Kingsnorth Airship Station
Kingsnorth Airship Station

Author: Tina Bilbe

Publisher: The History Press

Published: 2013-11-04

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 0752497502

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The airships developed at Kingsnorth Airship Station in Kent played a vital role during the First World War by successfully protecting the Royal Navy fleet from submarine attack. It was the proud boast of the Airship Service that no vessels accompanied by one of their airships were lost to a U-boat offensive. Author Tina Bilbé tells the story of Kingsnorth, exploring the development of the station, the challenges faced and overcome, the people who contributed to the station's success, and how the station and its legacy have changed the local area. Contemporary accounts and pictures, including previously unpublished material, bring this story to life, whether for the local historian or military enthusiast. The extensive list of former personnel will also appeal to anyone who may have had a relative serve there.

Kingsnorth Airship Station
Kingsnorth Airship Station

Author: Tina Bilbe

Publisher: The History Press

Published: 2013-11-04

Total Pages: 263

ISBN-13: 0752497502

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Kingsnorth Airship Station played a vital role during the First World War, developing airships which successfully protected the fleet from submarine attack. It was the proud boast of the Airship Service that no vessels accompanied by one of their airships were lost to submarine attack. This book tells the story of Kingsnorth, exploring the development of the station, the challenges faced and overcome, the people who contributed to the station’s success and how the station and its legacy have changed the local area. Contemporary accounts and pictures bring this story to life, whether for the local historian, military enthusiast or a relative linked with Kingsnorth.

British Airship Bases of the Twentieth Century
British Airship Bases of the Twentieth Century

Author: Malcolm Fife

Publisher: Fonthill Media

Published: 2017-05-17

Total Pages: 382

ISBN-13:

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Numerous books have been written on airships, but few concentrate on their bases and infrastructure to support their operations. British Airship Bases of the Twentieth Century starts with documenting the primitive facilities from which the early machines flew in the years prior to the First World War. The outbreak of the First World War resulted in airships being adopted for military purposes and bases were established across Britain. Most of these were operated by the Royal Naval Air Service for the protection of shipping against U-boats. In the 1920s, an attempt was made by the British Government to build airships for commercial transport. The locations where these giants of the sky were constructed are described as well as the proposed overseas passenger terminals. The latter part of this enthralling and detailed book chronicles the attempt to establish the airship as a means of transport to link together the far flung lands of the British Empire. Reference is also made at attempts to revive the airship in the closing decade of the 20th century and the locations associated with them. Illustrations: 170 black and white photographs

Frank McClean
Frank McClean

Author: Philip Jarrett

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2011-07-13

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 1473814448

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During aviations pioneering years Francis Kennedy McClean used his vast inherited wealth to help the now famous Short Brothers company become established as one of Britains greatest aircraft manufacturers and, in doing so, he helped the Royal Navys first pilots into the air. In effect, he was Godfather to British naval aviation.But McClean did much more than even that. He was himself a balloonist and pioneer aviator, flying with Wilbur Wright in France in December 1908. He provided the Royal Aero Club with one of the first flying grounds in the UK; personally purchased no fewer than sixteen aeroplanes from Short Brothers before the First World War, and also acted as the companys unpaid test pilot. Convinced that aviation was destined to play a vital role in the nations defence, he made his own aeroplanes freely available for training and ensured that the Navy had a suitable site from which to fly, founding Englands first naval flying school, at Eastchurch in Kent. His flight up the Thames to Westminster on 10 August 1912, during which he flew between the upper and lower spans of Tower Bridge and passed beneath the other bridges, caught the public imagination, but despite all these achievements he remained unassuming, modest and reticent. This is a fascinating and informative account of McCleans great influence on early aviation, and his achievements and significant contribution to naval aviation are revealed here for the first time.

Dambuster-in-Chief
Dambuster-in-Chief

Author: Richard Mead

Publisher: Pen and Sword Aviation

Published: 2020-12-30

Total Pages: 378

ISBN-13: 152676508X

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“A fascinating biography of one of the most important figures in Bomber Command during the Second World War.” —History of War Ralph Cochrane was born in 1895 into a distinguished naval family. After joining the Royal Navy, he volunteered in 1915 to serve with the RNAS in airships and was an early winner of the Air Force Cross. In 1918 he transferred to the fledgling RAF and learned to fly, serving in Iraq as a flight commander under “Bomber” Harris. His inter-war career saw him as a squadron commander in Aden before he became the first Chief of Air Staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. During the Second World War he served mainly in Bomber Command and commanded 5 Group from early 1943. He formed 617 Squadron and was instrumental in planning the legendary Dambuster Raid, the most spectacular of the War, as well as the sinking of the battleship Tirpitz. An inspirational leader, he trained 5 Group in low level target marking skills. Post war, Cochrane held a string of senior appointments commanding Transport Command, Flying Training Command and finally as Vice Chief of Air Staff, retiring in 1952. He died in 1977. “A brilliantly researched biography of a fascinating fighter . . . adds a new name to rank alongside Great Britain’s most heroic warriors.” —Argunners “The Dambusters is one of my absolute favourite stories from WWII . . . and this bio of Cochrane tells the story of an extraordinary man. Brilliant.” —Books Monthly

101 Hours in a Zeppelin
101 Hours in a Zeppelin

Author: Robert S. Pohl

Publisher: Schiffer + ORM

Published: 2023-05-28

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 1507303289

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The Robert Wichard Pohl letters, which are the basis of this book, have never before been translated or published. Pohl provides a rare personal account of life aboard a WWI airship This was the first flight to exceed 100 hours, and to prove that Zeppelins were, indeed, capable of flying across the Atlantic Ocean.