Naval Air History

The story of aircraft over water

Main Menu

Skip to content
  • All posts
  • Naval Air History home
    • Matthew Willis’ Publications

Category Archives: WW1 History

From Essex Field to Atlantic Crossing

Featuredby navalairhistory 2 Comments

On 24 September 1916, the destiny of British airship flying changed dramatically. Until that time, British designers and constructors in government and private industry had lagged behind their German counterparts. […]

Read Article →
Interwar history, Naval airships, WW1 History
Blackburn Blackburd

New series of blogs on Global Maritime History

May 14, 2018by navalairhistory Leave a comment

The first of a series of new blogposts by Naval Air History author Matthew Willis was published today on the Global Maritime History site. The series takes a look at […]

Read Article →
Prototypes, Test flying, WW1 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 […]

Read Article →
WW1 History

Naval aviation in the Battle of Jutland

May 31, 2016by navalairhistory 1 Comment

The Battle of Jutland, fought a century ago, is principally remembered as the biggest clash of battleships ever – one of the last hurrahs of the mighty surface fleets before […]

Read Article →
WW1 History

Review ‘Bloody Paralyser’ by Rob Langham

May 10, 2016by navalairhistory Leave a comment

Bloody Paralyser: The Giant Handley Page Bombers of the First World War Rob Langham Fonthill Media April 2016 In this centenary period for the First World War it is particularly […]

Read Article →
RNAS, WW1 History

Sopwith Pup book available!

November 4, 2015by navalairhistory Leave a comment

I’m delighted to announce that my book on the Sopwith Pup WW1 biplane fighter is available. The Sopwith Pup, as it is unofficially but universally known, was one of the […]

Read Article →
RNAS, WW1 History

HMS Caroline – a naval aviation pioneer

June 1, 2015by navalairhistory 3 Comments

The veteran WW1 cruiser HMS Caroline, now subject to preservation as a museum ship, is a little-known pioneer of naval aviation. As restoration work is now underway, much attention will […]

Read Article →
RNAS, Surviving WW1 ships, WW1 History

Monitor M33, veteran of Gallipoli

February 27, 2015by navalairhistory 1 Comment

In the centenary of the First World War, only a handful of warships from that conflict survive. Even fewer are open to the public. One vessel that can be visited, […]

Read Article →
Dardanelles, RNAS, Surviving WW1 ships, WW1 History

The Aviation Historian – Issue 3 review

April 23, 2013by navalairhistory 1 Comment

The Aviation Historian launched without fanfare in October 2012. This was a far quieter start than was deserved by a publication that is quite unique in the ranks of aviation […]

Read Article →
Cold War, WW1 History, WW2 History

Fleet Air Arm Museum reserve collection

March 15, 2013by navalairhistory Leave a comment

The Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton has the biggest collection of naval aircraft in Europe. The main collection is unquestionably impressive, but the museum also holds a reserve collection […]

Read Article →
Cold War, Falklands conflict, Fleet Air Arm, Golden age of flight, Pre-war fleet air arm, Restoration and preservation, WW1 History, WW2 History

The mythical Griffin – a forgotten naval aircraft of WW1

January 22, 2013by navalairhistory 1 Comment

In 1917-18, a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft was developed for naval use, which successfully operated from one of the first aircraft carriers and saw service in a combat zone. Ninety-five years […]

Read Article →
Fleet Air Arm, History and its lessons, Pre-war fleet air arm, WW1 History

The Unsung Ark Royal

October 11, 2012by navalairhistory 2 Comments

When the current HMS Ark Royal (R07) leaves Portsmouth early next year for a Turkish scrapyard, it mark only the second time in 99 years that there will not be […]

Read Article →
History and its lessons, Pre-war fleet air arm, WW1 History, WW2 History

British naval anti-aircraft weaponry – a brief history

June 28, 2012by navalairhistory Leave a comment

With reference to the Explosion Museum of Naval Ordnance, Gosport All the photographs of preserved naval AA weapons below show items in the extensive collection of the Explosion Museum The […]

Read Article →
Cold War, Falklands conflict, History and its lessons, Pre-war fleet air arm, WW1 History, WW2 History

Flying boat ‘lighter stunts’

March 14, 2012by navalairhistory Leave a comment

The UK’s new aircraft carriers are once again mired in controversy, with spiralling costs and disagreement over which landing/take-off concept should be applied. The chance that Britain may be moving […]

Read Article →
Restoration and preservation, RNAS, Surviving WW1 ships, WW1 History

Post navigation

Naval Air History News

The first of three novellas from Sharpe Books was released in June 2019 – ‘Harpoon’ chronicles the struggles of a Sea Hurricane pilot on the vital Malta convoys of 1942. Available from Amazon

Matt Willis’ publications

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

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Categories

  • Air displays
  • Cold War
  • Dardanelles
  • Falklands conflict
  • Fleet Air Arm
  • Golden age of flight
  • Historical fiction
  • History and its lessons
  • HMS Ark Royal
  • HMS Illustrious
  • HMS Queen Elizabeth
  • Interwar history
  • Korean War
  • Miscellaneous
  • Naval airships
  • 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

Twitter Updates

  • RT @DrFrancisYoung: I feel like this achievement should unlock a new level or something 29 minutes ago
Follow @NavalAirHistory

Archives

  • June 2021
  • March 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • November 2015
  • September 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Blogroll

  • Aeroplane Monthly – long-running aviation history magazine
  • Armoured Carriers – the RN's armoured-deck aircraft carriers in WW2
  • 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
  • Global Maritime History
  • 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

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Naval Air History
    • Join 102 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Naval Air History
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...