Kenneth Bruce, author of Where Sky and Summit Meet: Flight over Perthshire – A History: Tales of Pilots, Airfields, Aeronautical Feats, & War (2019) has researched the stories of many of those from Perthshire who served in the airforce during theFirst and Second World Wars.
The list below is a STREET/TOWN index – to search a NAME index click here
First World War: Coming Soon.
First World War: On 28 July 1914 BRITAIN DECLARED WAR and the First World War – the ‘Great War’; the ‘war to end all wars’ – commenced. Ostensibly caused by inter-imperialist rivalry, the first shots of the war followed the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 and the ensuing European crisis led to the world mobilisation of more than 70 million military personnel.
The war lasted until 11 November 1918 and directly resulted in the loss of 9 million combatants and 13 million civilian deaths. Britain went to war in the air with only three squadrons comprising but 113 airworthy aircraft and 2,000 all ranks Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) personnel. Initially the RFC and RNAS relied heavily on the French aircraft industry, especially for aircraft engines.
The RFC first went into action on 19 August 1914, six days after they had left the UK for France. By the end of the war, the Allies were out-producing German industry by nearly five-to-one in terms of aircraft and over seven-to-one in engines. Over 200,000 aircraft worldwide were produced during the war.
The overall average life expectancy during the Great War of a pilot was 92 flying hours. There was nonetheless no shortage of volunteers for aircrew training and to join what Prime Minister David Lloyd George called the ‘cavalry of the clouds’. Parachutes were not issued until the end of the war.
Second World War: Britain declared war on Germany at 11:15 hours on 3 September 1939. That evening, the German submarine U-30 torpedoed and sank the transatlantic passenger liner SS Athenia south of Rockall (in the North Atlantic Ocean), with the loss of 117 lives. The Glasgow-built SS Athenia carrying over 1,100 passengers was enroute to Montreal having left Glasgow on 1 September. War had arrived in Britain. The following day, No. 224 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command at RAF Leuchars) flying Lockheed Hudson’s coastal reconnaissance aircraft took part in the first air- to-air combat of the war when they attacked, unsuccessfully, a lone Dornier Do 18 Flying Boat over the North Sea.
During the Second World War, the RAF reached a total strength of 1,208,000 men and women during WW2 of whom 185,000 were aircrew. Some 125,000 RAF Bomber Command aircrew took to the skies. Of these 55,573 were killed, a further 8,403 were wounded and 9,838 became prisoners of war. One in six would be expected to survive their first tour of 30 operations. Only one in 40 would survive their second tour of duty.
Kirklands, Aberuthven. Family home of Squadron Leader James Lister Smith, pilot, killed in air crash during WW2. See Ken Bruce, Where Sky and Summit Meet.Flight Over Perthshire A History: Pilots, Airfields, Aeronautical Feats, & War (2019).
Deansland, Auchterarder. Family home of Flight Lieutenant Alexander Donald MacIntosh ‘Sandy’ Gunn Sandy Gunn, pilot during WW2, executed for escaping from German POW Camp, Stalag Luft III in Poland. See Ken Bruce, Where Sky and Summit Meet. Flight Over Perthshire A History: Pilots, Airfields, Aeronautical Feats, & War (2019).
20 Balhousie Street, Perth. Family home of RAF Pilot Officer Peter Gordon Anderson, pilot, shot down and killed over France during WW2.
33 Balhousie Street, Perth. Family home of Marshall of the Royal Air Force, Baron Cameron of Balhousie, Neil Cameron, KT, GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC, pilot during WW2. See Ken Bruce, Where Sky and Summit Meet. Flight Over Perthshire A History: Pilots, Airfields, Aeronautical Feats, & War (2019).
18 Balvaird Place, Perth. Family home of RAF air gunner/wireless operator, Derrick Barrie Simpson, shot down and killed over the English Channel during WW2.
Isaville, Bankfoot. Family home of Warrant Officer William Alexander Watson DFM, flight engineer, killed in air accident during WW2.
5 Barossa Place, Perth. Family home of Royal Naval Air Service/RAF, Group Captain Robert Halley DFC & 2 Bars, AFC. WW1 bomber pilot, piloted long-distance flight to India and bombed Kabul, Afghanistan in 1919.
Viewmount, Bellwood Park, Perth. Family home of Royal Flying Corps pilot, Andrew Beattie Sneddon who lost his life when he flew out over the North Sea and did not return during WW1. His father was Andrew McDougall Sneddon, senior partner at Sneddon, Campbell & Munro (Solicitors), a Justice of the Peace and Honorary Sheriff Substitute of Perth.
18 Breadalbane Terrace, Perth. Family home of RAF Flying Officer JamesHarper Greig Horne, navigator, killed in air accident 17 November 1943.
2 Brunswick Terrace (now 23 St Magdalene’s Road), Perth. Family home of RAF Flight Lieutenant John Alexander Morrison, navigator, killed in aircraft crash whilst evacuating casualties after D-Day during WW2.
Burghmuir Road, Perth Home of Battle of Britain pilot, Flying Officer William Nairn Gardiner, and town councillor. See Ken Bruce, Where Sky and Summit Meet. Flight Over Perthshire A History: Pilots, Airfields, Aeronautical Feats, & War (2019).
2 Castle Terrace, Needless Road, Perth. Family home of RAF Pilot Officer John Robertson McLaren, pilot, shot down and killed near Calais during WW2.
Rowanbank, 44 Camphill Road, Broughty Ferry. Family home of Flight Sergeant Alan Reid Beveridge and Flight Lieutenant Robert Graham Webster Beveridgehttps://madeinperth.org/flyers-from-perthshire-in-the-second-world-war-flight-sergeant-alan-reid-beveridge-and-flight-lieutenant-robert-graham-webster-beveridge/, pilots, killed during WW2. Family from Bridge of Earn.
Caputh. Family home of Leading Aircraftman Ian Taylor, airman, died as the result of injuries in North Africa during WW2.
6 Charlotte Street, Perth. Home of former Perth Town Councillor, RAF Pilot Officer John Littlejohn, air gunner, shot down and killed over Germany during WW2.
Auchter Villa, Clyde Place, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant Leonard Albert Soutar, observer, shot down and killed over Germany during WW2.
20 County Place, Perth. Family home of Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) Leading Aircraftwoman Nan Menzies Roberts, killed on duty during WW2.
Birnam View, Coupar Angus. Family home of Second Lieutenant Howard Watson, pilot, killed in air crash during WW1.
Knowehead, Coupar Angus. Home of Flight Lieutenant James Shaw, pilot, killed in air crash during WW2.
Craigie, Clunie. Family home of Sergeant Alexander Little, pilot, killed in air crash during WW2.
Craigie Park Terrace, Perth. Family home of Pilot Officer William Davidson, pilot, killed in an air crash during WW2. See Ken Bruce, Where Sky and Summit Meet. Flight Over Perthshire A History: Pilots, Airfields, Aeronautical Feats, & War (2019).
Crieff, address unknown, Flight Lieutenant William Reid VC, pilot, during WW2.
44 Crieff Road, Perth. Family home of Battle of Britain pilot, RAF Flight Lieutenant Alexander Henry Thom DFC.
Crown Place, Crieff. Home of Sergeant Gilbert Cameron Gibson, air gunner, died in air crash in Southern Atlantic during WW2.
17 Cutlog Vennel, Perth. Family home of Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) Leading Aircraftwoman Ethel Cassidy, killed in car accident whilst serving during WW2.
56 Darnhall Drive, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant David Maxwell Laing, wireless operator/air gunner, shot down and killed over Germany during WW2.
18 Davie Park, Blairgowrie. Family home of Aircraftman Second Class Thomas Kennedy, wireless operator/air gunner, shot down over France during WW2.
27 Campbell’s Buildings, Dunkeld Road, Perth. Family home of RAF 10 Squadron Sergeant Charles MacFarlane, Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM), air gunner.
14 Robertson’s Buildings, Dunkeld Road, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant Alistair Stuart McLaren, air gunner, shot down and killed over The Netherlands.
9 Dupplin Brae, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant William Thomson, wireless operator, did not return from bombing mission to Germany during WW2.
31 Dupplin Road, Perth. Family home of pilot, Royal Navy Petty Officer James William Crow, killed in an air accident during WW2.
Brae Cottage, Fairies Road, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant Thomas Nicholson, pilot, shot down and killed over Germany during WW2.
Kenmore, Feddal Road, Braco. Home of Flight Lieutenant Douglas Cameron DFM, air gunner during WW2.
64 Feus, Auchterarder. Family home of Battle of Britain pilot Andrew Smitton Darling, shot down over Southern England during WW2.
69 George Street, Perth. Family home of RAF Flight Sergeant James Currie Wood, wireless operator/air gunner, shot down and killed during WW2 over The Netherlands.
131 Glasgow Road, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant Charles Duncan Powrie, Pathfinder, observer, shot down and killed over Germany during WW2.
177 Glasgow Road, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant John Archibald Campbell, flight engineer, killed in air accident during WW2.
Innergeldie, Glen Lednock, Comrie. Family home of Deputy Provost Marshall of the Royal Air Force, John Manson Craig VC, solider, RFC pilot and RAF Police. See Ken Bruce, Where Sky and Summit Meet. Flight Over Perthshire A History: Pilots, Airfields, Aeronautical Feats, & War (2019).
Cray Cottage, Glenshee. Family home of Sergeant Peter Straiton, air gunner during WW2, killed in air accident during WW2.
14 Gray Street, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant Duncan Cameron Findlay, observer, shot down and killed over France during WW2.
Mavisbank, Guildtown. Family home of Flight Lieutenant William M Walton DFC, pilot during WW2.
Hay Street, Perth. (house name or no. unknown) Family home of Squadron leader James Crawford Halley DSO. RAF Coastal Command pilot during WW2.
290 High Street, Perth. Family home of Royal Navy Steward Robert Russell Martin. Served with the Royal Navy during WW2. Killed when his ship was torpedoed by a U-boat in the Mediterranean Sea during WW2.
Boatland, Isla Road, Perth. Family home of glider pilot, Captain John Neil Campbell Denholm. Killed in action during the Allied Invasion of Sicily.
3 James Street, Perth. Family home of RAF Pilot Officer William John Henderson, 2nd pilot, killed in flying accident during WW2.
Cornhill House, Jeanfield Road, Perth. Family home of Royal Flying Corps (RFC), pilot, shot down and killed by the ‘Flying Circus’ commanded by Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, during WW1.
10 Keir Street, Bridgend, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant David Taylor Adams, wireless operator/air gunner, killed in air accident in Ghana during WW2.
Drumearn, Kincarrathie Crescent, Perth. Family home of RAF Squadron Leader Gavin Strang Smith, pilot, shot down and killed over The Netherlands during WW2.
5 Kincarrathie Crescent, Perth. Family home of RAF Flight Sergeant Archibald Campbell, pilot, killed in air accident during WW2.
Far Row, Kinnaird Bank, Craigie, Perth. Home of RAF Aircraftman 1st Class John Tyndel Farquhar, killed when as passenger his ship was torpedoed during WW2.
Lindores House, Lindores, Fife, Family home of Pilot Officer John Reginald James Laidlay, killed in air crash north of Aberdeen during WW2.
Milnathort. Family home of Flight Sergeant Colin David Brough, observer during WW2
Murray House, Muirhall Road, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant Joseph MacCrae Chambers, pilot killed in flying accident during WW2. Dr Walter Duncanson Chambers (his father) was Superintendent of James Murray’s Royal Asylum, Perth.
Dunalistair, Muirton Bank, Perth. Home of Lady Margaret Watson-Watt. First wife of the ‘Inventor of Radar’, Robert Watson-Watt.
31 Muirton Place, Perth. Family home of RAF Leading Aircraftman Thomas Ralph Morton who died of natural causes whilst serving with the RAF during WW2.
59 North Methven Street, Perth. Family home of RAF Flying Officer Charles Grant, air gunner, killed in air accident during WW2.
Winterpark, Muirton of Ardblair, Blairgowrie. Family home of Leading Aircraftman Denholm Gow, wireless operator/air gunner, shot down in North Sea during WW2.
Perth Road, Scone. (house or number unknown). Family home of RAF Corporal Colin Mackenzie who died as the result of an accident whilst working on an aircraft during WW2.
Errolbank, Perth Road, Scone. Home of RAF Pilot Officer John George Mackay, pilot, died as the result of illness during WW2.
Beechwood, 9 Pitcullen Terrace, Perth. Family home of First World War pilots Second Lieutenant Herrick Peter Gladstone Leyden who was shot down and killed in France and Second Lieutenant Robert William Gladstone Leyden.
12 Pitcullen Crescent, Perth, Family home of RAF Flight Lieutenant William Simpson Fraser (or Frazer) better known as the actor Bill Fraser. He appeared on stage and TV over the years, many of them comedic parts. Fraser appeared in 50 movies from 1938 through to 1987. Alexander Frazer, his father, was the Lord Dean of Guild in Perth.
Meadowbank, Pitheavlis, Perth. Family home of RAF Pilot Officer David Wood who was killed in an air accident during WW2.
Pitheavlis Farm, Perth. Family home of RAF Flight Sergeant William Henderson McDougall, wireless operator, shot down and killed over the Mediterranean Sea.
51 Priory Place, Perth. Family Home of RAF Flight Sergeant Ian Graham Campbell Miller, air gunner, shot down and killed during WW2.
Colintraive, 39 Queen Street, Craigie, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant Thomas Kaye, pilot, killed in an air accident during WW2.
52 Queen Street, Craigie, Perth. Family home of RAF Acting Sergeant David Ferguson Sharpe Campbell, observer, shot down and killed off Norway.
44 Rose Crescent, Perth. Family home of RAF Sergeant John Conacher Robertson, observer, shot down and killed over The Netherlands during WW2.
4d Ruthven Place, Perth. Home of RAF Flight Sergeant Gilbert Fergusson Sage, navigator, Pathfinder, shot down and killed over Germany during WW2.
11 Shore Road, Perth. Family home of RAF Sehttps://madeinperth.org/flyers-from-perthshire-in-the-second-world-war-sergeant-william-scrimgeour-walton/rgeant William Scrimgeour Walton, air gunner, shot down over and killed Germany during WW2.
75 South Street, Perth. Family home of RAF Aircraftman 1st Class David Robertson, Armstrong Whitworth Whitley crew member, shot down and killed over the North Sea during WW2.
Wester Gourdie, Spittalfield. Family home of Sergeant G W Whytock, air crew member rescued after crashing in the Bay of Bengal during WW2. See Ken Bruce, Where Sky and Summit Meet. Flight Over Perthshire A History: Pilots, Airfields, Aeronautical Feats, & War (2019).
Stanley. Address unknown, Flight Sergeant William Knaggs (retired to Stanley in 1983).
Stanley Place, Perth. Family home of Flight Lieutenant Alexander McInnes, pilot during WW2.
Borestone Cottage, Trinity Gask. Family home of George Thomson VC, air gunner, died in The Netherlands during WW2. See Ken Bruce, Where Sky and Summit Meet. Flight Over Perthshire A History: Pilots, Airfields, Aeronautical Feats, & War (2019).
32 Viewlands Road, Perth. Home of RAF Leading Aircraftman James Cameron Campbell who was killed in air accident during WW2.
Waverly Bank, Viewlands Road, Perth. Family home of RAF Pilot Officer James McCash. Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) pilot, killed transferring aircraft to Malta during WW2.
29 Whitefriars Street, Dovecotland, Perth. Home of RAF Sergeant William McDougall, air gunner, shot down over The Netherlands in 1941. Prisoner of War in Stalag Luft I.
HMP Perth Prison Village. Family home of RAF Sergeant James Milton Whitehead, wireless operator/air gunner, killed in aircraft accident during WW2.