Question:Naval & Military Press R.N.A.S. OPERATIONS REPORTS Nov1915 to March 1918

[CjBobrow]

This notice came to my inbox today and I was wondering if anyone had already purchased a copy or has the original or used it as reference...

https://mailchi.mp/naval-military-pr...3?e=a8648485ae

Naval & Military Press
R.N.A.S. OPERATIONS REPORTS
November 1915 to March 1918 • Parts 1 to 53

Available in both hardback and softback editions
Early Bird Discount
Order no: 27853 • hardback £100.00
Order no: 27669 • softback £65.00

About The Books

A facsimile reprint of this excessively scarce core reference source. The entire text of the R.N.A.S. OPERATIONS REPORTS from November 1915 to March 1918 is presented in this massive three-volume set. These 53 Operations Reports were produced for internal consumption and provide comprehensive coverage of observation and bombing sorties, damage inflicted and incurred in clashes with the enemy, and intelligence gathered; aircrew are frequently mentioned by name.

In addition to seaplanes, carrier-borne aircraft and other aircraft with a legitimate 'naval' application, the R.N.A.S. also maintained several crack fighter squadrons on the Western Front, as well as allocating scarce resources to an independent strategic bombing force at a time when such operations were highly speculative. During its existence, the R.N.A.S. had bases and stations in the UK, France, the Eastern Mediterranean, Durban, Otranto, Malta and Mombassa.

Some snippets taken from this set to illustrate the usefulness of this publication

Flight Sub-Lieut. Fox, Killingholme Air Station, in a Sopwith Baby seaplane, proceeded in chase of a Zeppelin reported to be about 35 miles east of Spurn. He sighted the airship, and rising to 11,000 feet passed over it, dropping four 16-lb. bombs in succession and two boxes of Rauken darts.

Hostile Aircraft – Eighteen aeroplanes of the First Brigade taking photographs in the rear of the enemy’s lines encountered 19 hostile machines. As a result of the fight three hostile machines were destroyed, three driven down damaged, and one driven down under control. The hostile formation was broken up, and the photographic machines completed their work.

Lieutenant Musgrave and Corporal Jex, No. 45 Squadron, drove down a two-seater out of control, and Lieutenants Charlwood and Selby of the same squadron drove down another enemy machine out of control.

Flight Sub-Lieut. Burt was obliged to land near the wrecked seaplane owing to his pressure failing. The Camel sank, and he swam about 400 yards from the wrecked enemy seaplane and was picked up by one of our destroyers.

Pembroke – Airship C. 3 carried out a patrol to Coningbeg between 0915 and 1715, during which an oil patch was sighted and bombed 5 miles south-west of St. Ann’s Head at 1545. Oil rose to the surface after the first bomb was dropped; this was observed to increase after the second bomb had exploded.

Flight Commander Price on wireless patrol attacked an Albatross Scout. Enemy aircraft went down in an almost vertical dive, and the Camel followed it for some way, but was not able to keep up with the enemy aircraft. This combat is confirmed by anti-aircraft battery.

[Pedro Ramis]

Thank you for pointing this one!
I duly ordered these books.
By the way, note that the book "ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR Aircraft and Events as Recorded in Official Documents", is discounted at £4.99 (instead of £30.00) by NMP... :-)

[CjBobrow]

Originally Posted by Pedro Ramis

Thank you for pointing this one!
I duly ordered these books.
By the way, note that the book "ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR Aircraft and Events as Recorded in Official Documents", is discounted at £4.99 (instead of £30.00) by NMP... :-)

Not quite sure what you're referencing... I hope and trust you realize there is a difference between P. Jarrett's book ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR Aircraft and Events as Recorded in Official Documents

https://www.naval-military-press.com...ial-documents/

and

https://mailchi.mp/naval-military-pr...3?e=a8648485ae

Naval & Military Press
R.N.A.S. OPERATIONS REPORTS
November 1915 to March 1918 • Parts 1 to 53

What I was hoping someone could state is just how much material difference there was and if it was worth spending the money

[Pedro Ramis]

Well, I was just pointing the Jarrett's book because I like it and think it's a nice additional item to have and it comes at a cheap price.
I ordered the "R.N.A.S. OPERATIONS REPORTS" books, I'll share my view of their worth with you if I receive them soon enough.

[Ian Burns]

Well, I bought the set.
They contain a mass of information, both RNAS and RFC communiques, but there is no separation between each set of reports (each 20-30 pages in length). A minor point that can be solved with the use of sticky strips, or whatever they are called.
Once over that hurdle there is a huge quantity of information to be absorbed.
Just bear in mind that they are summaries of the actual squadron reports. So, pilot's names are not always included, nor are aircraft types or even squadron numbers always there. Certainly no serials are given.

[Pedro Ramis]

Just received the set a mere 24 days after buying it
Two points related to the content:
RNAS reports are from all fronts, starting with home. They are the RNAS HQ fortnight summaries and were rewritten as far as I saw by comparing a couple of dates.
All RFC communiques are given in their original version when compared to Chaz Bowyer's books. So the complete reconnaissance and bombing reports are included.
If you would like details on a given date, I'll provide some scans so you can make up your mind on the worth of the books.
I may have been lucky but I saw a serial in one of the reports...but it must be rare to see as Ian pointed. Luckily enough, names and ranks are fully written.

[dpolglaze]

If you're thinking about pulling the trigger on a purchase, now might be the time. 20% off the original "promotional price" right now on their website. £52 for softcover and £80 for hardcover.

Dan

[Pedro Ramis]

I was thinking about scanning RNAS Operations Report n°1 (Nov 27th, 1915) this week-end... coupled with n°37 that covers the same time lap as the RNAS Communique n°1 from the Dunkirk HQ found in Jarrett's book.
No time for this tonight, sorry!

[Graeme]

Just a quick question, is it a full set of RFC Communiques that appears in the set, ie, from number one onwards?

Graeme

[Pedro Ramis]

Originally Posted by Graeme

Just a quick question, is it a full set of RFC Communiques that appears in the set, ie, from number one onwards?
Graeme

No Graeme, the first of the 'RFC communiques' is n° 66 (December 10th 1916). Before this, we have "n° 3 Wing (Luxeuil) reports" included in the main RNAS report from October 12th 'till November 1916 t10th). Then reports were labelled "Detached Squadron working with Royal Flying Corps" for a short while before the full RFC communiques were included.