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Author Archives: navalairhistory

New Test Pilot Biography Launched at BDAC Old Sarum

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The first full-length biography of 1930s-40s test pilot Duncan Menzies (‘Flying to the Edge: The Groundbreaking Career of Test Pilot Duncan Menzies’ by Matthew Willis, Amberley Books) was formally launched […]

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Miscellaneous

Hawker’s Fastest Fury – LA610

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On 21 February 1945, the first Hawker Sea Fury flew, marking a new chapter in what would become an illustrious career, highly successful in combat and the pinnacle of piston-engined […]

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Fleet Air Arm, Korean War, Prototypes, Test flying, WW2 History

The first jet carrier landing

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On 3 December 1945, Lieutenant Commander Eric Melrose ‘Winkle’ Brown (later Captain) made the first carrier landings and take-offs with a jet aircraft in history, when he flew de Havilland […]

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Fleet Air Arm, Postwar history, Prototypes, Test flying

In Memoriam, Sub Lt David Mitchell RNVR and Cdr David Hamilton RN

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One of the best aspects of writing about historical naval aviation sadder is meeting deeply impressive people who have contributed to that history. One of the saddest aspects is the […]

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Fleet Air Arm, Obituary, Postwar history

Navy Wings at Night – Part 2

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I wouldn’t usually blog on the same subject twice in quick succession (See part 1 of Navy Wings At Night), but there’s a reason for a second post on the […]

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Fleet Air Arm, Restoration and preservation

Navy Wings at Night

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The ‘Navy Wings’ charity, which supports the Royal Navy’s aviation heritage work, staged its first night photoshoot, arranged by Threshold Aero, on 26 October. The event marked the first time […]

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Air displays, Fleet Air Arm, Restoration and preservation

Sixty seconds to save a Sea Fury

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Sixty seconds was all Lieutenant Commander Chris Götke had to save a rare, important Hawker Sea Fury T.20 from destruction. Fortunately this highly experienced former test pilot was exactly the […]

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Air displays, Fleet Air Arm, Postwar history, Restoration and preservation

The Fleet Air Arm in the Battle of Britain

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The involvement of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm is relatively little known and while numerically small, had a significant impact on the Battle. Two squadrons of the Royal Navy’s […]

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WW2 History

HMS Queen Elizabeth

August 16, 2017by navalairhistory Leave a comment

At approximately seven o’clock on the morning of 16 August 2017, the Royal Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, entered her home port of Portsmouth for the […]

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Fleet Air Arm, HMS Queen Elizabeth, Postwar history

The Fleet Air Arm over Dunkirk

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The involvement of the RAF in the Dunkirk evacuations is well recognised now (even if it wasn’t at the time by those on the ground) – less well known is […]

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Fleet Air Arm, WW2 History

Falklands Air War – Aviation Xtended podcasts

July 12, 2017by navalairhistory Leave a comment

I was delighted to take part in two recent episodes of the aeronautical podcast Aviation Xtended to mark the 35th anniversary of the end of the 1982 Falklands conflict. This […]

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Falklands conflict, Fleet Air Arm, Postwar history

Up close and personal with the Barracuda restoration

July 10, 2017by navalairhistory 2 Comments

I’m indebted to the wonderful team running the Fairey Barracuda restoration at the Fleet Air Arm Museum for allowing me to spend Yeovilton Air Day with them. Thanks to William […]

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WW2 History

The Night the Zeppelin fell to Earth – WW1 centenary

September 23, 2016by navalairhistory 1 Comment

On the morning of 24 September 1916, two vast, skeletal wrecks lay sprawled across the Essex countryside – the remains of two of the German naval air service’s newest and […]

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WW1 History

Matt Willis joins British Naval History

September 1, 2016by navalairhistory Leave a comment

Naval Air History’s Matthew Willis has joined the British Naval History team with a regular blog – see posts here The first post ‘The Flying-off Platform- an Evolutionary Dead End?’ […]

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Miscellaneous

New Fairey Flycatcher book published

July 26, 2016by navalairhistory Leave a comment

My book on the Fairey Flycatcher published by MMP Books is now available. For more information and to buy, see the MMP site Reviews include: ‘Matthew Willis has delivered a […]

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Interwar history, Pre-war fleet air arm

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Naval Air History News

My Fairey Barracuda book is out – MMP Books Orange Series no.8117, available from the publisher as well as the usual retailers. The book contains over 200 photographs, highly detailed scale plans and wonderful colour artwork from JP Viera, as well as a detailed history and technical biography of the aeroplane.

Matt Willis’ publications

A full list of Matthew Willis' non-fiction publications can be found here

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Recent Posts

  • New Test Pilot Biography Launched at BDAC Old Sarum
  • Hawker’s Fastest Fury – LA610
  • The first jet carrier landing
  • In Memoriam, Sub Lt David Mitchell RNVR and Cdr David Hamilton RN
  • Navy Wings at Night – Part 2

Categories

  • Air displays
  • Cold War
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  • Falklands conflict
  • Fleet Air Arm
  • Golden age of flight
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  • HMS Illustrious
  • HMS Queen Elizabeth
  • Interwar history
  • Korean War
  • Miscellaneous
  • Obituary
  • Postwar history
  • Pre-war fleet air arm
  • Prototypes
  • Restoration and preservation
  • RNAS
  • Supercarriers
  • Supermarine Specials
  • Surviving WW1 ships
  • Test flying
  • US Navy
  • Vietnam War
  • WW1 History
  • WW2 History

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Blogroll

  • Bristol Scout rebuild project
  • Dedicated to the crew of record breaking North Sea Class airship NS11 – 'As Bright As Day'
  • East Essex Aviation Museum – underwater archaeology and home of P-51D Mustang 'Little Zippie'
  • Fly Navy Heritage Trust
  • Gentlemen and Tarpaulins J D Davies's naval writings
  • Georgian Gentleman – The musings of Richard Hall 1720-1801
  • Maritime Archaeology Trust
  • Navy Campaign – an independent, non-profit group that campaigns to promote the Royal Navy
  • Navy Wings
  • Save the Royal Navy
  • The Aviation Historian journal
  • This Is War Blog
  • Vintage Aero Writer
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Blogroll

  • Bristol Scout rebuild project
  • Dedicated to the crew of record breaking North Sea Class airship NS11 – 'As Bright As Day'
  • East Essex Aviation Museum – underwater archaeology and home of P-51D Mustang 'Little Zippie'
  • Fly Navy Heritage Trust
  • Gentlemen and Tarpaulins J D Davies's naval writings
  • Georgian Gentleman – The musings of Richard Hall 1720-1801
  • Maritime Archaeology Trust
  • Navy Campaign – an independent, non-profit group that campaigns to promote the Royal Navy
  • Navy Wings
  • Save the Royal Navy
  • The Aviation Historian journal
  • This Is War Blog
  • Vintage Aero Writer

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