This is the (updated 25/02/2025) story of Lieutenant John Watson McCash, his missions, and the broader narrative of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) during 1917. McCash’s two missions during the Battle of Cambrai provides a vivid picture of the challenges and heroism of the time. It captures the bravery, skill, […]
The only son of John Christopher and Maud Laidlay of Lindores, Fife and Perth, Pilot Officer John Laidlay RAFVR (79740) flew Bristol Blenheims with RAF 254 Squadron. He attended Ardvreck School, Crieff and Malvern College, Worcestershire between 1930 and 1934, a public school where he was remembered in 1940: ‘At school he was chiefly remarkable for his initiative and […]
Sergeant Duncan Cameron Findlay, RAF, (565318) died when his aircraft crashed and burned out in woods near Saint Hiliare-le-grand, Moronvilliers, three miles south of Bétheniville, to the west of Reims, France. On 26 March 1940, Fairey Battle Mk.1, P2256 from RAF 103 Squadron hit trees on take-off from their airfield at Bétheniville at 10.15 […]
On Craigdootie Hill, just north of Dairsie in Fife, Bristol Beaufort L9834 crashed at 2.12 am on 30 August 1941, killing all the four crew. Squadron Leader Gerald Sebastian Patrick Rooney DFC, RAF (39245), pilot, age unknown Flying Officer Charles Grant, RAFVR (78749), air gunner, age 29 Sergeant Lloyd Colley Mansell, RCAF (R/51633), air observer, age 32 Flight […]
In Perth High Court on 2 June 1942, the case was heard against Charles Robinson White, age 21. He was charged with the culpable homicide of Aircraftman 1st Class William Blair Morrison RAFVR (1104142), age 29. The incident happened at RAF Dunino in Fife, at 9.30 am on 11 May 1941. White presented a […]
Flight Sergeant Douglas James Morrison Dunn RAFVR (1554921) navigator, age 23 was killed in an aircraft accident whilst landing at Foggia Main airfield in Italy on 9 June 1944. Dunn was the son of Andrew and Jeanie Dunn of Rosefield Farm, Balbeggie, Perthshire. Extracts from AIR 27/822, RAF 104 Squadron Operations Record Book, June 1944. Detail of Work Carried Out: Target: Szolnok, Hungary, June, 1st Aircraft […]
Battle of Britain fighter pilot Andrew Smitton Darling (740544) was the son of Peter and Mary Ann Greig Darling of 64 Feus, Auchterarder, the husband of Margaret Robertson Darling, Ayr. After taking a commercial course in Perth, he was employed on the clerical staff of Scottish Agricultural Industries Limited, Crieff. Later, […]
On 22 July 1943, Sergeant John Archibald Campbell RAFVR (1690312) age 20, lost his life in an aircraft accident at RAF Stradishall in the Borough of St Edmundsbury in the English county of Suffolk (between Cambridge and Ipswich). Campbell was flying in a Short Stirling Mk1, W7586 four-engine heavy bomber from RAF […]
On Shalloch on Minnocha Corbett, at the north end of the ‘Awful Hand’ range in the Southern Uplands, part of Galloway Forest Park, Leading Aircraftman James Cameron Campbell was a member of an Avro Anson crew that was lost on 2 July 1942. Campbell, 1346334, RAFVR was the husband of Catherine Mason […]
Sergeant Alexander Little was the pilot of Armstrong Whitley V EB389 from RAF 24 OTU at RAF Honeybourne, between Redditch and Cheltenham in Worcestershire, England. RAF 24 Operational Training Unit was formed there on 15 March 1942 as part of RAF 7 Group Bomber Command to train night bomber crews using Armstrong Whitleys. During 1942, the unit carried out three normal bomber […]
