Memorial to WW1 American Aviators, Ayr Cemetery

This weekend found me back in Ayr visiting the family. While I was there I took the opportunity to visit a memorial I discovered quite by accident many years ago. While Ayr Cemetery is well known to be the last resting place for the many of the crew of Liberator AM260 which crashed on the 14th of August 1941, as far as I’m aware, the larger monument to four American airmen killed while attending the School of Aerial Fighting during the month of March 1918 remains largely unknown.

This commemorates

F.W. Hough Died 3 March 1918 when Sopwith Camel B5562 stalled and spun in.

H.G. Velde Died 7 March 1918 in Sopwith Camel B7420.

A.C. Ortmayer Died in Hospital when his Camel B7469 spun in from 150 feet on 7 March 1918.

T. C. Nathan Died when SE5a D3436 lost a wing in flight.

These aviators do not constitute the only losses at Ayr during March 1918 and the courses at Ayr and further down the coast at Turnberry would extract a steady toll until the wars end.

Anne