Edinburgh, Turnhouse Aerodrome

Turnhouse (Edinburgh) military aerodrome was opened in 1916 as a training station and continued in this role until the later part of 1917, when purpose-built training schools were commissioned. It also served as the HQ for No. 77 Home Defence Squadron until the unit moved to Penston in August 1917. Aircraft of the squadron continued to use Turnhouse, which in the RAF survey of aerodromes was noted as a landing ground of Class 2.

The aerodrome was also used for landing ship-borne aircraft from the fleet and in 1918 a fleet practice and aeroplane repair depot was established there. Planes based on ships required a great deal of preparation and maintenance, owing to the often exposed storage of the aeroplanes on deck. The flying practice included dive-bombing targets within the aerodrome perimeter.

The RAF survey of aerodromes in 1918 recorded the aerodrome as covering an area of 60 hectares (1417m by 411m) with the technical buildings in the north-east corner and the accommodation site set off to the north in a separate compound. There were five aircraft hangars, the largest of which was 39m by 36m, several of which in 1918 were in use as repair sheds. It is not clear how many personnel were based at Turnhouse, as a combined establishment of 770 for three aerodromes was published (the others being Donibristle and Rosyth). The survey indicates that the Repair Depot work was to be transferred to Donibristle when that station was completed, but it may have remained open until 1920, when it became a Coastal Area Aircraft Depot. The aerodrome was the base for No. 603 Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force from 1925 to 1939. Turnhouse underwent expansion in the 1930s and was used extensively in the Second World War.

It seems certain that no structures of the First World War survive at Turnhouse.

In formation from HS/RCAHMS World War One Audit Project (GJB) 31 May 2013