Errol flying sites
Note: This map shows the position of the WW2 airfield.
ERROL: Early flying site
NOTES: Mr Preston A Watson appears to have been designing, developing and testing a series of highly individual aeroplanes, probably mostly from a site in/near ERROL from 1910 to 1914. The Watson No.2 biplane was flying at ERROL in 1912 albiet with an unorthodox control system which he perservered with. It appears a later version, the Watson No.3 competed in the ‘Concours de la Sécurité en Aeroplane’ competition in Bruc, France in May 1914.
ERROL: Military aerodrome later private airfield and parachuting centre
(Also later known as MUIRHOUSES FARM)
Note: Pictures by the author.
Military users: WW2: RAF Flying Training Command 21 Group
9 (P)AFU [Pilot Advanced Flying Unit] (North American T-6 Harvards)
305 Ferry Training Unit
Operated by: 1980s to 2000: Mr L Doe (Fife Parachuting Centre)
Location: S of B958, 1nm NE of Errol, SW of Muirhouses, 5nm SW of DUNDEE AIRPORT
Period of operation: Military: 1942 to 1948 Civil: 1980s to 2005 certainly
Runways: WW2: 05/23 1463x46 hard 11/29 1079x46 hard
17/35 1070x46 hard
1990/2000: 05/23 700x46 hard
2001: 630x46 hard
2010: Reported once again as being 700x46 hard
NOTES: I expect ERROL is largely forgotten about today but during WW2 it was a substantial RAF training base with 1865 RAF personnel on station plus 430 WAAFs.
The 305 Ferry Training Unit deserves a mention. This was formed in January 1943 to train Soviet aircrew to fly the Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albermarle. A twin engine transport design, it appears 200 had been ordered by the Soviets. The first batch flew to Vnukovo south-west of Moscow, and now an international airport, one of four airports serving Moscow. These crews were, it seems, being trained until April 1944.
In 1947 Sir Patrick Dollan, chairman of the Air Advisory Council announced it was decided ERROL was to become the civil airport serving both Perth and Dundee. He was wrong, it didn’t happen.
A PERSONAL MEMORY
On a trip to PERTH in 2004, to visit the PFA Fly-In, we were delayed by bad weather and denied landing permission after normal hours. After phoning around for another option, (we had a hotel booked in Perth), Mr Doe very kindly welcomed us to land at ERROL and even waived any landing charges due to the circumstances. Acts of kindness, such as this, leaves a long lasting impression.
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