2. THE EARLY PIONEERS In October 1911 the first four Naval Officers selected for flying training gained their wings at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey with aircraft lent to the Navy by the Royal Aero Club. The first successful flight from water took place at Lake Windermere in November 1911. The first take off from a ship was from HMS Africa at anchor in Sheerness harbour and the first from a ship underway from HMS Hibernia during a Fleet Review attended by King George V in Weymouth Bay. In May 1912 the Royal Flying Corps was founded consisting of a Naval and Military Wing and a Central Flying School although the Navy maintained a parallel system of training at Eastchurch. In 1914 the Navy effectively left the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service was born.

3. The Royal Aero Club offered the Royal Navy two aircraft with which to train its first pilots. The Club also offered its members as instructors and the use of its airfield at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey. The Admiralty accepted the offer. Eastchurch Flying Ground opened by the Royal Aero Club 1909. Photograph flightglobal.com

4. These are the four men who were accepted, it is believed over two hundred had applied: Lieutenant Arthur Murray Longmore.Lieutenant Charles Rumney Samson. Photographs flightglobal.com Lieutenant Reginald Gregory. Lieutenant Eugene Louis Gerrard of the Royal Marine Light Infantry. The pilots were trained by George Betram Cockburn (left) and gained their wings very quickly. Photograph Grace’s Guide, British Industrial History

5. This event took place on the Medway near Sheerness, airbags were used for flotation. Crown Copyright Lieutenant Arthur Longmore (in dark coat walking toward camera on right) on 1 December 1911 immediately after he became the first person in the United Kingdom to take off from land and make a successful water landing using the aircraft behind him, an Short Improved S.27 bearing Admiralty number 38, later often called the "Short S.38."

6. HMS Hibernia, Crown Copyright Lt. Samson became the first pilot in the world to take-off from a ship underway. He was again flying a Short S38 from HMS Hibernia steaming at 15 knots in Weymouth Bay during the Royal Review of the Fleet Lieutenant Charles Samson flies Short Improved S.27 No. 38 from a platform constructed over the deck of battleship HMS Africa. It was the United Kingdom's first ‘flight’ by an airplane from a ship. Crown Copyright HMS Africa (early 20 th Century)

7. Short Folder seaplane, type 81 being hoisted into the water from HMS Hermes Crown Copyright During 1912, a formal Naval Air Service seaplane base was established on the Isle of Grain, Kent, and in 1913, aircraft from the Naval Air Service formally took part in naval manoeuvres for the first time with ships from the Royal Navy. ‘HMS Hermes’ was used as a seaplane tender.

8. EngadineEmpress These converted ‘seaplane tenders’ were returned to their respective owners in 1919 at the end of the First World War. Photograph source: Wikipedia Photograph source: Lairds Isle H.M.S. Hermes was torpedoed and sunk in November of 1914. However at the outbreak of the war the Navy requisitioned three cross-channel packet boats and converted them as seaplane tenders. These were the Engadine, Riviera and Empress. Riviera

9. The Naval Air Service had been the Naval Wing of the RFC since 1912. July 1914 it became Royal Naval Air Service becoming completely independent of the RFC on August 1 st, 1915, when the RNAS was put under the sole control of the Royal Navy. The RNAS aircraft patrolled the UK’s coastline. But attacks on German coastal positions in Belgium were not unknown and it also had two squadrons fighting on the Western Front, the Middle East and the east coast of Africa. The RNAS was also for a short time given the task of defending London from bombers and Zeppelins. Photographic source unknown.

10. On Christmas Day 1914, several RNAS seaplanes launch attacks against German Zeppelin bases at Cuxhaven, and Wilhelmshaven, Northern Germany. It’s though this was the first attack by ‘ship-borne’ aircraft. Google Maps

11. An armoured car detachment belonging to the RNAS operated in the Middle East and Belgium. In the summer of 1915 the Armoured Car Division was disbanded. For a time the RNAS possessed the UK’s only mechanised land forces under the command of Commander C. R. Samson (one of the first Naval Pioneers). RNAS armoured cars during the Battle of Gallipoli, 1915. Crown Copyright Commander C. R. Samson Crown Copyright

12. Flight Sub-Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford becomes the first RNAS pilot to be awarded the Victoria Cross in June 1915. Crown Copyright Battle of Jutland, 1916, saw the RNAS provide the first proper aerial reconnaissance of an enemy battle fleet at sea. The pilot was Flight Lieutenant F.J. Rutland (who would be forevermore be known as Rutland of Jutland) along with his Observer, Assistant Paymaster G.S. Trewin. They were flying a Short 184 type plane from HMS Engadine, although hampered by low-cloud and intense anti-aircraft fire Rutland came down below 1,000ft and a signal was sent back reporting the positions of both the German light cruiser screen and heavy units it protected. Although this sighting had no marked effect on the conduct of the battle, Admiral Beatty was to write that the sighting did, "indicate that seaplane under such circumstance are of distinct value.” Crown Copyright Short type 184 seaplane

13. On 2 August 1917, while performing trials a Pup flown by Sqn Cdr Edwin Dunning became the first aircraft to land aboard a moving ship, HMS Furious. The crew ready to help slow him down so as to not go into the sea. Crown Copyright Sadly Dunning was killed on his third landing when the Pup fell over the side of the ship.

14. In 1918, RNAS and RFC amalgamated to create the RAF. First true aircraft carrier, Argus was commissioned. HMS Argus c1918 Crown Copyright

15. In 1924 the ‘ship borne’ element of the RAF was given the name the ‘Fleet Air Arm,’ it remained under the control of the Air Ministry. As war loomed large on the horizon the Admiralty once again vied for control of the Fleet Air Arm. Sir Thomas Inskip headed the committee set up to arbitrate in 1937. The Inskip Award returned full control of training, organisation and equipping back to the Admiralty. The next two years were devoted to the development of the small service into a force ready for war On the 24 th May 1939 the ‘Fleet Air Arm’ came under the full control of the Admiralty, the term Fleet Air Arm stuck. It was only officially adopted as the name of the service in 1953.

16. SOURCE & CREDIT FLEET AIR ARM ALL IMAGES CROWN COPYRIGHT

17. 700 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1940 – 1944 1944 – 1949 1955 – 1961 1998 –2008 2009 – present LOCATION:RNAS Yeovilton MOTTO:Experientia docet TRANSLATION:Experience teaches ROLE:Introductory unit Lynx Wildcat. Responsible for bringing the aircraft into service. ***The squadron reformed as 700W NAS in May 2009. 702 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1936 -1952, 1978 - present LOCATION:RNAS Yeovilton MOTTO:Cave ungues felis TRANSLATION: Beware the Claws of the Cat ROLE: Training Lynx aircrew and maintainers. 703 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1942 - 1944 1945 – 1955 1972 - 1981 2003 – present LOCATION:RAF Barkston Heath, Berkshire MOTTO:Experientia docet TRANSLATION:Experience teaches ROLE: Conducts Elementary Flying Training for the Royal Navy, part of the Defence Elementary Flying School. 705 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1936 - 1940 1947 – present LOCATION:RAF Shawbury, Berkshire MOTTO:Expertam Docemus Artem ROLE: Single-engine advance training for all three services.

18. 727 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1943 - 1944 1946 – 1950 1956 - 1960 2001 – present LOCATION:RNAS Yeovilton MOTTO:Regite mare, regere caelum TRANSLATION:To rule the sea, one must rule the sky ROLE: Grading young RN and RM officers to assess suitability for further training with the FAA. 750 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1939 - 1945 1952 – present LOCATION:RNAS Culdrose MOTTO:Teach and strike ROLE: Flight Observer Officer Training. 771 NAVAL AIR SQUADRONGANNET ACTIVE:1939 - 1955 1961 – 1964 1967 - present LOCATION:RNAS Culdrose MOTTO:Non nobis solum TRANSLATION:Not unto us alone ROLE: Search and Rescue (SAR), military and civilian. ACTIVE:1943 - 1959 1971 - present LOCATION:Prestwick (South-West Scotland) ROLE: Search and Rescue (SAR), military and civilian.

19. 814 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1938 - 1942 1944 – 1970 1973 – 2000 2001 - present LOCATION:RNAS Culdrose MOTTO:In hoc signo vinces TRANSLATION:In this sign you will conquer ROLE: Anti-submarine protection. Additional tasks include surveillance, troop and tactical transport, replenishment, casualty evacuation. ACTIVE:Oct 1939 – Nov 1939 Nov 1939 – Nov 1944 Dec 1944 – 1945 1947 – Jul 1958 Sep 1958 – Aug 1959 Sep 1959 – Dec 1960 Jul 1961 – Oct 1966 Jan 1981 - present LOCATION:RNAS Yeovilton MOTTO:Strike deep ROLE: Provides Lynx helicopters for the frigates and destroyers of the Royal Navy. 815 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON 820 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:April 1933 – Nov 1933 Oct 1944 – Mar 1946 Jul 1951 – Dec 1957 Nov 1959 – Oct 1960 Sep 1964 - present LOCATION:RNAS Culdrose MOTTO:Tutamen et Ultor TRANSLATION:Safeguard and Avenger ROLE: Anti-submarine protection. Additional tasks include surveillance, troop and tactical transport, replenishment, casualty evacuation. 824 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1933 – 1989 2001 - present LOCATION:RNAS Culdrose MOTTO:Spectat ubique spiritus TRANSLATION:Behold the wind from all around ROLE: Anti-submarine warfare; additional tasks include anti- surface warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance, troop and tactical transport, replenishment, casualty evacuation, search and rescue.

20. 829 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1940 - 1942 1943 - 1944 1964 - 1993 2004 – present LOCATION:RNAS Culdrose MOTTO:Non effugient TRANSLATION:They shall not escape ROLE: To provide Merlin Flights to Type 23 frigates. 845 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:January 1943 - present LOCATION:RNAS Yeovilton MOTTO:Audio hostem TRANSLATION:I hear the enemy ROLE: Commando support - 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines with tactical transport and load-lifting helicopters. Five independent flights that may be sent to any theatre of operations anywhere in the world at short notice. 846 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1943 - present LOCATION:RNAS Yeovilton MOTTO:Semper instans TRANSLATION:Always threatening ROLE: Commando support - 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines with tactical transport and load-lifting helicopters. Five independent flights that may be sent to any theatre of operations anywhere in the world at short notice. 847 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1960s 1982 LOCATION:RNAS Yeovilton MOTTO:Ex alto concutimus TRANSLATION:We strike from on high ROLE: Commando support – providing armed reconnaissance and direction of supporting arms capability, mainly for 3 Commando Brigade RM.

21. 848 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1943 - present LOCATION:RNAS Yeovilton MOTTO:Accipe hoc TRANSLATION:Take that ROLE: Commando helicopter training – training Sea King Commando helicopter aircrew also providing support for counter terrorism operations. 849 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1943 – 1945 1952 – 1978 1984 – present LOCATION:RNAS Culdrose MOTTO:Primus video TRANSLATION:The first to see ROLE: Provides airborne surveillance and control training HQ Squadron. 854 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1944 - 1945 2006 - present LOCATION:RNAS Culdrose MOTTO:Audentes fortuna juvat TRANSLATION:Fortune helps the daring ROLE: Provides airborne surveillance and control. 857 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON ACTIVE:1944 - 1945 2006 - present LOCATION:RNAS Culdrose MOTTO:Aminis opibusque parati TRANSLATION:Prepared in minds and resources ROLE: Provides airborne surveillance and control.

22. ‘Wings’ photographed at the FAA Museum © the2xilesteam Although the role of the’ ‘Naval Air Service’ has changed since it was formed at the beginning of the 20 th century, it has and still does play an important part in the ‘defence of the nation.’

23. © the2xislesteam PRESENTATION