Royal Naval Air Service Collection

The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) played a crucial role in the defense of Britain during World War I

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: A Sea Scout Zero airship at Anglesey

A Sea Scout Zero airship at Anglesey
Sea Scout Zero airship SSZ-34 at RNAS Anglesey, 1918

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: RNAS Anglesey

RNAS Anglesey
The airship station and aerodrome on Anglesey, with Sea Scout Zero airships in the distance

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Allied Aircraft - Demonstration At Polo Grounds; Col. Charles E. Lee, British Aviator... 1917

Allied Aircraft - Demonstration At Polo Grounds; Col. Charles E. Lee, British Aviator... 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Allied Aircraft - Demonstration At Polo Grounds; Col. Charles E. Lee, British Aviator, with Senator New, 1917. Colonel Lee (right)

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Study for Captain Albert Ball (oil on canvas)

Study for Captain Albert Ball (oil on canvas)
3744367 Study for Captain Albert Ball (oil on canvas) by Davis, Noel Denholm (1876-1950); 36.8x29.8 cm; Nottingham City Museums and Galleries (Nottingham Castle); (add.info)

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: RNAS Coastal Class Airship C23A Flying above a Warship Convoy, c. 1917 (b / w photo)

RNAS Coastal Class Airship C23A Flying above a Warship Convoy, c. 1917 (b / w photo)
498403 RNAS Coastal Class Airship C23A Flying above a Warship Convoy, c.1917 (b/w photo) by Grant, Thomas E. & Horace Grant (20th Century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: A British naval airship bombing a submarine (colour litho)

A British naval airship bombing a submarine (colour litho)
981892 A British naval airship bombing a submarine (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Squadron Leader Arthur Bigsworth attacks with bombs a German submarine

Squadron Leader Arthur Bigsworth attacks with bombs a German submarine, which fills and sinks off Ostend, Belgium
976436 Squadron Leader Arthur Bigsworth attacks with bombs a German submarine, which fills and sinks off Ostend, Belgium, 26 August 1915 (colour litho) by Swanwick, H. G

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Squadron Leader Spenser Grey flying over Cologne, 8 October 1914 (litho)

Squadron Leader Spenser Grey flying over Cologne, 8 October 1914 (litho)
976452 Squadron Leader Spenser Grey flying over Cologne, 8 October 1914 (litho) by Avis, W. (20th Century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Squadron Leader Spenser Grey flying over Cologne)

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Squadron-Leader Richard Davies and Flight-Lieutenant Richard Peirse dropping bombs

Squadron-Leader Richard Davies and Flight-Lieutenant Richard Peirse dropping bombs on the submarine station at
976445 Squadron-Leader Richard Davies and Flight-Lieutenant Richard Peirse dropping bombs on the submarine station at Zeebrugge under heavy fire, 23 January 1915 (litho) by Avis, W

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Lt Warneford shoots down a Zeppelin raider over Belgium on 7th June 1915

Lt Warneford shoots down a Zeppelin raider over Belgium on 7th June 1915
700940 Lt Warneford shoots down a Zeppelin raider over Belgium on 7th June 1915 and wins the Victoria Cross (colour litho) by Crosby

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Britains New Flying Services, 15th August 1914 (colour litho)

Britains New Flying Services, 15th August 1914 (colour litho)
700938 Britains New Flying Services, 15th August 1914 (colour litho) by Clark, Christopher (1875-1942) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: New uniforms of the British Royal Naval Air Service, 1914 (colour litho)

New uniforms of the British Royal Naval Air Service, 1914 (colour litho)
972804 New uniforms of the British Royal Naval Air Service, 1914 (colour litho) by Millar, Addison Thomas (1850-1913); Private Collection; (add.info)

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: British Naval Parseval airship later known as Naval Airship No 4 seen here on the 30th

British Naval Parseval airship later known as Naval Airship No 4 seen here on the 30th June 1913. HM Airship No 4 was the first British aircraft to fly an operational patrol of the First World War

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Trench Strafing : British low-flying scouts co-operating in an infantry

Trench Strafing : British low-flying scouts co-operating in an infantry
" Trench Strafing", First World War, (c1920). British low-flying scouts co-operating in an infantry attack on the Western Front. Biplanes shooting at Germans in the trenches

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: King George V decorates British personnel, Belgium, First World War, 1914-1918, (c1920)

King George V decorates British personnel, Belgium, First World War, 1914-1918, (c1920). The Kings Visit to Belgium: presenting decorations to heroes of the Royal Naval Air Service

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: The Route of the Airmen Who Raided Dusseldorf and Cologne, 1915. Creator: Unknown

The Route of the Airmen Who Raided Dusseldorf and Cologne, 1915. Creator: Unknown
The Route of the Airmen Who Raided Dusseldorf and Cologne, 1915. On 22 September 1914 and 8 October, the British Royal Naval Air Service bombed Zeppelin bases in Cologne and Dusseldorf

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Commander Samson of the Royal Flying Corps... First World War, c1914, (c1920). Creator: Cribb

Commander Samson of the Royal Flying Corps... First World War, c1914, (c1920). Creator: Cribb
Commander Samson of the Royal Flying Corps with some of his officers, First World War, c1914, (c1920). Heroes of the Royal Naval Flying Corps, right to left: Flight-Lieutenant Draper

The British Sopwith patrol seaplane with the 225 hp Sunbeam engine. 1914

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Hoisting out a seaplane from British seaplane carrier HMS Ark Royal, Mudros

Hoisting out a seaplane from British seaplane carrier HMS Ark Royal, Mudros January 1916

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: NCB281209

NCB281209
Red Arrows display team at RNAS Yeovilton Airday 2011

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: NCB281210

NCB281210
Red Arrows display team at RNAS Yeovilton Airday 2011

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: NCB281208

NCB281208
Red Arrows display team at RNAS Yeovilton Airday 2011

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: How Sub-Lieutenant Warneford won his VC, 7 June 1915, (1920)

How Sub-Lieutenant Warneford won his VC, 7 June 1915, (1920). Warneford was the first Royal Naval Air Service pilot to be awarded the Victoria Cross, for shooting down Zeppelin LZ 37 over Belgium

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Zeppelin destroyed by an English aviator, 1915. Artist: Lemonier

Zeppelin destroyed by an English aviator, 1915. Artist: Lemonier
Zeppelin destroyed by an English aviator, 1915. On 7 June 1915 Flight Sub-Lieutenant Reginald Warneford, flying a Morane-Saulnier Type L

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Flight-Lieutenant Rex Warneford VC, British pilot, 1915

Flight-Lieutenant Rex Warneford VC, British pilot, 1915. Warneford was the first Royal Naval Air Service pilot to be awarded the Victoria Cross

Sopwith Camel - WWI Fighter Plane

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: British Bristol F. 2B Fighter

British Bristol F. 2B Fighter
British Bristol F.2B Fighter

Royal Naval Air Service Collection: Italian aircraft production, World War I C016 / 4577

Italian aircraft production, World War I C016 / 4577
Italian aircraft production, World War I. Group of military officers and aircraft manufacturers during World War I. At centre is the Italian aircraft engineer Giovanni Battista Caproni (1886-1957)

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The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) played a crucial role in the defense of Britain during World War I. With their innovative airships and courageous pilots, they patrolled the skies above Anglesey, protecting the coast from enemy submarines. One such airship was the Sea Scout Zero, stationed at RNAS Anglesey. This magnificent vessel soared through the clouds, its presence a symbol of strength and determination. Meanwhile, Captain Albert Ball studied diligently to perfect his skills as an aviator, his portrait captured beautifully on canvas. In 1917, the RNAS Coastal Class Airship C23A took flight above a convoy of warships. The black and white photograph captures this awe-inspiring moment when these powerful machines united to safeguard their homeland. But it wasn't just in photographs that we see their bravery; even in color lithographs, we witness British naval airships bombing submarines with precision and skill. Squadron Leader Arthur Bigsworth's attack off Ostend resulted in victory as he sank an enemy submarine beneath turbulent waters. Squadron Leader Spenser Grey flew over Cologne on October 8th, 1914 - a daring mission that showcased both his audacity and commitment to defending his country. And not far away at Zeebrugge, Squadron-Leader Richard Davies and Flight-Lieutenant Richard Peirse dropped bombs on a submarine station amidst heavy fire - undeterred by danger or adversity. Lt Warneford became known for shooting down Zeppelin raiders over Belgium on June 7th, 1915 - earning him fame as well as respect among his comrades who hailed him as a hero. His actions were celebrated with cries of "Death to the Murderers. " As August 15th dawned upon Britain in 1914, new flying services emerged - heralding hope for victory against those who threatened peace. These brave men donned new uniforms proudly displaying their allegiance to the British Royal Naval Air Service, ready to defend their nation from above.