Old Dyce War Cemetery

The Old Dyce Commonwealth war cemetery lies in the grounds of the tranquil and ancient Church of St Fergus, overlooking the River Don, a couple of miles from Aberdeen International Airport. Today, Aberdeen (Dyce) Airport is busy with fixed wing aircraft taking holiday makers and business people to domestic and European destinations and with helicopters servicing oil rigs far out in the North Sea. However, it started life as a war-time Royal Air Force station for fighters covering the North Sea. It also specialised in training pilots, particularly in the art of photo-reconnaissance. Consequently there was a regular turn-over in the units based at the station. From July 19th to December 15th, 1941, No. 310 squadron were based at Dyce, flying Hawker Hurricanes. This squadron, although part of the RAF, consisted almost exclusively of Czechoslovak exiles. The Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron had been established at Duxford in July 1940 and was not disbanded until September 1945. The old churchyard was chosen by the authorities for the burial of casualties from the air station. Only airmen are buried in this reserved plot. There is 1 Commonwealth burial of the 1914-18 war in the churchyard a further 45 of the 1939-45 war, 1 being an unidentified airman of the R.A.F. There are also Polish, Czech, and 11 Luftwaffe air crew war burials. Recently this memorial seat has been placed in the cemetery to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

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