Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)

   RNAS Dover was situated on Guston Road, Dover in Kent.

   No. 206 Squadron, Royal Air Force was formed on the 31st of December 1916 and flew Nieuport 17s and later Sopwith Camels on the Western Front until it was disbanded on the 27th of August 1917. It reformed on 1st of January 1918 as a bomber and reconnaissance unit flying Airco DH9s. On 1st of April 1918 it was redesignated No. 206 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

27th July 1914 Ready for war

30th July 1914 Air defences

4th August 1914 On the Move  No. 4 Squadron RFC moved to the HQ of the Royal Naval Air Service at Eastchurch to undertake naval and anti-Zeppelin patrols.

27th August 1914 Naval air service move to Belgium

30th August 1914 Armoured car reconnaissance

31st August 1914 RNAS recalled from Belgium

1st September 1914 RNAS stay at Dunkirk

4th September 1914 German officers ambushed

6th September 1914 RNAS reclaim Lille

8th September 1914 Marines provide reinforcements

12th September 1914 RNAS aircraft destroyed

16th September 1914 RNAS move to Antwerp

19th September 1914 New base established

20th September 1914 Pilot taken PoW

22nd Sep 1914 British Air Raid on Germany

24th September 1914 French forces take refuge

27th September 1914 Rescued from the sea

30th September 1914 Reconnaisance aeroplane shot down

1st October 1914 In retreat

1st October 1914 Shot down

3rd October 1914 Reinforcements sent to Antwerp

7th October 1914 Antwerp shelled

8th October 1914 Zeppelin and sheds destroyed

10th October 1914 RNAS forces redeployed

13th Oct 1914 Docks

15th October 1914 RNAS Squadron in retreat

17th October 1914 Return to Britain

31st October 1914 Seaplane base established at Dunkirk

5th November 1914 Lost over the Channel

21st November 1914 Friedrichshafen bombed

25th November 1914 Bomber raid

17th December 1914 Aircrew interned in Norway

17th December 1914 Shot down over Holland

20/21st December 1914 First Night Bomber raids

25th December 1914 The Cuxhaven Raid  Aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service were carried to within striking distance by seaplane tenders of the Royal Navy, HMS Engadine, HMA Riviera and HMS Empress, supported by the Harwich Force, a group of cruisers, destroyers and submarines commanded by Commodore Reginald Yorke Tyrwhitt, to launch three seaplanes each from their station near Helgoland in the German Bight. The objective was to reconnoitre military installations in the area and, if possible, bomb the Zeppelin sheds at Cuxhaven. This was the first combined sea and air strike was executed by the Royal Navy. The air temperature was just above freezing when nine seaplanes were lowered to the water, only seven of the Short Folders, were able to start their engines and take off, each carrying three 20-pound bomb. Those unable to take part were winched back on board. Fog, low cloud and anti-aircraft fire prevented the raid from being a complete success, although several sites were attacked.
The crews of all seven aircraft were airbourne for over three hours and all survived the raid. Three aircraft landed on the sea and were winched abord their tenders, a 100 hp Short 'Improved Type 74' RNAS serial no. 811 flown by Flt. Lt. C. H. K. Edmonds, a 160 hp Short Admiralty Type 81 RNAS serial no. 119 flown by Flt. Cdr. R. P. Ross and a Short Admiralty Type 135 RNAS serial no. 136 flown by Flt. Cdr. C. F. Kilner with Lt. Erskine Childers as his observer. Three others, 'Admiralty Type 81' RNAS serial no. 120 flown by Flt. Lt. A. J. Miley, and two 100 hp Short 'Improved Type 74' folders, RNAS serial nos. 814 flown by Flt. Sub-Lt. V. Gaskell-Blackburn and 815 flown by Flt. Cdr. D. A. Oliver, landed off the East Friesian island of Norderney and their crews were taken on board the submarine E11, the aircraft being scuttled to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. The last aircraft, a Short Admiralty Type 135 RNAS serial no. 135 flown by Flt. Lt. Francis and E.T. Hewlett, suffered engine faileur and was seen to ditch into the sea 8 miles off Helgoland. Hewlett was posted as missing, but he was found by the Dutch trawler Marta van Hattem, which took him on board and returned him to the port of Ymuiden in Holland, where he disembarked on the 2nd of January 1915 and made his way back to England.
It was the first-ever bombing raid by ship-borne aircraft, three channel steamers that had been hastily converted to carry seaplanes, which had to be launched and recovered from the sea by winch alongside their vessels. The Engadine, Riviera and Empress had been requisitioned from the South East & Chatham Railway Company on 11th of August 1914. In the first days of WWI HMS Empress carried the equipment of Cdr Charles Samson’s Eastchurch Squadron when they deployed across the Channel to Ostend, then she joined the other two vessels which were being converted in Chatham Dockyard. The work involved fitting derricks and handling gear so they could carry three seaplanes, which were stored under canvas hangars. The conversion work was completed on 30th of September and all three were assigned to The Harwich Force comprising the three seaplane tenders and a number of cruisers, destroyers and submarines, had been assmebled under the command of Commodore Reginald Yorke Tyrwitt for a raid on German homeland. The plan, code name ‘Plan Y’, had been dreamt up by Robert Erskine Childers RNVR, a yachtsman who had sailed much in the Baltic and German Bight before the war, was the ships would steam to a flying-off position within range of Cuxhaven, where the nine aircraft would be launched. The objective being to reconnoitre military installations in the area, and carry out a pre-emptive strike on the zeppelin sheds, located near the Nordholz airfield.
On Christmas Eve thirty-four ships moved out from Harwich, and from Scottish waters then sailed south overnight to rendezvous in the North Sea 12 miles north of Heligoland just before dawn on Christmas morning. CPO James William Bell, age 21, was a mechanic onboard HMS Empress. Before sailing he had helped embark sixteen 20lbs bombs onboard, and had been instructed to ‘drill holes them so that they could be slung under the seaplanes’. The rest of the crew were told to move aft in case Bell ‘blew them all to pieces’. His task complete, Bell prepared to join Flt Sub Lt Vivian Gaskell-Blackburn, and act as his Observer.
Tyrwitt’s log records, "weather conditions perfect for flying, light airs from the eastward, sea calm, but bitterly cold" In fact the launch site was shrouded with low cloud and fog, and the temperature barely above freezing when the aircraft were lowered into the water at 0630. The aircraft engines coughed a spluttered as crew struggled to get them to start. Two maintainers, realising one crew were in difficulty, jumped into the sea and swam over to the aircraft and helped persuade the Gnome engine into life. Despite this attention, two of the aircraft simply would not start, but the other seven took off and headed towards their objective. They were each armed with three 20lb bombs. The only other weapons carried were the pilot’s revolvers, with six packets of ammunition, and the three aircraft that had an Observer carried a rifle.
From HMS Engadine: No.119 a Short Type 81 ‘Folder’ Flt Cdr Robert P Ross, No.120 Short Type 81 Flt Lt Arnold J Miley and No.122 Short Type 81 Flt Cdr A.B Gaskell
From HMS Riviera: No.135 Short Admiralty Type 135 Flt Lt Francis E.T Hewlett, No.136 Short Admiralty Type 135 Capt Cecil F Kilner RMLI with Erskine Childers and No.811 Short ‘Improved’ Type 74 Lt Charles H.K Esmonds RN.
From HMS Empress: No.812 Short ‘Improved’ Type 74 Flt Lt R.J Bone with Air Mechanic Waters, No.814 Short ‘Improved’ Type 74 Flt Sub Lt V Gaskell-Blackburn with CPO James Ball and No.815 Short ‘Improved’ Type 74 Flt Cdr Douglas A Oliver with CPO Gilbert H W Budd.
Two unserviceable aircraft, No.122 and No.812, were recovered onto HMS Empress and Engadine by the deck crew. One hour later the airborne aircraft encountered some enemy fire from ships as they approached the German coast one hour. Inland the fog was thicker, so the pilots descended to low level, hoping to spot landmarks that would guide them towards their destination. The first indication to Gaskell-Blackburn and Bell that they had coasted in was when Blackburn spotted a railway line beneath him. Initially they turned south, then turned around and headed north and arrived at Wilhelmshaven, where they once again came under fire and one of the floats on their Type 74 was damaged by a small calibre shell. Bell retaliated by dropping two bombs on the gun position before they turned away to return to the ships.
Admiralty Memorandum on the Combined Operations by HM Ships and Naval Seaplanes on 25 December 1914 states:- "On 25th December 1914, an air reconnaissance of the Heligoland Bight, including Cuxhaven, Heligoland and Wilhelmshaven, was made by naval seaplanes, and the opportunity was taken at the same time of attacking with bombs, points of military importance. The reconnaissance involved combined operations by light cruisers, destroyers and seaplane carriers under Commodore Reginald Y Tyrwhitt CB and submarines acting under the orders of Commodore Roger Keyes CB MVO. The vessels detailed for the operations arrived at their rendezvous before daylight and as soon as the light was sufficient the seaplanes were hoisted out and dispatched. At the beginning of the flight the weather was clear but on nearing the land the seaplanes met with thick weather, and were compelled to fly low, thus becoming exposed to a heavy fire at short range from ships and shore batteries. Several machines were hit, but all remained in the air for over three hours, and succeeded in obtaining valuable information regarding the disposition of the enemy's ships and defences. ‘Bombs were dropped on military points. In the meanwhile German submarines, seaplanes and Zeppelins delivered a combined attack upon the light cruisers, destroyers and seaplane carriers but were driven off.’ Flt Cdrs Kilner and Ross and Flt Lt Edmonds regained their ships. Flt Cdr Oliver, Flt Lt Miley and Flt Sub-Lt Gaskell-Blackburn became short of fuel and were compelled to descend near submarine E11.
Submarine E11 was commanded by Lt Cdr Martin E Nasmith RN who, along with others, had been detached by Keyes closer inshore to assist any seaplane that might be in difficulties. Gaskell-Blackburn and Bell running low on fuel when they spotted E11, which already had Miley’s Type 81 in tow. Despite the presence of Zeppelin LZ5 in the vicinity they decided to land nearby, but the damaged float on their seaplane collapsed as soon as they touched the water and the aircraft tipped nose up. Shortly afterwards Oliver and Budds in their Type 74 landed alongside them. Naismith manoeuvred the submarine alongside, so close that Oliver and Budd could step aboard; whilst Blackburn and Bell jumped into the sea and swam towards E11. As soon as they airmen were a safe distance the crew on E11 opened fore with machine guns and shot away the floats and No.814 sank. Blackburn climbed onboard with ease, however Bell was struggling in the swirling seas. With the Zeppelin now closing in, a Leading Seaman jumped down from the conning tower, waded along the gun-platform, threw Bell a line and hauled him onboard, and he was bundled down the hatchway just as E11 submerged. Bell later recalls feeling, "a slight bump as the sub reached the seabed, before an appalling crash reverberated through the hull when the first of two bombs from the airship burst in the water above them". E11 escaped undamaged and the airmen joined the crew for Christmas dinner on the seabed, 20 fathoms below the surface, before heading back to Harwich.
The seventh aircraft, flown by Hewlett, had engine problems whilst returning to the ships, and was seen to ditch into the sea and Hewlett was thought lost. However, he was later picked up by the Dutch trawler Marta van Hattem and taken to Ijmuiden, where he disembarked on 2nd of January 1915 whence he made his way back to England.
At 10.00, three and half hours after launch the Captain of HMS Empress, Lt F W Bowhill RN, was waiting at the agreed rendezvous for his aircraft to return. His subsequent report states: "Whilst making for rendezvouz No.4, I dropped astern not being able to steam so fast as the other two ships and I was then subjected to a systematic attack by two German seaplanes and one Zeppelin. The first seaplane attacked from the starboard bow, at a height of about 2,000ft and dropped a star bomb. This signal, I presume, meaning "am about to attack". The crew dropped three pairs of bombs (six in all), but made very bad shooting, the bombs dropped from 200 to 300 yards away on our starboard bow; smoke black and yellowish; size of bombs about 10lbs each. Then the second seaplane attacked from the port bow at a height of about 1,000ft, dropping two fairly large bombs. This attack was nearly successful, one bomb dropping 20ft away on the port beam and shaking the ship severely, and the other 40ft off the starboard beam. The smoke was black and yellowish. The method of defence of defence adopted was to arm the gun's crews with rifles, and volleys were fired at the seaplanes, a few picked shots keeping up independent firing. As far as could be judged, the seaplanes were undamaged. I continuously kept on altering my course throughout the attacks. The Zeppelin attacked by rising to about 5,000ft on the starboard beam and coming over towards me. When nearly overhead she dived to about 2,000ft, and then manoeuvred to get directly above me, slowing down, and heading in the same direction as myself. She dropped two tracer bombs in order to obtain range, and these were followed by three bombs of apparently 100lbs each. The first one struck the water about 50yds off the port quarter, and gave out a greenish smoke; the second fell 50yds and the third 100yds astern. Fortunately both failed to detonate. She then opened fire with a ‘mitrailleuse’, and apparently fired three belts. The shooting, however, was indifferent. My method of defence was to watch her position carefully as she manoeuvred into position directly overhead. I then went hard over. I could see her rudders put over to follow me, and directly her head started to turn I put my helm over the other way. I continually repeated this manoeuvre, which seemed to worry her, for she was never on a steady course, and I think it put her off her aim; otherwise I feel to see how she could have missed us. A continual rifle fire was kept up at her, and though, of course, no damage could be seen, I think that she must have been hit in several places, for she sheered off and went on the port quarter. As soon as my after 12 pounders would bear, I fired eight shots at her, and one, I think, went very close, as she sheered right off and did not worry me again."
Bowhill was unaware, and probably quite lucky that the Zeppelin had suffered a generator failure, and was unable to transmit the ship’s position to other aircraft and ships that undoubtedly were in the area. The Cuxhaven Raid was unsuccessful in that the aircraft failed to locate and attack their primary targets, and two aircraft were lost. However the Admiralty memorandum stated, "An expression of their Lordships appreciation has been conveyed to Cdre Keyes, Cdre Tyrwhitt and to Capt Sueter (Director of the Air Department) for their share in the combined operations which resulted in this successful reconnaissance". It was also a milestone in the development of aircraft ship-borne operations and tested the German reaction to an attack on home soil. For their part in the Cuxhaven Raid, CPO Mechanic Bell No. M489 and CPO Mechanic Budds No. 271764 were awarded the DSM. Capt Kilner RMLI and Lt Edmonds RN were awarded the DSO More info.

10th January 1915 Air combat

January 1915 Air defence

22nd January 1915 Submarine Bombed

17th February 1915 Seaplane lost

22nd February 1915 Move to Dunkirk

24th March 1915 Attack on Antwerp

12th May 1915 Taken PoW

May 1915 Seaplane base established at Gibraltar

17th May 1915 Zeppelin attacked over the Channel

31st May 1915 Seaplane shot down

7th Jun 1915 Zeppelins destroyed

21st June 1915 Naval air operations re-organised

4th July 1915 Seaplane damaged

2nd August 1915 Swap of duties

6th August 1915 Airmen taken PoW

12th Aug 1915 Aerial Torpedo sinks Ship

15th August 1915 On the move

17th Aug 1915 Aerial Torpedo Kills

23rd August 1915 Naval bombardment

24th Aug 1915 30 Squadron bolstered

24th Aug 1915 Emplacement

26th August 1915 U-Boat claimed

September 1915 Seaplanes sent to Mesopotamia

6th September 1915 U-Boat damaged?

7th September 1915 Coastal bombardment fails

21st September 1915 Reinforcements

23rd September 1915 Germans get hold of new aircraft.

26th September 1915 U-Boats damaged

Oct 1915 Seaplane taken on -board

3rd October 1915 Friendly fire

8th October 1915 Zeppelin destroyed

18th October 1915 Pilot killed

19th October 1915 Taken PoW

November 1915 Air cover for Mesopotamia

November 1915 RNAS expansion

19th Nov 1915 Rescue of a Friend

28th Nov 1915 RNAS claim victory

28th Nov 1915 RNAS in Action

6th December 1915 Seige of Kut begins

14th December 1915 Combat over the Channel

28th December 1915 Flying boat success

30th December 1915 Combat

January 1916 Redeployment of RNAS resources in the Mediterranean

18th January 1916 Air cover over Salonika

23rd January 1916 U-Boat bombed

24th January 1916 Shot down

31st January 1916 Combined RFC-RNAS flight formed

16th Feb 1916 RNAS Raid

20th February 1916 Combat

29th February 1916 Shot down

1st March 1916 Reorganisation

6th March 1916 More aircraft for Mesopotamia

7th March 1916 German aircraft found in Egypt

16th March 1916 Redeployed

20th March 1916 Bombing raid

1st April 1916 Disruption to Turkish supplies

6th April 1916 Air forces for the Aegean

15th April 1916 Air drops to besieged garrison

15th April 1916 Turkish cities bombed

23rd April 1916 Enemy aircraft forced down

25th April 1916 Interned

26th Apr 1916 Shot down on supply drop

28th Apr 1916 Attack on Lowestoft

28th April 1916 New RNAS Wing despatched to France

5th May 1916 Two aimen killed

9th May 1916 RNAS aircraft replace French in Macedonia

16th May 1916 Long Island evacuated

20th May 1916 Seaplane attacked

21st May 1916 Two victories

June 1916 New bomber force established

2nd June 1916 New bomber flight

15th June 1916 Seaplanes force Turkish surrender

18th June 1916 Seaplane crew rescued

29th June 1916 Joint RNAS/RFC flight disbanded

July 1916 Reinforcements

1st July 1916 Triplane in action

9th July 1916 One won, one lost

15th July 1916 Seaplane shot down

24th July 1916 Shot down by u-boat

25th July 1916 Supply vessel destroyed

2nd August 1916 Mass bombing raids

12th Aug 1916 Air Raid

20th August 1916 One killed, one PoW

August 1916 Redistribution of bombers forces

25th August 1916 Busy day

7th September 1916 Bomber raids ordered

17th September 1916 British attack beaten off

22nd Sept 1916 Enemy Aircraft

30th September 1916 Air combat

October 1916 Steelworks bombed

15th October 1916 Railway bridges bombed

20th October 1916 Seaplane shot down

21st October 1916 Aircraft destroyed

22nd October 1916 Seaplane shot down

25th October 1916 Air support for Romania

26th October 1916 New Naval Squadron for the Somme

28th Oct 1916 Aircraft damaged

5th November 1916 New Naval Squadrons designated

9th Nov 1916 Aircraft damaged

10th Nov 1916 Aircraft damaged

15th Nov 1916 Aircraft damaged

17th Nov 1916 Aircraft damaged

21st November 1916 Reinforcements for Romania

23rd Nov 1916 Aircraft Lost

27th November 1916 Crash in fog

29th November 1916 German aerodrome destroyed

30th November 1916

1st December 1916 Redesignated

4th December 1916 Scouts shot down

10th Dec 1916 Aircraft damaged

December 1916 Seaplane base moved to Malta

31st December 1916 Reorganisation of Naval Squadrns

11th Jan 1917 Ship Sunk

12th Jan 1917 Orders

23rd January 1917 Steelworks bombed

1st February 1917 Sopwith Pup captured by German airforce

10th February 1917 Zeebrugge bombed

14th February 1917 Aerodrome attacked

25th February 1917 Interned

25th February 1917 Icy conditions

10th March 1917 Hunt for German raider in the Indian Ocean

15th March 1917 Combined air force created

16th March 1917 Aerodrome bombed

6th April 1917 First Triplane losses

7th April 1917 German Destroyers attacked

7th April 1917 Reorganisation of naval squadrons

13th April 1917 U-boat search plan

14th April 1917 Reprisal bombing raid

16th April 1917 Photo reconnaissance

April 1917 New Naval Wing established in Italy

21st Apr 1917 Emergency Landing

21st April 1917 Triplane success

23rd April 1917 Mass formation

23rd of April 1917 Dogfight

24th April 1917 U-Boat probably sunk

29th April 1917 RNAS Bomber force sent to Macedonia

29th April 1917 Mass dogfights

May 1917 Shortage of pilots

14th May 1917 Zeppelin shot down

18th May 1917 Triplanes shot down

20th May 1917 U-Boat sunk

20th May 1917 Submarine assembly site bombed

21st May 1917 Search for raider abandoned

24th May 1917 Seaplane crew survive

25th May 1917 Airmen taken PoW by U-Boat

27th May 1917 RNAS aircraft destroyed

1st June 1917 Superior numbers

4th June 1917 Dogfight

5th June 1917 Aeroplanes grounded

6th Jun 1917 Aircraft Lost

6th Jun 1917 Aircraft Downed

6th June 1917 Triplane victories

7th June 1917 Badly injured

8th June 1917 Two Triplanes shot down

14th June 1917 Zeppelin destroyed at sea

19th June 1917 Seaplanes lost

23rd June 1917 Joint RFC and RNAS Action

26th June 1917 HMS Furious
HMS Furious
HMS Furious was a modified Courageous-class battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. Designed to support the Baltic Project championed by the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, Lord John Fisher, the ship was very lightly armoured with only a few heavy guns. Furious was modified and became an aircraft carrier while under construction. Her forward turret was removed and a flight deck was added in its place, so that aircraft had to manoeuvre around the superstructure to land. Later in the war, the ship had her rear turret removed and a second flight deck installed aft of the superstructure, but this was less than satisfactory due to air turbulence. Furious was briefly laid up after the war before she was reconstructed with a full-length flight deck in the early 1920s.

Name: HMS Furious
Builder: Armstrong Whitworth, Low Walker Yard, Wallsend
Laid down: 8 June 1915
Launched: 15 August 1916
Commissioned: 26 June 1917
Reclassified: As aircraft carrier, September 1925
As completed, her complement numbered 737 officers and enlisted men.
Fate: Sold for scrap, 1948

Aircraft landing and the First World War
On 2 August 1917, while performing trials, Squadron Commander Edwin Dunning landed a Sopwith Pup, believed to have been N6453, successfully on board Furious. He became the first person to land an aircraft on a moving ship. On 7 August, he made one more successful landing in the same manner, but on his third attempt, in Pup N6452, the engine choked and the aircraft crashed off the starboard bow, killing him. The deck arrangement was unsatisfactory because aircraft had to manoeuvre around the superstructure in order to land. In the meantime, all three Courageous-class ships were assigned to the 1st Cruiser Squadron (CS) in October 1917. When the Admiralty received word of German ship movements on 16 October, possibly indicating a raid, Admiral Beatty, commander of the Grand Fleet, ordered most of his light cruisers and destroyers to sea in an effort to locate the enemy ships. Furious was detached from the 1st CS and ordered to sweep along the 56th parallel as far as 4° East and to return before dark. Her half-sisters Courageous and Glorious were not initially ordered to sea, but were sent to reinforce the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron patrolling the central part of the North Sea later that day. Two German Brummer-class light cruisers managed to slip through the gaps in the British patrols and destroyed the Scandinavia convoy during the morning of 17 October, but no word was received of the engagement until that afternoon. The 1st CS was ordered to attempt to intercept the German ships, but they proved to be faster than hoped and the British ships were unsuccessful. Furious returned to the dockyard in November to have the aft turret removed and replaced by another deck for landing, giving her both a launching and a recovery deck. Two lifts (elevators) serving the hangars were also installed. Furious was recommissioned on 15 March 1918 and her embarked aircraft were used on anti-Zeppelin patrols in the North Sea. In July 1918, she flew off seven Sopwith Camels which participated in the Tondern raid, attacking the Zeppelin sheds there with moderate success.
John Doran

28th June 1917 U-Boat bombed

30th June 1917 Bomber flown to Aegean

3rd Jul 1917 Air Raid

4th July 1917 Seaplane station attacked

5th Jul 1917 Accident

6th July 1917 Triplane shot down

7 July 1917 Daylight Raid

7th Jul 1917 Air Raid

7th July 1917 Air forces redeployed

7th July 1917 Three aeroplanes shot down

8th Jul 1917 Air Raid

July 1917 Fighters replace seaplanes

21st July 1917 New naval air station

22nd Jul 1917 In Action

24th July 1917 U-Boat destroyed

27th July 1917 Dogfight over Lemnos

29th July 1917 U-Boat sunk off Zeebrugge

1st August 1917 Bombing campaign in Turkey

7th August 1917 First landing of an aircraft on a ship

9th August 1917 Joint raid with Greek airforce

12th August 1917 Gotha Daylight Raids  About 5 p.m. on the 12th of August 1917 ten Gothas, in formation, were seen approaching Felixstowe. However they turned south and, at 5.50 p.m., were over Rochford, where they dropped three bombs, two of which fell near the hangars on the aerodrome of No. 61 Squadron and wounded two mechanics. A formation of sixteen Sopwith 'Pups' of the squadron had been scrambled to intercept the bombers which turned for home, dropping bombs on Southend and Shoeburyness as they went and killing 32 civilians and injuring 43.
The Pups were unable to catch the Gothas before they ran out of petrol and were forced to turn back, but F/Lt H.S. Kerby, who had gone up from RNAS Walmer in another Sopwith Pup', attacked a Gotha which, apparently in difficulties, was flying about 4,000 feet below the main formation. He forced the Gotha down on the water, where it overturned. One member of the crew was seen to be clinging to the tail, and Flight Lieutenant Kerby dropped a lifebelt in the hope that the German would be enabled to keep afloat until help arrived. It was afterwards announced by the Germans that the Gotha had been lost with its crew. Four other Gothas crashed on landing.

John Doran. The War In The Air Vol. V; H. A. Jones; Clarendon Press, Oxford

18th August 1917 Submarine sunk in the Channel

21st August 1917 Zeppelin destroyed

21st August 1917 Combat Observation Patrol

22nd August 1917 Gotha Daylight Raids  On the 22 August 1917, 15 aircraft set out to attack Margate and Dover. Five turned back over the North Sea. The remaining aircraft were met by heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter aircraft over the Isle of Thanet. Two Gothas were shot down almost immediately, and a third was shot down over Dover by F/Sub-Lt J. Drake RNAS.

John Doran

25th August 1917 Flying-off decks fitted

27th August 1917 Squadron disbanded

September 1917 Aircraft carrier patrols

2nd September 1917 U-Boat bombed

3rd September 1917 Attacked by 6 enemy aircraft

5th Sep 1917 Aeroplane lost

5th September 1917 Failed Attack on Zeppelin

5th September 1917 Bomber deployed on U-Boat patrol

13th September 1917 Pilot wounded

17th September 1917 Submarine claimed

19th September 1917 Ground attack missions

20th September 1917 Ground fire

22nd September 1917 U-Boat sunk

26th Sep 1917 Air Action at The Battle of Polygon Wood

26th September 1917 Four Triplanes lost

28th September 1917 U-Boat destroyed

28th September 1917 Return to Calais

30th September 1917 Improvised aircraft brings down enemy plane

30th September 1917 Bomber crew taken PoW

1st October 1917 Flying Boat shot down

2nd October 1917 New bomber squadron

5th October 1917 Pilot taken PoW

9th October 1917 Three seaplanes lost

11th October 1917

24th October 1917 Night bomber raid

24th October 1917 Killed in combat

27th October 1917 Injured

30th October 1917 Attack on Gaza

31st October 1917 Capture of Beersheba

1st November 1917 Return to Calais

2nd November 1917 Turkish railway blocked

12th November 1917 German aircraft shot down

15th November 1917 Dog fight

1st December 1917 Aerodrome attacked in the Dardenelles

4th December 1917 Aerodrome bombed

5th December 1917 Albatros shot down

13th January 1918 New Naval Squadron formed

20th January 1918 Ships sunk

March 1918 Air force reorganisation

March 1918 Anti-submarine flights

March 1918 Aircraft carrier design unsuccessful

17th March 1918 Australian shot down

26th March 1918 Naval aircraft moved to the Western Front

1st Apr 1918 Royal Air Force formed

6th April 1918 German attack expected

11th April 1918 Pilot escaped injury

April 1918 Belgian coast modelled

12th April 1918 Failed bombing attenpt

12th April 1918 Bomber personnel evacuated to England

13th April 1918 Air Raid

21st April 1918 Air Squadron reassigned to the navy

22nd April 1918 Dogfight

23rd April 1918 Austrian naval base attacked

23rd April 1918 Golden Opportunity

May 1918 More coastal anti-submarine flights created

9th May 1918 Two aircraft shot down

10th May 1918 Zeppelin destroyed

10th May 1918 Ostend attacked

11th May 1918 Austrian Naval Base bombed

13th May 1918 Naval bombing

17th May 1918 U-Boat damaged

28th May 1918 Zeebrugge bombed

30th May 1918 Flying Boat lost

4th June 1918 Channel force reinforced

6th June 1918

7th June 1918 Aerodrome badly damaged

25th June 1918 Pilot killed

4th July 1918 Fighter Ace

6th July 1918 Airmen rescued from Austrian hospital

19th July 1918 Unhurt

21st July 1918 Airmen killed

25th July 1918 Aircraft destroyed

1st August 1918 Shot down

7th August 1918 Bomber patrol

8th August 1918 Railway gun captured

8th August 1918 Change of plan

8th August 1918 Attacks on aerodromes

9th August 1918 Bridges bombed

9th August 1918 Two fighter pilots lost

10th August 1918 Night bombing

10th August 1918 American pilot killed

11th August 1918 In Action

12th August 1918 Submarine destroyed

13th August 1918 German aerodrome bombed

13th August 1918 Reconnaissance mission

19th August 1918 Reassigned duties

22nd August 1918 Night bombing

23rd August 1918 Railway junctions bombed

26th August 1918 Ground attack from the air

28th August 1918 Submarine destroyed

August 1918 Anti submarine flights success

2nd September 1918 Missing in Action

14th September1918 Bad weather stops bombers

14th September 1918 Pilot taken PoW

16th September 1918 German bombers attacked

17th September 1918 Aerodrome attacked

27th September 1918 Two fighter aircraft lost

28th September 1918 Naval air units lent to Belgium

30th September 1918 Bulgaria sues for peace

2nd October 1918 Navy supports Italian offensive

2nd October 1918 Food supplies dropped by air

3rd October 1918 Air battle

16th October 1918 Germans abandon Ostend

27th October 1918 VC awarded

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Those known to have served with
Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Adlam L. Edwin. Flight Sub-Lieutenant (d.9 Sep 1917)
Airey Harold Ferguson. Flight Sub-Lieutenant (d.23 Nov 1917)
Akers Frederick William. Flight Lieutenant (d.20 Jul 1917)
Alexander James Morrow. Flight Sub-Lieutenant (d.12 Sep 1915)
Alexander W. M.. Flt Sub. Lt.
Allaway William. Flight Sub-Lieutenant (d.31 Jul 1917)
Allison Joseph Leyland. Flight Sub-Lieutenant (d.18 Mar 1918)
Anderson . Probationary Flight Offic (d.1 Jan 1918)
Andrews Eric Osterfield Arliss. Flight Sub-Lieutenant (d.8 Nov 1917)
Annesley Francis. Sub-Lieutenant (d.5 Nov 1914)
Armitage George Geoffrey Allen. Flight Sub-Lieutenant (d.11 Dec 1915)
Armstrong D S C. Frederick Carr. Flight Commander (d.25 Mar 1918)
Armstrong Percy Towns. Lieutenant (d.26 May 1917)
Arnold . Flight Lieutenant (d.16 Aug 1917)
Arnold D S O. . Flight Lieutenant (d.20 Mar 1918)
Ash Basil Drummond. Flight Lieutenant (d.30 Sep 1914)
Avery George Gladstone. Flight Sub-Lieutenant (d.14 May 1917)
Broad Dennis Gurney. Flt.Sub.Lt. (d.27th Apr 1916)
Clayson MC, DFC.. Percy Jack. Capt
Collishaw Raymond. Flt Sub. Lt.
Fowler Alfred Charles Garrett. 2Lt. (d.20th September 1918)
Gerrard DSC.. Thomas Francis Netterville. Flt Lt.
Gregory Charles. LM.
Holman Clive Whelpton. Pte.
Nash G. E.. Flt Sub. Lt.
Reid Ellis V.. Flt Sub. Lt.
Rowland . Wilfred Claude. Leading Mechanic
Rutland DSC.. Frederick Joseph. Flt.Lt.
Sharman John E.. Flt Sub. Lt.
Shaw James Alexander.
Thomas Godfrey Main . F/Lt.
Warneford VC. Reginald Alexander John. Flt.Sub.Lt. (d.17th June 1915)

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) from other sources.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

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19th Nov 2024
Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit.

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Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.

1208226

Flight Lieutenant Basil Drummond Ash (d.30 Sep 1914)

Basil Ash served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208225

Lieutenant Percy Towns Armstrong (d.26 May 1917)

Percy Armstrong served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208224

Flight Lieutenant Arnold D S O (d.20 Mar 1918)

Arnold served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208223

Flight Lieutenant Arnold (d.16 Aug 1917)

Arnold served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208222

Flight Sub-Lieutenant George Gladstone Avery (d.14 May 1917)

George Avery served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208221

Sub-Lieutenant Francis Annesley (d.5 Nov 1914)

Francis Annesley served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208220

Probationary Flight Offic Anderson (d.1 Jan 1918)

Anderson served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208219

Flight Sub-Lieutenant Joseph Leyland Allison (d.18 Mar 1918)

Joseph Allison served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208218

Flight Sub-Lieutenant Harold Ferguson Airey (d.23 Nov 1917)

Harold Airey served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208217

Flight Sub-Lieutenant William Allaway (d.31 Jul 1917)

William Allaway served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208216

Flight Lieutenant Frederick William Akers (d.20 Jul 1917)

Frederick Akers served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208215

Flight Sub-Lieutenant James Morrow Alexander (d.12 Sep 1915)

James Alexander served in Remembered at . WW1

Add to this record.

1208214

Flight Sub-Lieutenant George Geoffrey Allen Armitage (d.11 Dec 1915)

George Armitage served in Remembered at . WW1

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1208213

Flight Sub-Lieutenant Eric Osterfield Arliss Andrews (d.8 Nov 1917)

Eric Andrews served in Remembered at . WW1

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1206738

Flight Commander Frederick Carr Armstrong D S C 3 (Naval) Squadron (d.25 Mar 1918)

Frederick Armstrong served in 3 (Naval) Squadron Remembered at . WW1

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1206679

Flight Sub-Lieutenant L. Edwin Adlam 1 (Naval) Squadron (d.9 Sep 1917)

L. Adlam served in 1 (Naval) Squadron Remembered at . WW1

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1205809

Flt.Sub.Lt. Reginald Alexander John Warneford VC (d.17th June 1915)

Reginald Warneford was accidentally killed on 17/06/1915, aged 23 and is buried in the Brompton Cemetery in London. He was the son of Mrs. M. P. Corkery (formerly Warneford), of Kerry House, Comeytrowe, Taunton, Somerset, and the late R. Warneford.
An extract from The London Gazette, dated 11th June, 1915, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery on the 7th June, 1915, when he attacked and, singlehanded, completely destroyed a Zeppelin in mid-air. This brilliant achievement was accomplished after chasing the Zeppelin from the coast of Flanders to Ghent, where he succeeded in dropping his bombs on to it from a height of only one or two hundred feet. One of these bombs caused a terrific explosion which set the Zeppelin on fire from end to end, but at the same time overturned his Aeroplane and stopped the engine. In spite of this he succeeded in landing safely in hostile country, and after 15 minutes started his engine and returned to his base without damage."
s flynn

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260721

LM. Charles Gregory HMS President II

Charles Gregory was a Leading Mechanic with the Royal Navy Air Service from 1916. He served with the No. 205 Squadron RAF upon its formation in 1918.

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254746

Pte. Clive Whelpton Holman 16th Btn. Middlesex Regiment

Clive Holman graduated from Dulwich College and joined the Army soon after War was declared, as did his two older brothers and a sister (as a nurse.) This information is from the Dulwich College Register. "Holman, Clive Whelpton,b.12 August 1896. Great War, Pte Publ. Schs. Bn. Middlesex Regt, R.N.Div., Dardanelles. Leading Mechanic, R.N.A.S. (rigid airships)".
His name is listed as crew of the R-29 flying out of Howden Base in Yorkshire. The R-29 attacked and sank the German U-boat UB-115.
After the War, Clive Holman emigrated to B.E.A. (Kenya), then in 1931 to Canada where he lived until his death in July 1980. He still had a piece of a metal girder from an airship which burned in its shed in 1918, and of a plywood girder dismantled at Howden. He was fascinated by airships.
Lois Holman Davidson

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248177

2Lt. Alfred Charles Garrett "Garrie" Fowler 215 Squadron (d.20th September 1918)

Alfred Fowler served with 215 Squadron. Acclimating to Handley Page O/400 aircraft after 215 Squadron updates O/100s. In Alquines from 4th of July 1918 to 19th of August 1918, when the squadron transferred to Xaffevillers Aerodrome. 2/Lt A.C.G. Fowler was a new pilot, transferring from RNAS to RAF on 1st of April 1918. He was killed with 2/Lt C C Eaves and 2/Lt J S Ferguson on a night bombing raid on Frescary Aerodrome on 20th of September, 1918 during a full moon.
C Hunt

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Recomended Reading.

Available at discounted prices.

Naval Aces of World War 1 part 2 (Aircraft of the Aces)

Jon Guttman

Part 2 of Naval Aces looks at the many flying Naval heroes who flew alongside or against those of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). While the RNAS operated its own formidable arsenal of Nieuport and Sopwith scouts over the Flanders coast, the German navy countered with its own Land Feld Jagdstaffeln and Seefront Staffeln. In addition, German floatplane units, most notably at Zeebrugge, produced at least three aces of their own at the expense of British flying boats, airships and other patrol craft. Unique to World War 1 was the use of flying boats as fighters in combat, which figured at least partially in the scores of Russian aces Aleksandr de Seversky and Mikhail Safanov. Austrian ace Gottfried Banfield scored all nine of his victories in flying boats and Friedrich Lang claimed two of his total of five in one. The best flying boat fighter, however, was Italy's Macchi M 5, flown by three aces and also the mount of Charles H Hammann, the first American to earn the Medal of Honor in a

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British Aviation Squadron Markings of World War I: RFC - RAF - RNAS

Les Rogers

Years in the making, this book covers the wide variety of markings used by British aviation units in World War I. Organized numerically by squadron number the book includes both textual and photographic examples for nearly all RFC, RAF, and RNAS squadrons. Many of the photographs are published here for the first time, and the color profiles offer a representative selection of units, aircraft, and color schemes. A classic book.

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British Aviation Squadron Markings of World War I: RFC - RAF - RNAS

Naval Aces of World War 1 Part I (Aircraft of the Aces)

Jon Guttman

Though understandably overshadowed by their army colleagues, naval aviators played a significant role in World War 1, including some noteworthy contributions of fighter aviation. At a time when the Royal Flying Corps was struggling to match the 'Fokker Scourge' of 1915-16, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was first to use Sopwith's excellent line of scouts, such as the Pup, Triplane and Camel. Some RNAS pilots such as Raymond Collishaw, Robert A Little and Roderick Stanley Dallas rated among the most successful in the British Commonwealth. Their ranks also included David Ingalls, the only US Navy pilot to 'make ace' with eight victories in Camels while with No 213 Sqn RAF. The Germans, too, formed Marine Feld Jagdstaffeln to defend the northern coast of Flanders, and also produced a number of aces, led by Gotthard Sachsenberg and Theo Osterkamp. Besides these land fighters, the Germans produced at least two floatplane aces. Unique to World War 1 was the use of flying boats as fighter

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Naval Aces of World War 1 Part I (Aircraft of the Aces)

WORLD WAR ONE AIRCRAFT CARRIER PIONEER: The Story and Diaries of Captain JM McCleery RNAS/RAF

Guy Warner

Jack McCleery was born in Belfast in 1898, the son of a mill owning family. He joined the RNAS in 1916 as a Probationary Flight Officer. During the next ten months he completed his training at Crystal Palace, Eastchurch, Cranwell, Frieston, Calshot and Isle of Grain, flying more than a dozen landplanes, seaplanes and flying boats, gaining his wings as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant. In July 1917 he was posted to the newly commissioning aircraft carrier HMS Furious, which would be based at Scapa Flow and Rosyth. He served in this ship until February 1919, flying Short 184 seaplanes and then Sopwith 1.50 Strutters off the deck. He also flew a large number of other types during this time from shore stations at Turnhouse, East Fortune and Donibristle. He served with important and well-known naval airmen including Dunning, Rutland (of Jutland) and Bell Davies VC. He witnessed Dunning's first successful landing on a carrier flying a Sopwith Pup in 1917 and his tragic death a few days later. He als

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WORLD WAR ONE AIRCRAFT CARRIER PIONEER: The Story and Diaries of Captain JM McCleery RNAS/RAF

Anti-Submarine Warfare in World War I: British Naval Aviation and the Defeat of the U-Boats (Cass Series: Naval Policy and History)

John Abbatiello

Investigating the employment of British aircraft against German submarines during the final years of the First World War, this new book places anti-submarine campaigns from the air in the wider history of the First World War. The Royal Naval Air Service invested heavily in aircraft of all types—aeroplanes, seaplanes, airships, and kite balloons—in order to counter the German U-boats. Under the Royal Air Force, the air campaign against U-boats continued uninterrupted. Aircraft bombed German U-boat bases in Flanders, conducted area and ‘hunting’ patrols around the coasts of Britain, and escorted merchant convoys to safety. Despite the fact that aircraft acting alone destroyed only one U-boat during the war, the overall contribution of naval aviation to foiling U-boat attacks was significant. Only five merchant vessels succumbed to submarine attack when convoyed by a combined air and surface escort during World War I. This book examines aircraft and weapons technology, aircrew train

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Anti-Submarine Warfare in World War I: British Naval Aviation and the Defeat of the U-Boats (Cass Series: Naval Policy and History)

The Zeppelin Base Raids - Germany 1914

Ian Castle

In the summer of 1914, as Europe teetered on the brink of war, the prospect of immediate Zeppelin raids on London and other major British towns and cities loomed large. Britain's aerial defenses were negligible, while German armed forces mustered a total of eleven airships. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston S. Churchill, accepted responsibility for the defense of London, which translated to defense against Zeppelin attack. His resources were limited, but he believed that attack was the best means of defense. As such, the final four months of 1914 saw the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS) launching four separate ground-breaking air attacks on Zeppelin bases in Germany, making these Britain's first ever strategic bombing raids: Düsseldorf/Cologne (September), Düsseldorf/Cologne again (October), Friedrichshafen (November) and Cuxhaven (December). The raids achieved mixed results, but coming so early in the history of military aviation they all demonstrate evidence of great dete

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The Zeppelin Base Raids - Germany 1914

War In The Air. Being The Story Of The Part Played In The Great War By The Royal Air Force. Volume One.

Sir Walter Raleigh

The first book in the seven volume official history of the RAF in the Great War. This opening volume - the only one written by Sir Walter Raleigh before his death - covers the early days of the RFC and RNAS and the first months of the war.

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War In The Air. Being The Story Of The Part Played In The Great War By The Royal Air Force. Volume One.

Kitchener's Last Volunteer: The Life of Henry Allingham, the Oldest Surviving Veteran of the Great War

Henry Allingham & Denis Goodwin

Henry Allingham is the last British serviceman alive to have volunteered for active duty in the First World War and is one of very few people who can directly recall the horror of that conflict. In Kitchener's Last Volunteer, he vividly recaptures how life was lived in the Edwardian era and how it was altered irrevocably by the slaughter of millions of men in the Great War, and by the subsequent coming of the modern age. Henry is unique in that he saw action on land, sea and in the air with the British Naval Air Service. He was present at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 with the British Grand Fleet and went on to serve on the Western Front. He befriended several of the young pilots who would lose their lives, and he himself suffered the privations of the front line under fire. In recent years, Henry was given the opportunity to tell his remarkable story to a wider audience through a BBC documentary, and he has since become a hero to many, meeting royalty and having many honours bes

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Kitchener's Last Volunteer: The Life of Henry Allingham, the Oldest Surviving Veteran of the Great War

Royal Naval Air Service Pilot 191418

Mark Barber

Review "Whether you are a historian or modeler, "Royal Naval Air Service Pilot 1914-18" offers good information of interest for anyone. I recommend this book." -Frederick Boucher, "Model Shipwrights" Product Description In 1914, the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps was subsumed into the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). With the bulk of the Royal Flying Corps engaged in France, the aircraft and seaplane pilots of the RNAS protected Britain from the deadly and terrifying Zeppelin menace. In 1915, the RNAS sent aircraft to support the operations in the Dardanelles, and also gave increasing support to the Royal Flying Corps units engaged on the Western Front, conducting reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and artillery spotting, bombing raids, and aerial combat with German pilots. This book explores all of these fascinating areas, and charts the pioneering role of the RNAS in military aviation.

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Royal Naval Air Service Pilot 191418

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