The Real Story Of Desmond Arthur

An Irish pilot who served in the Royal Flying Corps' No. 2 Squadron, Lieutenant Desmond Arthur was a member of the team. The facts surrounding the disaster were the subject of an investigation that was initiated by the government after his death, which occurred in Scotland's first fatal aviation accident.

Arthur was found not guilty by the first investigation, but a further probe cleared him of any wrongdoing. Some people believe that the RAF Montrose airport in Montrose, Angus, Scotland is haunted by the spirit of Arthur, and those who are interested in the paranormal consider this to be one of the most well-known ghost tales that occurred during the First World War.A fatal airplane crash claimed the life of Desmond Arthur, the first Irishman to ever lose his life there.

On March 31, 1884, Lieutenant Desmond Lucius Studdert P. P. Arthur was born at O'Brien's Bridge, which is located in County Clare, Ireland.Not only was he the son of Thomas F. Arthur and Helen Studdert, but he also had a sister and a brother named Captain Charles William Augustus Arthur.

He was a member of a notable Clare family.The Portora Royal School in Enniskillen was where Arthur received his education. Before he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Army Motor Reserve in 1908, he was a passionate athlete who had won a number of trophies in various driving speed trials.

Around the 29th of August in 1910, Arthur was there at the Leopardstown Racecourse for the very first Irish Aviation Meeting. During his time there, he was introduced to Cecil Grace, which served to further solidify his ambition to pursue a career in aviation.On May 27, 1911, Arthur was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant after joining the Special Reserve of the 5th Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers military unit.The phrase "unassuming manner and unfailing good spirit" was used to describe him, and he was famous for his daring and adventurous temperament.

Arthur was able to successfully complete his trials flying a Bristol Prier monoplane at Brooklands on June 18, 1912, which resulted in his receiving his Royal Aero Club certificate number 233. On the 17th of April in 1913, he became a member of the Royal Flying Corps' No. 2 Squadron, which was stationed at Montrose.

As the first flying training school of its kind in Britain, Montrose Airfield was constructed in 1913 as an operational base for the training of pilots for the Royal Flying Corps.

The flying training school, like many others, experienced frequent crashes as it built up a force of skilled pilots throughout the First and Second World Wars.While Arthur's B.E.2 biplane No.205 was flying over Montrose on a regular training flight from Upper Dysart to Lunan Bay on Tuesday, May 27, 1913, the aircraft suddenly collapsed without any prior notice.

The incident occurred at around 7:30 in the morning.The right wing of the airplane broke off at a height of 2,500 feet, causing the aircraft to crash to the earth. At that point, Arthur had already began his descent.After being ejected from the airplane, rthur passed away in an instant.

The squadron relocated from Upper Dysart to Broomfield Farm on the first day of the same year, 1914.In the autumn of 1916, shortly after the publication of the government report, it is said that Major Cyril Foggin seen a ghostly apparition enter the officers' mess but chose not to report it.

There were more sightings of the ghost by other officers and flying instructors, all of which took place in what was the former mess of the No. 2 Flying Squadron.

The ghost became known as the "Irish Apparition" or the "Montrose Ghost," according to those who are interested in the paranormal. There are many who believe that the dread of the ghost was the reason why guards abandoned their stations and pilots asked to be transferred from Montrose.

The story goes that in 1940, a Hurricane pilot was looking for a Heinkel bomber when he became sidetracked by a "mysterious biplane." "Mysterious biplane"Another urban legend asserts that in 1942, a flight lieutenant who was stationed at Montrose and whose identity has not been revealed crashed into the runway not long after takeoff and ended up being killed instantaneously.

A disagreement had arisen between him and the mechanic who was working on his jet one week prior to the accident. An investigation was opened into the technician, but the allegations against him were dismissed because there was insufficient proof of any kind of manipulation. Shortly after the incident, there were tales of a ghost coming at the airport while wearing a flying suit and goggles, according to the claims made by those who saw the event.

According to those who believed in the existence of the ghost, it was known to be seen emerging from the fog along the flight line. There are additional accusations that fresh cadets were purportedly briefed on the ghost in 1949, when Montrose had become a permanent training station. This is a claim that has been made.