Naval Aces of World War 1

Though understandably overshadowed by their army colleagues, naval aviators played a significant role in World War 1, including some noteworthy contributions of fighter aviation. At a time when the Royal Flying Corps was struggling to match the 'Fokker Scourge' of 1915-16, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was first to use Sopwith's excellent line of scouts, such as the Pup, Triplane and Camel. Some RNAS pilots such as Raymond Collishaw, Robert A Little and Roderick Stanley Dallas rated among the most successful in the British Commonwealth. Their ranks also included David Ingalls, the only US Navy pilot to 'make ace' with eight victories in Camels while with No 213 Sqn RAF. The Germans, too, formed Marine Feld Jagdstaffeln to defend the northern coast of Flanders, and also produced a number of aces, led by Gotthard Sachsenberg and Theo Osterkamp. Besides these land fighters, the Germans produced at least two floatplane aces. Unique to World War 1 was the use of flying boats as fighters in combat, pioneered by Russians like Aleksandr de Seversky and Austria's Gottfried Banfield. The best flying boat fighter, however, was Italy's Macchi M.5, which produced two or three aces, and was also the mount of Charles H Hammann, the first American to earn the Medal of Honor in aerial combat.

A resident of Leesburg, Virginia, Jon Guttman is research director and contributing writer for Weider History Publications. Specialising in World War 1 aviation, he has written 19 titles in the past, including Spad VII Aces of WW1, Spad XII/XIII Aces of WW1, Balloon Buster Aces of World War 1, Bristol Fighter Aces of World War 1 and Pusher Aces of World War 1 in the Osprey Aces series; Spa.124 Lafayette Escadrille, Groupe de Combat 12 'Les Cigognes' and 1st Pursuit Group, USAS in the Aviation Elite Units series; and Sopwith Camel vs Fokker Dr I 1917-18, SPAD XIII vs Fokker D VII 1917-18 and SE 5/5A vs Albatros D V 1917-18 in Osprey's Duel series.