Edzell flying sites
Note: This map shows the location of the WW2 airfield.
GENERAL NOTES
Three entirely seperate flying sites have now been identified close to Edzell village which is situated close to the border between the Counties of ANGUS/FORFARSHIRE and KINCARDINSHIRE. Although recorded as being in FORFARSHIRE, which was probably the postal address (?), looking at maps it looks to me that the WW1 and WW2 locations were actually situated in KINCARDINSHIRE.
It is often not appreciated that a postal address, quite often, bears no geographical relationship to the actual County the location is situated in. A lesson I learnt the hard way when making deliveries around the UK many years ago in the early 1970s.
WORLD WAR ONE
EDZELL: Training Depot Station
Note: These four items were kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide'.
Military user: RFC/RAF
Location: This TDS was situated just N of the WW2 aerodrome listed below, being roughly 2 miles from Edzell railway station. Edzell village is on the B966, 5nm N of Brechin
Period of operation: 1918 to 1919
Site area: 211 acres 1097 x 823
1930s
EDZELL LANDING GROUND: Civil A.A. Approved Landing Ground
Location: Just W of Edzell village
NOTES: I initially learnt about this site when the Royal Aeronautical Society kindly sent me a copy of a guide to “UK Flying Clubs & Landing Grounds 1933-34” published in Flying – The Light Aeroplane Weekly.
In April 2026 Mike Holder kindly decided to look again at this subject, found two items from the Trecanair project regarding A.A. (Automobile Association), Approved Landing Grounds, and provided two extra maps and a picture.
LANDING RUNS (All grass):
N/S 500yds (455m) NE/SW 350yds (320m) NW/SE 300yds (275m)
The local area view is from my Google Earth© derived database.
WORLD WAR TWO
EDZELL: Military aerodrome (In WW2 in FORFARSHIRE ?)
Military users: WW2: RAF Maintenance Command 41 Group
44 MU [Maintenance Unit]
Location: 6nm N of Brechin
Period of operation: 1940 to 1957? (See 'Comment' below)
Runways: WW2: 06/24 1463x46 hard 15/33 1463x46 hard
NOTES: In late 1944 this aerodrome has an interesting personnel ratio. 722 RAF plus 335 WAAF. Many WAAF personnel were involved in the practical side of aircraft maintenance within the RAF and this certainly seems to the case here perhaps? Thousands of women in WW2 were of course involved in manufacturing aircraft.
Generally though WAAF’s were I believe more likely to be involved in the administration side of operations such as records, parts inventory, ordering, supply and so on. Indeed many women still do just that in modern times in the RAF.
A MORE MODERN DUTY
For many years after it closed as an aerodrome, and possibly still today (?) EDZELL was a Radio Research Station. Another small item is that EDZELL is now spelt EDZEL on modern maps.
Graeme Simpson
This comment was written on: 2018-01-11 21:26:01From 1960 to 1995 the airfield was leased to the USN. I have photos of R4D variants at Dyce in the early 1970s supporting the operation at Edzell.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Graeme, Many thanks. Is there any chance you can provide a couple of pictures. If so these will be much appreciated. Best regards, Dick
Timothy Foster
This comment was written on: 2020-04-05 18:39:58I think this site must have been operational until at least 1957. I have checked my RAF form 3822 (ATC cadet's Record of Service) where I have logged two flights in Chipmunks WD589 and WK584 on 7 August 1957 during Summer Camp there.
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