VOO-DOO was used once in World War Two. Its use in 1943 is not widely known, and less so its link to Helensburgh.
‘Voo-doo’ was a Hadrian glider towed across the Atlantic Ocean by a two-engined Dakota. The dangerous, never before attempted mission took off from Montreal in Canada.
A HELENSBURGH man was one of the ship’s company declared ‘missing believed killed’ when the battlecruiser HMS Hood was shelled and sank on May 24 1941.
The sinking by the German battleship Bismarck was one of the largest World War Two losses of life for the Royal Navy, and it sparked a huge pursuit of the Bismarck, which was destroyed three days later.
THE CAPTAIN who ferried Consolidated Coronado JX470 to RAF Helensburgh in April 1943 had earned a place in aviation history.
Dana Gentry could have told test pilots at the officers mess in Rhu of his flying exploits crossing the Atlantic, if he had the mind to.
CONSIDERABLE research has been undertaken into the parts played by Helensburgh and district men and women in both World Wars.
But there are still many gaps, including details of the huge contributions of two burgh families about which much more information is wanted.
THE ‘Lend Lease’ Consolidated Catalina flying boats on the way to World War Two’s RAF Helensburgh for testing and modifications had to make a hazardous non-stop flight across the Atlantic.
Ferry pilots landed first at Greenock, the reception destination, descending through cloud into fields of mushroom-like barrage balloons.
ONE of the saddest events in the history of the Gareloch is the K13 submarine disaster, which took place on January 29 1917.
The vessel was taking part in its final sea trials when seawater entered its engine room, causing an explosion.
“A pleasant surprise during the coronavirus lockdown. Please thank the people of Helensburgh.” So said nonagenarian Frances McLaren, who admits to now being frail of limb.
However, her mind seems as sharp as it was when she was on the scientific staff at RAF Helensburgh on Garelochside some 75 years ago.
WHEN Charles Simmons wanted to know what his late father did at RAF Helensburgh during World War Two, he contacted Helensburgh Heritage Trust.
Charles said his father did not speak much about the war, so his knowledge was sketchy about the secret flying boat base RAF Helensburgh, a cover name for the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment.
CARDROSS village and the surrounding area suffered three deaths and significant and widespread damage when the Luftwaffe bombed it over the night of May 5 1941.
It is believed that — although a German propaganda broadcast later spoke of "the port of Cardross” — the pilots were fooled by a hilltop decoy site near Kipperoch, between Cardross and Renton which was hit by 205 bombs and six mines.
MAY 5 1941 proved to be a traumatic night for the residents of a Cardross farm as Nazi bombs rained down.
The first bombing raid on the village came on July 13 1940, when stick after stick of incendiary bombs fell mainly on the shore and around the railway station.
THE Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment based at RAF Helensburgh at Rhu in World War Two was tasked with investigating the problems of a bomber which was nicknamed by aircrew as ‘the flying coffin’.
Blackburn Bothas were built at Dumbarton from 1939 to Government specifications for a four-seater, twin-engine reconnaissance bomber.
HELENSBURGH was home in later life to one of the first nurses to face the dangers of World War One in France.
Catherine Murray Roy was the daughter of the Rev John Roy, minister of Drymen Parish Church in the village Main Street for 41 years.
