Originally Posted by
Wwyvern
Ref the slide into historic facts, I have a WAFU friend, yes some can achieve that status, who goes on about the "Senior" Service. He goes quiet when I point out to him that the Fleet Air Arm ceased to be the Fleet Air Arm of The Royal Air Force as late as 1937.
Grudgingly, we'll have to give this one (at least in aviation terms) to the Pongoes who were conducting balloon trials at Woolwich back in 1878 with the Navy picking the theme up in 1908 when they finally started looking seriously at Samuel Cody's kites, and shortly thereafter, into airships.
As you say,
Wwyvern, there was that "unfortunate interlude" 1918 - 1936 as well as the previous "skirmish" 1912 - 1914 but 1908 was when it all started to take off (as it were) in the Navy and, once the Admiralty had got the concept, they really seemed to go for it.
I like to put it all down to a case of "You can't keep a good dog down" when it comes to the WAFUs remaining as a separate fighting entity................................!
But I'm sure others will have their own views!!!!
Cheers,
H 'n' H