On a map, the Azores appear as nine tiny specks in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but their location was to prove strategically vital in two world wars. The Atlantic became a crucial battleground twice within the space of 25 years, as the U.S. arsenal of democracy sent firstly stores, arms, and equipment, followed by many thousands of troops to fight in Europe. In both desperate and closely fought struggles at sea, Germany sought to stem the flow and thereby win the war, by cutting this vital lifeline, using a new weapon--the ocean-going submarine. The significance of the Azores has been overlooked in most military histories, but this extensively researched and copiously illustrated book from historian Guy Warner provides a detailed but balanced appraisal. The author has had access to archives and photographic collections in the UK, U.S., Portugal, and the Azores, consulting with local historians to produce a book that sheds much new light on a hitherto under-appreciated facet of twentieth-century history.

Atlantic Lynchpin: The Azores in Two World Wars

History

Warner, Guy

Military

Naval_Institute_Press

Neville Florian Usborne entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1897. In the years between him joining up and the outbreak of the First World War, he engaged in a huge number of enterprises and endeavors. Praise and respect garnered in accordance with his achievements all helped to establish his reputation in later years as an 'irreplaceable' pioneer and a leading light of early British airship design. His fertile imagination and enterprising spirit fused to form a dynamic personality, able in wartime to draw up countless schemes in an effort to outwit the enemy. His chief task during the Great War was to dream up new tactics and designs to combat the Zeppelin menace, perceived as one of the most damaging threats of the entire conflict. He was also deeply involved in the design of the very successful SS and Coastal Class airships; indeed, during 1915 he was actually appointed Inspector Commander of Airships at the Admiralty. Unfortunately, his illustrious career was destined to be cut short in 1916 when he was killed testing a prototype of one of his own designs. This new biography seeks to shine a light on an overlooked pioneer of early aviation and it does so in entertaining and reverential style. The importance of Usborne the pioneer is made plain; as one of his contemporaries commented upon his death “No one can talk of the early days of British airship design without mention of his name and work. A personality was lost on that February day which was irreplaceable.”

Lighter-than-Air: The Life and Times of Wing Commander N.F. Usborne RN, Pioneer of Naval Aviation

Biographies & Memoirs

Leaders & Notable People

Pen and Sword Aviation

The 1920s were to flying what the 1960s were to space exploration - an age of adventure, excitement and of crossing new frontiers. And for a short time in the mid-1920s, Belfast was at the forefront of the advancement of civil air transport in the British Isles, with the development of Malone aerodrome, the UK's first municipal airfield. This new, updated Flying from Malone captures the spirit of that time and tells a remarkable story - of how Belfast blazed a trail in the development of civil aviation that many were to follow. As aviation historian Guy Warner points out: "The courage of those early pioneers and any intrepid passengers should not be underestimated. Northern Airlines made over 100 scheduled flights to and from Northern Ireland, it was an enterprise that deserved greater government support at the time and is worthy of remembrance as having played a part in paving the way for the world in which we now live and travel by air to all parts of the globe."

Flying from Malone: Belfast's First Civil Aerodrome

Business & Money

Industries

Colourpoint

This new edition of Airships over Ulster is a tantalizing piece of hidden history brought to life by aviation historian Guy Warner. He expertly weaves together the fascinating tale of pioneering aviation, anti-submarine warfare in World War One, and the human connection to the first military aviation facility in Ulster. Airships from the mooring-out station at Bentra, Whitehead in County Antrim flew dozens of missions in support of the naval forces based in Larne. This book is well illustrated with little seen images of the airships in action, design details and the personnel involved - several photographed by the local people who became accustomed to the sight of these 'great, grey, silent shapes'.

Airships Over Ulster: Royal Naval Air Service Airships During the First World War

Americas

Sycamores Over Ulster: Royal Air Force Support to the Security Forces During the Border Campaign, 1956-1962

Colourpoint Books

Civil Aviation in Northern Ireland: An Illustrated History - 1909 to the Present Day

Cromie, Ernie

U-Boats Around Ireland: The Story of the Royal Navy’s Coast of Ireland Command in the First World War

Europe

651 was the first Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadron, formed at Old Sarum on August 1 1941 to work closely with army units in artillery spotting and liaison. It was still part of the RAF but all the pilots, drivers and signalers were from the Royal Artillery, while the RAF supplied the Adjutant, Engineer Officer and technicians. It is therefore the premier Army Air Corps squadron. Its first aircraft were an assortment of Taylorcraft Plus Cs and Ds, three Piper Cubs and a Stinson Voyager. Then later that year all 651’s aircraft were replaced by the version of the Plus D manufactured by Taylorcraft in Britain and renamed the Auster I. These were deployed on active service in November 1942, to Algeria and then Tunisia, as part of Operation Torch. Its main duties were the direction of artillery fire, reconnaissance and light liaison. By May 1943 Tunisia was under Allied control and 651 moved to Sicily in support of offensive operations by 8th Army in August. Now equipped with Auster IIIs and flying by night and day, support was given to XIII Corps on the coast of the island, registering targets and directing counter-battery fire, including that of Royal Naval warships. On September 4, it became the first AOP unit to cross the Straits of Messina to participate in the invasion of Italy, again with 8th Army. In May 1944, the Squadron flew in support of 2nd Polish Corps during the capture of Monte Cassino, a major obstacle in the advance of Allied forces on Rome. Throughout the remainder of the war the Auster IVs and Vs of 651 Squadron worked with almost every division in Italy as they came in and out of the front line. Over the years that followed, 651 Squadron served in Austria, Palestine on internal security duties (where a landing was made on the aircraft carrier HMS Ocean in 1947), Eritrea protecting Italian civilians from Shifta bandits, Libya, Iraq during the Persian Oil Dispute, Egypt patrolling the Canal Zone and Cyprus, where in August 1953 HQ and 1910 Flights were the first AOP assets to deploy there. Further marks of Auster were introduced, AOP 6s, 9s and T.7s In 2000 it was selected as the Attack Helicopter Fielding Squadron to bring the Westland Apache AH.1 into service, in which role it served very successfully for the next three years at Middle Wallop. Then in 2004 it was all change again with a move to RAF Odiham to operate the Defender AL.1 in the ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) support role as part of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing. Since that time it has been continuously engaged in operations.

First in the Field: 651 Squadron Army Air Corps

A Voyage Down the Years: A turbulent life on land and sea

Mereo Books

Aldergrove near Belfast has been associated with flying since an RAF base opened there in 1918. Today the Aldergrove complex includes not only RAF Aldergrove, but also Northern Ireland's largest airport, Belfast International. This book, supported by the airport, gives the full history of Aldergrove and describes all the aircraft types to use it, both civil and military, from 1918 to the year 2000.

Belfast International Airport: Aviation at Aldergrove since 1918

Woods, Jack

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Books by Warner, Guy