The Ghost of Desmond Arthur

By Crusader1307

Flight Lieutenant Desmond Arthur is credited (sadly) as being the first death of The Royal Flying Corps (Great Britain). An experienced Pilot to the ‘’new’’ War Machine known as a ‘’Fighter Aircraft’’, His crash in 1913 (just before World War I), caused quite a stir. You see, while some blamed The Aircraft manufacturer, other blamed Arthur – putting a ‘’black mark’’ against His ‘’Honor’’. Years later, His Case was reviewed and found that it was not ‘’His Fault’’, for the crash. But that really didn’t seem to matter to Lt. Arthur. He ‘’still’’ is seen on ‘’active duty’’ – or at least up to 1963. His ‘’Ghost’’ was a frequent topic of discussion at RAF Montrose, in Scotland. Not long after the accident, Officers routinely ‘’saw’’ Arthur ‘’walk into’’ The Officers Mess – in full uniform. As soon as One ‘’approached’’ – The image would vanish. In years later, ‘’Arthur’’ would be seen around The Hangers, seemingly ‘’inspecting’’ the many years of advances in Military Aviation. In fact, it was commonly reported that Bombing Crews coming into Scotland and landing at RAF Montrose would be ‘’shadowed’’ by a ‘’old Bi-Plane’’ Fighter. The sightings of Lt. Arthur became so commo, that Cadets were often told Arthur’s Story and His probable ‘’sighting’’ at sometime during Their stay at Montrose.

The last report of a sighting of Lt. Arthur was 1963, when a Civilian Pilot was flying close to the ground near Montrose. The Pilot was suddenly ‘’flanked’’ by a ‘’Bi-Plane’’ which was ‘’dressed up to resemble an old RFC Fighter’’. So clear (and close), that The Pilot could ‘’see The Pilot, dressed in His Flight Coat, cap and goggles’’. The ‘’Military Pilot’’ did not acknowledge the Civilian Pilot and simply rose in altitude over the Civilian Craft…..and vanished. Since the 1960, no further reports of ‘’Old WWI Fighters’’ let along ‘’strange Pilots in old fashioned uniforms’’ have been reported…..YET!