Battle of Britain Remembrance Service Day, Turnberry – Sunday 16th September 2018

Deputy Lieutenant David Dickson represented the Lord-Lieutenant at a service to commemorate the centenary of the RAF on Sunday 16th September at the Royal Air Force Memorial at Turnberry. The event also commemorated the annual Battle of Britain Remembrance Service Day. Major Dickson is pictured above with the Provost of South Ayrshire, representatives of the Armed Forces and local dignitaries.
Turnberry Airfield played a significant part in both WW 1 and WW 2 primarily for training purposes. For a short time during WW1 it was used as a school of aerial gunnery. It was extensively refurbished in 1941 and was used by a many different aircraft types for a variety of training purposes including torpedo training. It is of particular interest that the airfield was used by 618 Squadron during the testing of Barnes Wallis’s “Highball” bouncing bomb.
Turnberry Hotel was requisitioned during both wars for use as a hospital. Sadly it is understood that over 200 died at the base.