During mid-July 1914 No.2 Squadron, RFC were undertaking a squadron move from Netheravon airfield, on Salisbury Plain, up to Montrose. For this flight the squadron were using a coastal route that involved flying up the east coast of northern england. This was the first time that they had flown this route and it came after many aeroplanes of the same unit had had to force land two months earlier flying a route down the Vales of Mowbray and York that saw a number crash and two airmen killed. During this flight in mid-July 1914 the aeroplanes were forced to make planned overnight landings at various pre-determined landing sites so that their road party could keep up with them. The part of the flight across Yorkshire is of interest to me and feel it requires better documenting here. The road party must have gone in advance because the flight had set out from Netheravon on Monday, 13th July 1914 and it appears that nine aeroplanes reached Nettleham Hall Farm, Lincoln that night. The squadron's commanding officer suffered no end of trouble throughout the flight north. He had to force land at Clifton, Nottingham on 13th July 1914 because of engine failure. A team of mechanics were despatched to repair the aeroplane on site and this was ready by 16.00hrs on 14th July 1914. He would then fly direct from Nottingham to Scarborough to catch up the other aeroplanes that had flown from Lincoln to Scarborough that day. While he reached Scarborough racecourse that evening the flight took far longer than it would have had it been direct. The aeroplane appears to have suffered a problem with the fuel gauge so it was force landed, believed to have been in the Hull area where it was checked and the flight resumed a short time later.

Unfortunately poor weather then came in at Scarborough and prevented the aeroplanes from going any further north for a few days. A civilian pilot named Bentfield Hucks was giving aerial displays over the beach during the same week and combined with the military aeroplanes on the ground near the town it must have been a remarkable sight.

Pilot - Major Charles James Burke RFC.