STRIKE FROM THE SEA: A SURVEY OF BRITISH NAVAL AIR OPERATIONS, 1909-69.

London: Arthur Barker, 1970. 234 pp, 8vo 8 3/4" H. B&w photographs. "On 19 July 1918, six Sopwith Camels took off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier 'Furious' off the Schleswig coast. Their mission - to bomb the German Zeppelin sheds at Tondern. It was the first time in history that a force of aircraft had been launched against an enemy objective from an aircraft carrier: the first ever strike from the sea. In the half century that has elapsed since that historic day, the Royal Navy's airmen have carved out a reputation of courage and skill that is second to none. This is their story - a story of men and courage, of crews, aircraft and ships often hurled into battle against hopeless odds. The author has covered every major operation involving the Fleet Air Arm and its predecessor, the RNAS, including Korea, Suez, Malaya and forgotten 'backyard wars' such as the British naval operations against the Bolsheviks in the Baltic in 1919, when the Navy's airmen bombed the Red Fleet in Kronstadt. The Second World War is covered in detail, from the hunt for the 'Graf Spee' to the final assault on Japan and Kamikaze attacks on the carriers of the British Pacific Fleet." Water mark on top corner of text block with some small areas of dye migration into top corner of a few pages, minor wrinkling at bottom of spine. Dust jacket has been price-clipped, has very light edge wear/wrinkling, light browning on spine, two small edge tears with old tape.. Hard Cover. Good+/Good+.