Lieutenant Herrick Peter Gladstone Leyden was the son of Patrick Peter and Margaret Florence Gladstone Leyden, of Beechwood, 9 Pitcullen Terrace, Perth. Herrick was born on 24 March 1898 at Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley. His father was a Customs and Excise and Old Age Pensions Officer in Tay Street. […]
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 […]
William (Bill) Simpson Fraser (sometimes spelt Frazer) was born on 5 June 1908 to the Alexander family of 12 Pitcullen Crescent, Perth. The family business was Messrs Frazer & Sons, Clothiers (merchant tailors and complete outfitters) which was located at 55-59 High Street, Perth, with branches in Pitlochry, Kingussie and […]
When Bill Knaggs retired at the age of 60, he moved to Stanley to spend the last 23 years of his life. Bill was shot down over Northern France in 1944, only one of two crew members of his Avro Lancaster bomber to survive; Knaggs not only survived the crash, […]
Both Ian and David were born 1920 Georgetown British Guiana and both attended Morrisons Academy, Crieff. Pilots who had not completed their courses at RAF Cranwell were enlisted in the regular RAF as airmen under training pilots. Ian MacDougall passed out on 21 October 1939 with a permanent commission and […]
On the night of 20/21 May 1940, Vickers Wellington Mk.Ic R3152 (KO-J) of RAF 115 squadron was lost, on a combat tactical operation in support of the Allied armies in France, during an attack on the Meusse River Crossing at Dinant, Belguim, and German troop concentrations and transport about 100/150 […]
William Reid was born in Baillieston in Glasgow on 21 December 1921, the son of a blacksmith. He attended Swinton Primary and Coatbridge Secondary School. After training with the RAF in Canada, Reid gained his wings and was commissioned on 19 June 1942 as a pilot officer on probation in […]
When Germany was preparing to invade Britain, their military preparations included the production of a series of military/geographical assessments, showing what might be found by those arriving. This material was to be used in a military evaluation of the regions of the British Isles and considered each from the viewpoint […]
Twin-engine, medium bomber, Avro Manchester 679 L7303 EM-P of RAF 207 Squadron from RAF Waddington took off at 19.30 hours on a mission to attack Düsseldorf, Germany on the night of 27/28 March 1941. At around 22.30 hours, they bombed the target, making two approaches and dropping a stick of […]
Douglas Cameron completed four tours of operations, 122 flight bomber missions over enemy territory as a rear gunner during the Second World War. He flew with three VC recipients and bailed out of two aircraft. Two of those pilots were both awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions when they […]
