Naval Aviation in the First World War: Its Impact and Influence

by R.D. Layman

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557506175
• ISBN13: 9781557506177
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

The beginnings of sea-air-power explained

The question "Where do we come from?" is answered by mothers with storks and paleontologists with dinosaurs. If the "we" is carrier aviation, Naval Aviation in the First World War by R.D. Layman has answers for Tailhookers.Noland writes with wit and from extensive research. The title of the third chapter, "Battleship Admirals and Other Myths" sets the tone. Early naval aviation developments were not hindered by a lack of support from senior officers so much as the primitive equipment available. As Noland writes in a later chapter, "The distrust was justified. Here (a series of unsuccessful raids on Zeppelin bases) again was a case in which it was not based on any prejudice against aviation - else why would have eight aeronaval operations been authorized? - but on technological unreliability of aircraft."Reading the tales of the early days of air combat over the sea, the contemporary Tailhooker cannot help but be impressed by the sheer, what in those days was called, moxie of the early aircrewmen. The odds of a successful mission were extremely low. Crashes so routine they were hardly commented on. " `Never to be seen again' was the epitaph for many a Great War naval aviator." Entertaining as well as informative, Naval Aviation in the First World War is strongly recommended for anyone who wants to know where we came from.R.R. "Boom" Powell USN (ret)