Recently reprinted in paper-back by John Donald Publishers, Edinburgh, is I A N HENDERSON'S 'Angus and The Mearns', in which the Brechin author, in among his rambles through the area, casts a jaundiced eye on Montrose and in particular our museum. 

Basing his comments on a news report in the 'Dundee Courier' of over ten years ago, he criticises Montrose for claiming to have the oldest aerodrome in Britain. Going on to claim that there must have been earlier aerodromes, as there was Farnborough so there were others, he misses the point entirely. If he had done a minimum of research, asked us for instance instead of relying on Press stories, he would have found that the first planned aerodrome, or to give it its correct official title, Air Station, (bus station, train station, get the idea?) was at Montrose, firstly at Dysart, some 2 miles south of the town, which is the only part of his research he gets right, and in the same year, 1913, at its present site to the north of Montrose. This was the first of a series of Air Stations which were to be built round Britain and Ireland.

He goes on to say that as No 2 Squadron operated at Montrose, so No 1 Squadron must have been first, when in fact the Royal Flying Corps squadrons which were formed from the Royal Engineer battalions, were formed at the same time, so as to avoid this confusion. No 1 Squadron was formed from the Balloon Battalion whereas No 2 was formed from the Heavier-than-Air Battalion (ie flying machines). It is well recorded by historians that No 2 were the first unit to occupy a purpose-designed airfield, at Montrose. He further confuses himself by saying that as No 2 Squadron flew to Montrose, they must have used aerodromes, when it is known that they used playing fields, racecourses, etc on their trip north, but this does not matter, as Montrose was a different idea to an aerodrome.

The piece in the 'Dundee Courier' was what the trade calls a 'puff', a story to get peoples interest in the event or whatever it is being publicised, not to be taken literally, in this case it was for the 75th anniversary event on the old airfield. 

So Mr Henderson, 'could do better' would have to be the critique of your book, but I did hand over good sil'er for it, so more profit for you and your publishers, but at least I got some more points on my smart card.