Colour photograph, 1999
Survey by RCAHMS
Donibristle Airfield was built to repair Fleet Air Arm aircraft. It opened in 1917 as a landing ground, and was handed over to the Royal Naval Air Service in August of that year.
The dado frieze is unique, as it shows many aspects of work at the base with all the personnel dressed as ancient Egyptians. The frieze is in a very humorous vein, showing various tasks linked to aircraft servicing, such as minute taking with ‘scribes’ noting on stone slabs, aero engines being carried by slaves and the example here, the servicing of a dragon (aircraft).
With growing interest in war art, RCAHMS surveyed the frieze in the officers' mess. Following the closure of the base in the 1950s, housing and industrial units have gradually been encroaching on the officers' mess building which still survives.