Posts made in April, 2011

Aircraftman 1 Frederick Cameron

Aircraftman 1 Frederick Cameron

AIR GUNNER – Frederick was born in Gorton, Manchester on 19 January 1899, son of a blacksmith striker Frederick Cameron and his wife Elizabeth.1 A boilermaker as a civilian, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman on 1 April 1915 and was transferred to the RNAS as a Boy Mechanic on 19 July 1915. On 19 January 1917 Frederick was promoted to Air Mechanic 2. He served at Cranwell, Kingsnorth, Longside (October 1918) until he was transferred to Pulham in June 1919, less than a month before his death.   Service numbers: J37870/313043   1. 1901 Census Photograph of Frederick...

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Flight Sergeant Charles O’Connor

Flight Sergeant Charles O’Connor

ENGINEER – Born at Strand in London on 1 October 1891 Charles enlisted with the RNAS in early December 1914. His occupation given on his service record is chauffeur. The census for 1911 shows a Charles O’Connor living with his parents at 4 Devonshire Street, Bloomsbury with his occupation listed as motor fitter improver. Charles was on active service on the Royal Navy’s first aircraft carrier Ark Royal in October 1915 (probably in the eastern Mediterranean), and, according to his service record, also took part in many land operations – with 34 Naval Parties listed. Charles was promoted...

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Aircraftman 2 Thomas George Jarrett

Aircraftman 2 Thomas George Jarrett

ENGINEER – Thomas was born in Bromley, Kent on 2 November 1897, although his service record gives his year of birth as 1898. A son of a railway worker, he enlisted in the RNAS as an Aircraftman 2 in mid-September 1916. He was promoted to Aircraftman 1 on 3 August 1917 and become Private 1 on the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918. Service numbers: F20797/220797  

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Leading Aircraftman Thomas Connelly

Leading Aircraftman Thomas Connelly

W/T OPERATOR – Born in Airdrie, Lanarkshire on 30 September 1892, Thomas Connelly worked as a miner and warehouseman until he joined the Royal Naval Air Service as a Air Mechanic 2 at the age of 24 on 6 September 1916. After a short stint on President II, Connelly was posted to Daedelus – the Royal Naval Air Service Training Establishment Cranwell on 12 September. On 20 February 1917, Connelly was briefly transferred to the RNAS Flying School at Eastchurch, Kent – considered the home of the RNAS and British aviation itself. He then went to The RNAS seaplane base at Killingholme in...

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Aircraftman 2 Alfred Thomas Jacques

Aircraftman 2 Alfred Thomas Jacques

W/T OPERATOR – The youngest member of the crew was born on 6 May 1900 in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. Previously working as a butcher, he enlisted in the RNAS as a Boy Mechanic on 2 November 1917. Alfred was promoted to Aircraftman 2 on 6 May 1918 and at the time of his death he lived in Long Eaton, Derbyshire. Service numbers: F40902/240902 Many thanks to Noel at the Sussex History Forum for tracking down the photograph of Alfred from the Nottingham Evening Post of 17 July 1919.  Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of The British Library...

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US Press Coverage

US Press Coverage

The loss of NS11 was extensively covered in the national and provincial newspapers of the United States.

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NS8 on patrol over North Sea

NS8 on patrol over North Sea

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NS-Class – original configuration

NS-Class – original configuration

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NS7

NS7

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