Belhaven Bay, Belhaven Landing Ground
Military Airfield (First World War)
Site Name Belhaven Bay, Belhaven Landing Ground
Classification Military Airfield (First World War)
Alternative Name(s) Belhaven Sand Landing Ground
Canmore ID 331332
Site Number NT67NE 567
NGR NT 652 792
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/331332
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Dunbar
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
A temporary aerodrome was established on Belhaven Sands, immediately to the west of Dunbar, in 1918, as an out-station of the Torpedo Aeroplane School at East Fortune. The hard, compacted sand of the broad beach was considered suitable for the landing of heavily-laden aeroplanes. Small huts were erected as workshops and servicing was undertaken in a canvas Bessoneaux hangar. Personnel travelled from their living accommodation at East Fortune. Nothing remains of the aerodrome. In the Second World War the beach was obstructed by vertical wooden poles to prevent German aeroplanes from landing.
Information from HS/RCAHMS World War One Audit Project (GJB) 11 June 2013.
Note (11 June 2013)
The location given by Fife (2007) locates this site below the high water mark shown on the 3rd edition of the OS 6-inch map (Haddingtonshire).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 11 June 2013.
Project (March 2013 - September 2013)
A project to characterise the quantity and quality of the Scottish resource of known surviving remains of the First World War. Carried out in partnership between Historic Scotland and RCAHMS.
