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and assemble the engine again.
1914 and the start of WW1, the Royal Navy has a tiny, fledgling air service with a small number of unreliable and underperforming aircraft, with no real clue about how to use them. Four years later, they had thousands of fighters including the best of the war, hundreds of seaplanes and the ships to carry them and hundreds of airships patrolling for submarines. They had been used at sea and overland from the Dardanelles to the Western Front and the Mediterranean.
Bob Hunt was one of those early aviators. His story and that of his friend Arnold St John-Stevens form the narrative of how the Royal Naval Air Service developed so rapidly and effectively and eventually became part of the Royal Air Force only four years after the war started. The two men are in the thick of it from the first deployment of British aircraft to France in 1914, the first flights of powered airships and the development and deployment of the best fighter of WW1, the Sopwith Camel. The story ends during the air campaign in the Adriatic, which is little known about but gave birth to the tactics of projecting air power that are still in use today.
Based on extensive research the novel tells many little-known true stories of what it was really like to fly and fight in the air in those early days. It even explains how it was the Royal Naval Air Service, not the army that was responsible for the development of the armoured car and the tank.
This is the first novel about the ‘Hunt’ family of naval pilots and tells the story of Bob Hunt one of the early naval aviation pioneers in WW1. The next three are the ‘John Hunt’ trilogy based on the author's father’s combat career in WW2. The final ten are the ‘Johnathon Hunt’ series starting with the Falklands War and ending at the turn of the century and are based on the author’s own experience as a naval aviator. He apologises for writing a dynastic series backwards, it just turned out that way.
Bob Hunt was one of those early aviators. His story and that of his friend Arnold St John-Stevens form the narrative of how the Royal Naval Air Service developed so rapidly and effectively and eventually became part of the Royal Air Force only four years after the war started. The two men are in the thick of it from the first deployment of British aircraft to France in 1914, the first flights of powered airships and the development and deployment of the best fighter of WW1, the Sopwith Camel. The story ends during the air campaign in the Adriatic, which is little known about but gave birth to the tactics of projecting air power that are still in use today.
Based on extensive research the novel tells many little-known true stories of what it was really like to fly and fight in the air in those early days. It even explains how it was the Royal Naval Air Service, not the army that was responsible for the development of the armoured car and the tank.
This is the first novel about the ‘Hunt’ family of naval pilots and tells the story of Bob Hunt one of the early naval aviation pioneers in WW1. The next three are the ‘John Hunt’ trilogy based on the author's father’s combat career in WW2. The final ten are the ‘Johnathon Hunt’ series starting with the Falklands War and ending at the turn of the century and are based on the author’s own experience as a naval aviator. He apologises for writing a dynastic series backwards, it just turned out that way.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2024
73 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Larry Jeram-Croft
41 books11 followersBest selling author, Larry Jeram-Croft spent thirty years in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot and engineer. He then worked in industry for seven years before retiring. When he retired, he and his wife bought a yacht and went to live in the Caribbean. It was this experience that led to the idea for his 'Jacaranda trilogy'. The novels are based on true events in the West indies of Nelson's time and provide thrilling and exciting stories for all who love the sea and sailing. Brought up on the books of C S Forester and Patrick O'Brian he was surprised that no one was writing similar stories about the modern Royal Navy, especially with so much going on in previous decades. As he was himself a Lynx helicopter pilot during the Falklands War, he decided to start there, using his own extensive knowledge of the conflict. 'Sea Skimmer' was the result; a book based on many true stories, the main one being why the Argentinian Exocet missiles failed to explode. Directly involved in anti Exocet countermeasures and also with a grandstand seat of the final Exocet raid of the war, the book, although a novel, has an authenticity that cannot be bettered. More books have followed. The latest 'Diamant' is a historical novel set in 1805 about the Royal Navy setting up a garrison on Diamond Rock off Martinique an exercise that almost brought Nelson and the French together well before Trafalgar.
In addition to his fiction, last year he published his first non- fiction work, an operational history of the RN Lynx helicopter. Another about the RN Wasp helicopter is due out this year.
Larry now lives in Martock, Somerset and spends most of his time writing and playing golf extraordinarily badly.
You can keep up to date on his blog at: http://sowethereyet.blogspot.co.uk/
In addition to his fiction, last year he published his first non- fiction work, an operational history of the RN Lynx helicopter. Another about the RN Wasp helicopter is due out this year.
Larry now lives in Martock, Somerset and spends most of his time writing and playing golf extraordinarily badly.
You can keep up to date on his blog at: http://sowethereyet.blogspot.co.uk/
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 7, 2024
Royal Naval Air Service
Complete story from years prior to the outbreak of the Great War through the signing of the Armistice.
Good character sets and losses of some.
A good solid read for a summer day.
Recommend
Complete story from years prior to the outbreak of the Great War through the signing of the Armistice.
Good character sets and losses of some.
A good solid read for a summer day.
Recommend
July 19, 2024
Enjoyed the read
Predictable story included a fair amount of factoids about the creation of the RAF. Gave several hours of enjoyable reading added to my voluminous knowledge of WWI and then I’ll probably die at 86.
Predictable story included a fair amount of factoids about the creation of the RAF. Gave several hours of enjoyable reading added to my voluminous knowledge of WWI and then I’ll probably die at 86.
November 23, 2024
Good read
Describes the ins and outs of air warfare in its infancy. Also gives insight into the political nature of the naval rank and file who believe big guns on battle ships win and are planes are just a means to spot the enemy.
Describes the ins and outs of air warfare in its infancy. Also gives insight into the political nature of the naval rank and file who believe big guns on battle ships win and are planes are just a means to spot the enemy.
June 1, 2024
Long on talk, short on action.
The story spends far too much time bogged down in discussions between characters. It never rises above being formulaic and clichéd.
The story spends far too much time bogged down in discussions between characters. It never rises above being formulaic and clichéd.
October 12, 2024
WW1 aircraft
I learned so much about WW1 aircraft from reading this book. All I knew about was the Sopwith Camel made famous by WW1 flying ace, Snoopy!
I learned so much about WW1 aircraft from reading this book. All I knew about was the Sopwith Camel made famous by WW1 flying ace, Snoopy!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews