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WA R PL A N E S
of
WO OD
Today, when flying is an everyday experience, it is difficult to
imagine the excitement when the aircraft of No. 2 Squadron
arrived at Montrose in February 1913. Few people would ever
have seen an aircraft. The schools in the area closed so that
children could see this new wonder of the age and Montrose was
besieged with visitors.
When the aircraft of No. 2 Squadron left Montrose to lead the
Royal Flying Corps to war in August 1914, four squadrons with
less than 100 aircraft were sent to France. At the end of the
First World War, the Royal Air Force had over 20,000 aircraft in
200 squadrons. The pressures of war accelerated the progress
of aviation. Aircraft were transformed from a curiosity, flown
by a few dare devil pilots, to a mass produced weapon of
modern warfare.