New images of NS11 from Pulham
Our visit to the Pennoyer Centre in Pulham St Mary, Norfolk has opened a rich seam of imagery and information to help tell the story of NS11 and the North Sea airships. On a large interactive screen we were taken on a tour of some of the centre’s archives by the wonderful Sheila Moss King. The recently acquired George Wakefield images are stunning in their quality and detail. From other parts of the archive came two new images of NS11. One shows the airship over the accommodation huts (most probably during June or July 1919). The rear of the photograph lists the crew that was lost on 15...
Read MoreNew account of NS11 record breaking flight
WWI aviation author Michael J Dunn has provided a new account of NS11’s record breaking flight – written by Air Mechanic Redvers Robert Heath, NS11′s 2nd wireless operator. It provides a very different view from that of the commander and gives us a vivid insight into what life would have been like on board during the 100 hours and 50 minutes flight. The account was used in Michael’s article on NS11′s world record flight in the Spring 2012 edition of Cross & Cockade International’s quarterly journal. Heath’s account can seen...
Read MoreNew image of NS4
A new acquisition to the image library is this magic lantern slide of NS4 – probably taken during the winter of 1917/18. NS4 was one of the commands of NS11′s Captain W. K. F. G. Warneford. Seen here loaded with its maximum payload of six 230lb bombs (used for anti-submarine duties) NS4 was photographed often and appears several times in our NS-Class gallery. It is rare to find a photograph of an NS-Class airship with bombs loaded. In this photograph it is fitted with two 250HP Rolls Royce engines – with the complicated drive shafts that gave so much trouble before the class (NS4...
Read MorePulham WWI airship photos rediscovered
From BBC News website About 60 rare images of World War I airships operating from RNAS Pulham in Norfolk have been rediscovered by the family of the photographer. They were taken on the base by Royal naval Air Service’s photographer George Hamilton Wakefield from 1916 onwards. The images have been given to Pulham’s Pennoyer Centre which holds an archive of material about the air station. Sheila King, chairwoman of the centre, said: “We get offered a lot of pictures but as these started coming through we realised they were quite amazing. Mrs Owen is the great niece of...
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreWheelwright-design NS3
The artist Gary M James has kindly provided this revealing image of the control car of NS3 during its modification by Flight Commander J. S. Wheelwright and station engineering officer Lieutenant Commander A. S. Abell at East Fortune, Scotland. Their scheme to improve the initial design configuration of the NS-Class was to combine the control and engine cars into one long enclosed car which allowed the control car section to be slung closer to the envelope. NS4 was similarly modified, with the remaining airships using a two-car ‘Kingsnorth’ design. It is also known that due to the...
Read MoreMajor overhaul of the site
The new and improved NS11.org site is under construction using WordPress as a foundation for what will be a better performing and more dynamic experience overall – even for those using Explorer. The new site will go live late 2011. Rolling out over the next few months will be new features and sections on the NS-class as a whole, the airship’s engines, an expanded photo library and more special reports. The WordPress platform will also give you opportunity for you to comment and provide feedback.
Read MoreWarneford memorial in Earlestown
Earlier this week I paid a flying visit to the memorial drinking fountain erected in memory of the commander and crew of NS11. This is situated in the grounds of the Viaduct Sports & Social Club in Earlestown, Lancashire. As you can see from the images below, it is in a poor state of repair. While it is easy to say that “something must be done” it will take much effort and money to put it right. The bronze plaque was removed years ago, for safe-keeping or otherwise, and the remaining fabric of the memorial is cracked, crumbling and probably beyond economic repair. Shrubs are...
Read MoreWar Illustrated
A recent acquisition is the cover of the last ever edition of The War Illustrated, published on 8 February 1919. The entire cover is taken up with a photograph taken onboard an NS-class airship “on duty above the waters”. It shows two of the crew relaxing at the rear of the car (it seems from other photographs this is the favoured perch when not ‘on duty’) while an engineer tends the port engine. The image can be found in the NS-Class Gallery.
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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. 
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