Seagulls, Cruisers And Catapults: Australian Naval Aviation, 1913-1944
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Good
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
Before the era of aircraft carriers dominated the seas, the Royal Australian Navy pioneered a remarkable chapter in military aviation history — one that unfolded over three turbulent decades from 1913 to 1944. Seagulls, Cruisers and Catapults chronicles the birth, development, and wartime service of Australian naval aviation, detailing how the RAN integrated floatplanes and catapult-launched aircraft into its fleet operations, from the earliest experimental flights through the desperate engagements of the Second World War. Ray Jones presents a meticulously researched account of the aircraft, the ships, the pilots, and the strategic decisions that shaped this overlooked but vital arm of Australia's naval power, bringing to life the dangerous and often improvised world of shipborne aviation in the Pacific and beyond. Anchored in rigorous historical research, this work stands as an authoritative reference on a subject that has long deserved greater attention from military historians. Jones illustrates the unique challenges faced by Australian naval aviators — operating from cruiser catapults, conducting reconnaissance, and engaging the enemy far from any airfield — with a clarity and depth that honours their contribution. Rich in technical detail yet thoroughly readable, the narrative invites both the aviation enthusiast and the student of Australian military history to reconsider just how much was at stake in the skies above the world's oceans — and how close the story came to being forgotten entirely.
Author: Ray Jones
Format: Paperback
Genre: Australian history
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Good
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
Before the era of aircraft carriers dominated the seas, the Royal Australian Navy pioneered a remarkable chapter in military aviation history — one that unfolded over three turbulent decades from 1913 to 1944. Seagulls, Cruisers and Catapults chronicles the birth, development, and wartime service of Australian naval aviation, detailing how the RAN integrated floatplanes and catapult-launched aircraft into its fleet operations, from the earliest experimental flights through the desperate engagements of the Second World War. Ray Jones presents a meticulously researched account of the aircraft, the ships, the pilots, and the strategic decisions that shaped this overlooked but vital arm of Australia's naval power, bringing to life the dangerous and often improvised world of shipborne aviation in the Pacific and beyond. Anchored in rigorous historical research, this work stands as an authoritative reference on a subject that has long deserved greater attention from military historians. Jones illustrates the unique challenges faced by Australian naval aviators — operating from cruiser catapults, conducting reconnaissance, and engaging the enemy far from any airfield — with a clarity and depth that honours their contribution. Rich in technical detail yet thoroughly readable, the narrative invites both the aviation enthusiast and the student of Australian military history to reconsider just how much was at stake in the skies above the world's oceans — and how close the story came to being forgotten entirely.