The roar of a famous Second World War Hurricane fighter plane echoed across the skies of Tayside.
The aircraft, famed for its agility, speed and pivotal role throughout the war, tore across the blue skies over Montrose Basin in a tribute to the town’s war dead who lie in rest at the Sleepyhillock Cemetery.
The family of one wartime couple, Ronald and Alice Jordan, who are buried at the cemetery, gathered at the site where their relatives rest to witness the spectacle after organising the tribute.
The Hurricane holds a special link with Montrose as it was used with the No 2 and No 8 training units, which were based in the area.
Ronald Jordan arrived in Montrose as a member of No 615 Squadron’s ground crew in November 1940, when he met Alice, a local girl.
He had served in France and in the Battle of Britain before he was posted to RAF Montrose, where he served for three years with No 8 Flying Training School and No 2 Flying Instructors School.
Ronald and Alice’s entire extended family, including their son and daughter Ronald and Sheila, made the trip to Montrose for the ceremony at the family grave site, which included the flypast.
Sheila said: “That was really something. It was very moving and emotional but it was just wonderful to see and it was great that the full family could come together to witness it.
“My parents would be so proud. It is a great tribute, not only to them but to all the war dead who are in the cemetery.”
The Hurricane, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Dave Harvey, had set off from the Historic Aircraft Collection at Duxford the previous day before it made its approach to the cemetery shortly before 11am.
The plane made a low-level pass heading east across the Basin. It then banked back down again to greet those gathered.
The aircraft made several more passes before provoking an emotional round of applause from the viewing party after it completed a barrel roll over the Basin.
Ronald and Alice’s son, also Ronald Jordan, 69, said: “I have never seen one of the planes that my father worked on in action so close up but I thought the pilot was fantastic.”
The family also donated a number of personal effects belonging to Ronald snr to the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre.
The museum’s curator Dr Dan Paton said: “The family have donated a marvellous personal archive of Ronald to the museum and we are very grateful.
“The Hurricane flyover brought back something that must have been a common sight in the war years in Montrose but it was something I never expected to see.
“It was probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”