East Fortune flying sites
Note: This map indicator shows the central area of the WW2 airfield.
EAST FORTUNE: Military aerodrome now private aerodrome and museum
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
The three 'detail' pictures show the microlight airfield at the western end.
Military users: WW1: Home Defence RNAS Flight Station (1916)
Class G Airship Station for non-rigid airships RNAS/RAF (1916 to 1920)
RNAS Airship Station for rigid airships (1917 to 1920)
Fleet Aeroplane Base RNAS/RAF (1916 to 1918)
RAF Flying School and Training Depot Station (1918 to 1920)
Experimental Torpedo Squadron
Note: In March 2020 Mike Charlton very kindly sent me these pictures from postcards. He has a most astonishing collection. As the first two mention the R.34 airship, presumably they are circa 1919.
I think it is of interest that the decision was taken, at huge expense and effort, to try and camouflage these vast sheds. Clearly nobody had had the sense to consult aircrew before doing this. If they had done, they could have saved themselves the trouble.
This picture was scanned from The Pageant of the Century published in the mid 1930s. This book was kindly loaned to me by Mr Ed Whitaker who had found a copy in a car boot sale.
WW2: RAF Flying Training 17 Group
60 OTU [Operational Training Unit] (Bristol Beaufighters)
132 OTU (Bristol Beaufighters, Bristol Beauforts & DH Mosquitos)
Coastal Command took over in 1942
A GALLERY OF PICTURES
In July 2022, in collaboration with Mike Holder, the National Museum of Flight, Scotland, very kindly provided these pictures.
The second picture shows WRAF women cleaning Sopwith 1½ Strutters in August 1918. The third item of the Avro 504K, D136, is from the J H Sheil Collection.
Note: This photo shows Flying Officer A Fraser (Navigator) and Flying Officer Elmer Banting (Pilot) standing next to the Bristol Beaufighter TFX, serial NV553, in April 1945.
Note: The first picture shows the airships N57 and N58.
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
Operated by: 2001: Mr G Douglas
Microlight ops: 2001: East of Scotland Microlights
Note: These two pictures from postcards were kindly sent by Mike Charlton in April 2020. Can anybody suggest a date when these were taken?
Location: On B1347, N of Marnle Main village, 4nm NNE of Haddington
Period of operation: Military 1916 to 1920. WW2 to 1961, then limited civil use to present day?
Site area: WW1: 1330 acres 3658 x 2469
Runways: WW2: 01/19 1006x46 hard 07/25 1564x46 hard
11/29 1426x46 hard
2001: 11/29 450x12 hard/grass 08/26 250x8 hard/grass
2010: 11/29 450x12 hard/grass 07/25 250x8 grass
Note: If you look closely at the Google Earth pictures, what seems to be a grass taxiway
actually extends north of runway 11/29. Although not marked, and orientated 01/19 with
160 metres available, could it be that this is available if very strong northerly or
southerly winds arise? It would certainly seem a sensible precaution as Scotland does
tend to get a wee bit breezier than soft Sassenachs, such as the author of this web-site
are used to.
This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
Note: Home to the Scottish Museum of Flight. Now named the National Museum of Flight.
Note: In June 2022, Mike Holder who is a great friend of this 'Guide', was invited to give a talk about serving in RAF Bomber Command during the 'Cold War'. He joined 44 Sqadron at WADDINGTON in February 1967 until July 1972. His first tour was as a Nav. Radar and his second as a Nav. Plotter. His first flight in the Avro Vulcan B.2A XM597 was on the 18th April 1968. He then progressed via Comets to end his flying career serving in Nimrods.
Note: Mike Holder also obtained this picture whilst he was at EAST FORTUNE, showing the Concorde G-BOAA being delivered in 2004. It was transported by road to Isleworth Wharf on the River Thames, then by a specialised 'barge' to Torness in East Lothian, before a final stage by road. I remember this well as my very good friend Aussie Brown, (running the Aviation Picture Library and Chief Photographer for Flyer magazine), and I, went down to Isleworth to photograph it once loaded.
Note: This picture was obtained from Google Earth ©
MODEL FLYING
Originally known as the Edinburgh & Lothians Radio Model Flying Club, in 2002 they changed their name to East Fortune Aeromodellers. Since 2005 they have also opened up another flying site at Mount Lothian near Penicuik.
AIRSHIP HISTORY
The airship R34 departed from here on the 2nd July 1919 on the first E-W transatlantic flight taking 108 hours 12 minutes to reach Long Island. The return trip took 75 hours 3 mins.
EAST FORTUNE: Private airstrip
NOTES: According to an AAIB report (EW/G2011/08/07) a private airstrip exists nearby to EAST FORTUNE with a 06/24 runway. It might well have been the base for the Societe Menavia Piel CP301A Emeraude G-BBKL in 2011?
JJ Markle
This comment was written on: 2019-08-06 12:32:16Hello Do you hold any information on the eastern part of EAST FORTUNE airfield in East Lothian? The part in question is currently used as a racetrack by a motorcycle club but the owner of the site still claims that it is also a registered airfield - is this the case as I cannot seem to find any information on it? Thanks for your time and your website is very good! JJM
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi JJ, I'm afraid I cannot help here. I shall keep this posted and hopefully somebody can offer advice. Best regards, Dick
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