Evening Telegraph (First Edition)

Jaguar is latest aircraft to grace museum

MONTROSE has a new addition to its growing line-up of aviation history.

Air station museum volunteers are welcoming the arrival of a former RAF Jaguar GR1.

The aircraft made a long journey by road from RAF Cosford to its new home at the site of Britain’s first operationa­l air station.

Members of the RAF’S Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transporta­tion Squadron (JARTS) safely saw the Jaguar installed in a hangar at the museum.

Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre volunteers are now preparing the new exhibit.

The Anglo-french attack aircraft originally entered service in the early 1970s and while it was retired from RAF military duties more than 15 years ago, the planes are still used by the Indian Air Force.

The Montrose Jaguar – XX975 – was delivered to the RAF in 1976 and based at RAF Lossiemout­h.

It was retired to storage in 1985 and later used for ground training use before sitting for some years at RAF Cosford.

Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre has built up a close relationsh­ip with JARTS who, in 2022, transporte­d a Gulf War Tornado GR1 to Angus.

The plane shared a special link to Montrose having flown with No 2 Squadron.

The squadron formed the Broomfield base which became Britain’s first operationa­l military air station in 1913.

The Jaguar joins an MAHSC “fleet” which also includes the replica Red Lichtie Spitfire, Sea Vampire and rare Miles M.2H Hawk Major.

And there is a recreation of a Royal Aircraft Factory Be2a of the type which first touched down in Montrose.

Last month the centre secured another important piece of aviation history with a direct link to Angus.

Descendant­s of John Sim travelled from Australia to present the centre with the George Medal he was awarded for bomb disposal heroics while stationed at Montrose in 1940.