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Conflict and Change
Learning
Land operations
How did the Royal Naval Air Service help operations on the ground?
At the outbreak of war in August 1914 the Eastchurch Squadron, under the Command of Wing Commander CR Samson, received instructions to join the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium. By the following month there were headquarters at Dunkerque with Nos 1, 2 and 3 Squadrons in operation, each nominally with 12 aircraft. On 3 September 1914 the Royal Naval Air Service also took over the air defence of Great Britain and a series of small detachments were established at various airfields around the coast.
Dardanelles. A superb shot of the seaplane base in the Dardanelles taken in 1915/16. Five planes can be seen drawn up on the shore in front of their hangar (FAAM)
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Land operations
The RNAS Armoured Car Division
