NS11: THE STORY OF AN AIRSHIP

Remembering the airship N.S.11 and her crew

The story of North Sea class airship N.S.11 and her commander, Walter K. F. G. Warneford is one of bravery, endurance, glory and, ultimately, tragedy. As well as performing patrols, convoy escort duties and submarine hunts throughout the closing months of WWI and beyond, Warneford and his crews undertook flights of unprecedented endurance that smashed world records. As the airship service was being wound down after the war, and in what may well have been an attempt to reclaim her world record, N.S.11 set out for the last time from Pulham Airship Station. In the early hours of 15 July 1919 the airship was likely struck by lightning and lost off the coast of Norfolk with Warneford and all eight of her crew.

AIRSHIP N.S.11

A world record breaking British naval airship with a career that straddled war and peace.

THE LOSS OF N.S.11

The inside story of the loss of airship N.S.11 off the Norfolk coast on 15th July 1919.

THE LAST CREW

Remembering the officers and crew lost on N.S.11’s final, fatal flight.

STORIES AND COLLECTIONS

THE SILENT STRENGTH OF THE SKIES

The women of the airship service during the Great War

A PAGE FROM HISTORY

A loose leaf from a photo album records N.S.11 at Cranwell in the summer of 1919 and demobilisation following the Great War. 

PANSY'S STORY

Once engaged to be married to Walter Warneford. the commander of N.S.11 – an extraordinary woman and an extraordinary twist to story of the loss of the airship.

A PIECE OF HISTORY

A unique time capsule from a WRAF based at Pulham – with a precious remnant of N.S.11.

NS11 – As Bright As Day is very much a work in progress and has been made possible by the generous and enthusiastic support of many individuals and organisations. If you have any information, records or material relating to British NS Class airships we would be very interested to hear from you – especially anyone related to members of the crew of NS11 or any airship of the class during their service with the RNAS or RAF during and beyond WWI.

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Image for The Last Crew – IWM, Harries Douglas Collection, Q 84412. All other photographs on this page: NS11.org

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