river, and as he passed the base. Major Gordon rose on No. 75 and both machines flew down the Tay and round the coast to St. Andrews, returning after a stop of about an hour. After landing, the pilots exchanged machines and gave a good display of banking.

The Aeroplane – May 28, 1914.

The pilots at Dundee have been almost every day during the past week up and down the Tay.

Good flying was seen in the gusty wind of Tuesday when Major Gordon, R. M.L.I. (Short No. 74), and Capt. Kilner, R. M.L.I. (Short No. 75), were out. Capt. Kilner was first away and made a circular flight over the district for 40 minutes. Major Gordon was only up half that time and did not go far, the conditions being too “bumpy” for long flights.

On Saturday the officers made three good flights. Major Gordon was first out in Short No. 77, accompanied by A.M. Colman for about 15 minutes, followed by Capt. Barnby, R.M.L.I., who took C.A.M. Dickenson. Some engine trouble ensued and they came down alongside the German cruiser “Augsburg,” which was lying off the air station. After adjustment the machine went up the river for another turn. The third flight of some 15 minutes was made by the same officer with Mr. Mclntyre as observer.

The Aeroplane – June 4, 1914.

The officers at the Dundee Base were out on Monday forenoon. The machines used were Shorts (100-h.p. Gnomes), Nos. 74 and 75. Major Gordon, R.M.L.I., on No. 74 with A.M. Hamilton and Capt. Kilner, R.M.L.I., with C.A.M. Usher on No. 75 flew north for Aberdeen. A descent was made at Stonehaven for about five minutes, Aberdeen being reached in seventy-five minutes from Dundee, where Capt. Kilner had one of his floats punctured by some wreckage. This was put right with the help of some fishermen, and the return to Dundee was commenced at 2.30 p.m. and the pilots landed an hour and a half later.

On Tuesday morning flying was started early and a lot of practice work with submarines was done. At 10.30 Major Gordon went off in Short No. 74 with Lieut. Rendall and C.A.M. Shaw as passengers to look for submarines at the mouth of the Tay for over an hour. Capt. Kilner with Lieut. Bonham-Carter as passenger on Short 77 flew out to the scene of operations. A descent was made in the open sea, and as the passenger was restarting the engine it backfired and the starting handle was jerked overboard. The destroyer “Ettrick” took the seaplane in tow and brought her back to Carolina Port Later Major Gordon again flew Short No. 74 with A.M. Walker, and after circling St. Andrews flew up the Tay to Newburgh, where a short stay was made and Capt. Kilner made two flights in No. 77, carrying A.M. Willburn and Lieut. Randall as passengers.

On Thursday Major Gordon set off for St. .Andrews on Short No. 74 with Lieut. Curtiss, R.N. Capt. Kilner had some trouble in getting the required “revs” out of his Gnome, but at the second attempt gave a long display of good flying east of Broughty Ferry. No more flying was done during the week.
Surveyors have been busy during the past week or two at the Carolina Port, and it is learned that an improved concrete slipway will shortly be commenced and also a large permanent shed, a workshop and a petrol store and a first-aid room. These completed, the base will assume proportions worthy of the importance of the station.

The Aeroplane – June 11, 1914.

On Tuesday several flights were made with the Short machines at Dundee. Capt. Barnby, R.M.L.L, made two flights and Capt. Kilner, R.M.L.L, one on No. 77 (100-h.p. Gnome), an air-mechanic being carried on each occasion. The flights were all over the district and at 1,000 to 2,000 ft. On Thursday, Capt. Barnby, with an air-mechanic, flew to St. Andrews on Short 77 and was accompanied by Capt. Kilner on Short 75, who carried Petty-Officer Chidgey as passenger. On the return journey, when entering the mouth of the Tay, a tongue of flame leaped from the engine of No. 75 and scorched the passenger’s face. It was immediately shut off and the machine planed down to the water, where it was discovered that one of the valves was “sticky.” Capt. Barnby also descended to see what was the matter, and he hailed a passing tug, which took No. 75 in tow and brought her up to Broughty Ferry, where the launch from the base took her in charge. The injuries to the passenger were slight, owing to the rapid cutting out of the engine.

The Aeroplane – June 18, 1914

There has not been much flying at Dundee during the past week. On Thursday afternoon, at 3.30, Capt. Kilner, R.M.L.L, carrying Lieut. Johnstone, R.F.A., on Short No. 73 (100-h.p. Gnome), flew to Monifeith. Capt. Barnby, R.M.L.L, then made a flight on the same machine with Lieut. Boyd, R.G.A., giving a fine display of banking by the Tay Bridge. Capt. Kilner again took over the machine and, along with Private Oldfield, visited Monifeith and then, after circling the “Vulcan,” returned to the base.

With Lieut. Johnstone, R.F.A., as passenger, Capt. Barnby made another flight, circling the ferryboat. Engine trouble forced his return to the base. This was soon put right, and Capt. Kilner made the last flight for the day with A.M. Fisher, circling some torpedo-boats in the Tay. There was no more flying during the week.

The Aeroplane – June 25, 1914.

Flying commenced at Dundee on Tuesday of last week, when Capt. Barnby, R.M.L.I., left the base at 10.30 with Lieut. – Comdr. Layton, of the Submarine Service, on Short No. 77. Capt. Kilner, with Lieut. Taylor, on Short No. 75, followed, and both machines engaged in submarine “spotting” off the mouth of the Tay for an hour and a half. Capt. Barnby then made a second flight over Dundee.

On Wednesday, at 10.15, Capt. Barnby, on Short 74, carried Colonel Brown, while Capt. Kilner, on Short 75, took Lieut. General Sir J. S. Ewart, K.C.B., A.D.C., G.O.C. Scottish Command, and both machines flew for some time over the Tay Valley.

After landing those officers, the pilots took aboard A.M. McIntyre and A.M; Dickinson as observers, and flew to Barry Camp and observed the effects of big gun fire at sea targets. Capt. Barnby landed near the shore beside the camp, after which both machines returned to Carolina Port.

1st July 2014 – Formation of the Royal Naval Air Service

The big news of July 1914, apart from the belligerent rumblings from Europe, was the announcement of the creation of the Royal Naval Air Service as part of the Royal Navy, with the Royal Flying Corps focussing entirely on Army aviation.

This was to some extent a formal announcement of what had become the practical split between the Military and Naval Wings of the RFC.

It would allow the Navy to concentrate on the development of seaplanes and aircraft carriers both of which would have a role to play in the coming war.