As Bright As Day
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North Sea Patrols – P. E. Maitland
Just over a month after the loss of NS3, I was given command as Captain of my own ship, NS9, on 28th July, 1918. My Second Officer was Cpt. S.B.Harris and I had a completely new crew apart from LAC Davis, who had been W/T operator on NS3. My new command passed its trial flight,...
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The new NS11 site
Welcome to the new-look NS11 site – completely revamped and using WordPress as a foundation for what will be a better performing and more dynamic experience overall. Going live in December 2011 and rolling out over the next few months will be new features and sections on the NS-class as a whole, the airship’s construction and technology, an expanded photo library and more special features.
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The Fiat racing legacy
So what is the connection between NS-Class airships and Mefistofele, Sir Ernest Eldridge’s world record racing car? The mighty 21.7 litre Fiat A12 engine. The Fiat Mefistofele began life as a 1908 Fiat SB 4 chain-driven Grand Prix car, using an engine of no less than 18...
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London from an Airship
Once again eBay throws up an incredible treasure – The Sphere magazine for 6 November 1920. In it is a reproduction of a painting by Alfred Egerton Cooper showing NS11 flying above London. Not only is this a fantastic work of art; it is also the first visual record we found...
Read More"Dedicated to the crew of North Sea Class airship NS11 – lost with all hands 15 July 1919"
The story of the record-breaking airship NS11, her crew and the NS airships during, and beyond WWI.
Airship NS11 – Introduction
The North Sea class airship N.S. 11 was assembled and tested at RNAS Kingsnorth near Ashford in Kent. During July 1918 her two 260hp FIAT engines were prepared for fitting and propellors balanced. In early August she was fitted with a “East Fortune” type car built by Frederick Sage & Co. Ltd. N.S. 11 had a separate power car unlike the Wheelwright-design airships.
The Last Crew
All nine officers and crew of the NS11 were killed on 15th July 1919 when the airship was “struck by lightning” and burst into flames over the North Sea near Blakeney, Norfolk. Despite an extensive search only two bodies were washed ashore – that of coxswain Sgt. Charles Henry Lewry and the ships’s mascot, an Airedale terrier.
The Airship Service in WWI
As war broke out across Europe in August 1914, Britain had very few military airships. While Germany had invested time, money and faith in airship development, Britain had a handful of non-rigid and semi-rigid experimental (and foreign) airships with just 195 airship personnel. Germany on the other hand had ten tried-and-tested airships operated by both the German Navy and Army.
Multi Media Bar
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Control stations and panels of late model NS-Class airship built by Sage. Reproduced with...
Kindly provided by Mark Potts. Originally appeared in Crewe Guardian, 1919.
Just over a month after the loss of NS3, I was given command as Captain of my own ship,...
Welcome to the new-look NS11 site – completely revamped and using WordPress as a foundation for what will be a better performing and more dynamic experience overall. Going live in December 2011 and rolling out over the next few months will be new features and sections on the NS-class as a whole, the airship’s construction and technology, an expanded photo library and more special features.
MR. WARNEFORD’S LOSS SON COMMANDER OF UNFORTUNATE N.S. 11 It was not until some time...
In what is probably one of the most-detailed newspaper reports into the loss of N.S.11,...
Wednesday 16 July 1919 AIRSHIP BURNT AT SEA LOSS OF 7 LIVES In the early hours of Tuesday...
The artist Gary M James has kindly provided this revealing image of the control car of...
So what is the connection between NS-Class airships and Mefistofele, Sir Ernest...
The Lewry Collection
DECEMBER 1917 PO Lewry is standing middle of back row. Well-known airshipman Lt. P E...
THE COMMANDER Walter Kerneys Francis Goodhall Warneford AFC was born on 19 July 1895,...
THE SECOND OFFICER – Without doubt, Arthur Stanley Elliott had an interesting career in...
THE COXWAIN – The first son of Henry Charles Lewry and Mary Jane Lewry Charles joined...
COXWAIN – Born in Keston, Kent on 30 March 1893. Percy was a carpenter before he...
AIR GUNNER – Frederick was born in Gorton, Manchester on 19 January 1899, son of a...
ENGINEER – Born at Strand in London on 1 October 1891 Charles enlisted with the RNAS in...
ENGINEER – Thomas was born in Bromley, Kent on 2 November 1897, although his service...
W/T OPERATOR – Born in Airdrie, Lanarkshire on 30 September 1892, Thomas Connelly...
W/T OPERATOR – The youngest member of the crew was born on 6 May 1900 in Stapleford,...
About this project
NS11 – As Bright As Day is very much a work in progress and has been made possible by the generous and enthusiastic support of many individuals and organisations. If you have any information, records or material relating to British NS Class airships we would be very interested to hear from you – especially anyone related to members of the crew of NS11 or any airship of the class during their service with the RNAS or RAF during and beyond WWI. Designed by Elegant WordPress Themes | Powered by WordPress
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