A History of Naval Aviation - WINGS OVER THE SEA

The history of naval aviation begins in 1910, when Lieutenant Ely of the United States Navy took off from a platform built over a gun turret on the USS Birmingham.

 Beginning at this point, this book tells the whole controversial and exciting story of naval aviation, the formation of the first naval air arms, the development of the floatplane and the flying boat, and the battles and innovations of World War I, which saw the birth of the aircraft carrier.

Between the wars the aircraft carrier evolved into a major type of warship and it played an important part, particularly in the Pacific, in World War II. Since the war there has been many dramatic and far-reaching advances.

The post-war years have seen the arrival of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, of the vertical take-off aeroplane, and of the low-cost through – deck cruisers all against the background of increasing Soviet maritime strength.

The book is international in its scope and wide-ranging in its treatment. It deals with the controversies that have surrounded its subject over the years, including the arguments about the value of carriers and over the control of naval air forces – and with the work of land-based maritime reconnaissance forces and of air-sea rescue units as well as all naval air arms and ship-borne aircraft.

THE AUTHOR

This is David Wragg’s seventh book. His interest in naval aviation springs partly from a lifelong interest in aviation history, and partly from a deep-rooted belief in the value of sound defence policies as the best guarantee of peace, although it is no doubt no small coincidence that he comes from a naval family.

A former defence and transport journalist, David Wragg has contributed to the spectator, the Sunday Telegraph, the Scotsman, Flight and many other newspapers and periodicals.

Also from Arco…

CORSAIR ACES

Walter A. Musciano

This story of the men who flew the Corsair to fame Pappy Boyington, Knobby Walsh, Ike Kepford and others are illustrated with an extensive collection of photographs of the Corsair and its pilots, detailed maps of the South Pacific action areas, scale drawings of the Corsair and the markings of some of the top aces, and includes an appendix containing the histories of Marine and Navy Corsair squadrons.

WORLD MILITARY AVIATION: AIRCRAFT, AIR FORCES, WEAPONRY AND INSIGNIA by N. Krivinyi

From the Soviet MIG 25, capable of speeds up to Mach 3, to the new Grumman F14A ‘Tomcat’, here is a comprehensive record of all the military aircraft in use today, with more than 800 three-view scale drawings and 128 colour illustrations.