Lieutenant Desmond L.S. Arthur RFC: The Life and Death of an Aviator (Unabridged‪)‬

Lieutenant Desmond L.S. Arthur was an Irish aviator in No.2 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. In the early morning of Tuesday, 27th of May, 1913...while flying over the Scottish North-East coastal town of Montrose, during a routine training flight from Upper Dysart to Lunan Bay, the right wing of his B.E.2 biplane No.205 suddenly collapsed due to a broken spar, which had hitherto remained unseen...as it had been concealed under the plane’s fabric...possibly on purpose.

Lt. Arthur was the first Irishman to be killed in an aircraft accident. He was buried with full military honours in Sleepyhillock Cemetery of Montrose, being the first pilot to be interred there. His earthly life was one of courage, romance and tragedy...which many avow...has never ended!