IN RECENT years the veil of secrecy over the work of RAF Helensburgh during World War Two has gradually been lifted.
Now much more is known about the hard work, scientific brilliance and, at times, sacrifices and heroism of the men and women who worked for the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Rhu, Helensburgh and Glen Fruin.
It is all thanks to research conducted by former Merseyside newspaper editor Robin Bird, whose father Bob was the unit photographer for a period during the war, with a little help from time to time from Eye on Millig readers.
Robin has written one book about MAEE and is near to publishing a second, and he is determined that the whole story should be told. But his main aim for 2013 is to have a Memorial to the Establishment erected in the area.
The work of MAEE on depth charges and detection equipment played a hugely significant part in victory over the German U-Boats in the Battle of the Atlantic in the late Spring of 1943.
Robin said: “New ways of finding and sinking U-Boats, pioneered by the MAEE, had become fully operational. The hunters had become the hunted, and these losses could not be sustained by the enemy.
“The work of the MAEE was given priority and was shrouded in secrecy. As a result aircrew killed in trials, both RAF personnel and civilians, were listed as ‘flying accidents’. There is no memorial to them.
“For example the complete crew of a Saro Lerwick died when it crashed into a hillside near Faslane during MAEE trials to sort out handling problems with this type of flying boat.”
The 70th anniversary of victory in what was the longest continous military campaign in the Second World War, and crucial to its outcome, will be celebrated this May by the Royal and Merchant Navies. What better time then for a memorial to be erected in either Helensburgh or Rhu?
Two obvious sites would be Kidston Park overlooking the Gareloch where seaplanes were based, or Rhu village green adjacent to the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club, at that time a large mansion named Ardenvhor, where many MAEE personnel worked.
In 2000 the United Kingdom State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Rosneath Anvil Trust, assisted by local donations, dedicated a memorial on a cairn to the American and British forces who served or trained at the Rosneath Naval Base from 1941-45. Surely Argyll and Bute Council and the Clyde Naval Base at Faslane could now come together to organise and pay for something similar?
At present the only tribute is the little cross prepared each year by Robin Bird and placed at the Rhu War Memorial for Remembrance Sunday by ex-Provost Billy Petrie.
If officialdom does not rise to the occasion, Robin is considering a simple wooden cross made to resemble the shape of a flying boat, which could stand somewhere in Rhu or Helensburgh and be moved to the Rhu War Memorial for Remembrance Sundays.
If necessary he says that he would pay for it himself. That is typical of Robin, but it should not have to happen.
Convoys of ships left from the Clyde and were sunk in the Battle of the Atlantic, here the work was done to enable that battle to be won, and here today’s UK nuclear submarines are based.
The Americans have been remembered. There will never be a better time for the navy at Faslane and/or the council at Lochgilphead to reciprocate for these local heroes.
