N.S.11 SIGHTINGS

As well as the official logs for N.S.11, there are newspaper reports, photographs and eye-witness accounts of the airship being seen all over the country, often far away from its ‘natural habitat’ of the North Sea. Many of these reports are helping to fill in the gaps in N.S.11’s known official logs. As to how many of these journeys were officially sanctioned, it is difficult to say. Certainly, its trip over London just weeks before the airship was lost was, but we are less certain about Warneford’s flyover of his former workplace in Crewe. This page is a work in progress – more ‘spots’ will be aded as information comes to light.

Tuesday, 27 May 1919

Crewe

There was much excitement in Crewe on Tuesday afternoon, May 27, when the airship NS11 visited the town en-route for Ireland. The Mayor had been
advised that the airship would pass over Crewe, and that the officer in
charge would be Flight Commander Walter Warneford, son of the former Crewe Works manager, and a former premium apprentice in Crewe Works. At around 2.30pm the airship was sighted over Crewe Station, as many townsfolk gathered in the streets to watch its course. The airship then made a circuit of the Works, flying fairly low, and Warneford was seen to wave to workers below, before NS11 continued on its journey, heading off in the direction of Coppenhall and Leighton.

Newspaper to be confirmed
Date to be confirmed

Tuesday, 27 May 1919

Runcorn

Airship at Runcorn. A large aluminium painted airship approached Runcorn on Tuesday afternoon, but before it actually reached the town it turned round, and headed for Liverpool. The air vessel, which was following the course of the river, and which was operating at no great height, was very plainly seen, its red, white and blue distinguishing marks on nose, rudders and elevators standing out in relief. Probably the craft was the NS11, which earlier in the day was cruising over the New Brighton neighbourhood, and when at Eastham passed over the ferry boats in midstream.

Runcorn Guardian
Friday 30 May 1919

Tuesday, 27 May 1919

Merseyside

Residents on Merseyside were delightedly excited on Tuesday at the sight of one of the monster airships of the Navy. Coming from the east it made the river its guide and passing Runcorn and Widnes, through Hale and Speke to Garston and Liverpool, it attracted the attention of thousands of people who admired its graceful lines. Flying at a low level the red, white and blue circles on her aluminium-painted gasbag became visible, as also her distinguishing mark, N.S.11. As she neared Garston her details became discernible, and one could both see the propeller working, hear the engines, and plainly perceive the ship’s crew staring down from the gondola. Passing down the river the airship looked a splendid sight, shining as she was in the sun. Keeping her course in the mid-stream, she sailed slowly past Seacombe and Egremont, passing gradually into the haze in the direction of New Brighton. She later returned across country travelling  further north. 

Runcorn Weekly News
Friday 30 May 1919

Tuesday, 3 June 1919

Lymington, Hampshire

An unusual spectacle was witnessed in the early hours of Tuesday morning of a monster airship, which passed over Lymington. It was the N.S. 11 naval airship, of which Captain Stafford Harris, RAF, son of Captain Harris, RN, of Quadrille Court, was the aviator*. At periodical intervals the airship showed powerful searchlights, and the spectacle was seen by many residents, who were awoke by the droning of the engines.

Hampshire Advertiser
Saturday 7 June 1919

Tuesday, 3 June 1919

Gloucester

Considerable interest was aroused in Gloucester and its vicinity early on Tuesday event by the passage of an airship over the city. We believe it is the first lighter-than-air machine which has been seen in this locality since the voyage of the Willows airship (which was a dirigible balloon) from Cheltenham to Cardiff in July, 1910. The airship, which was marked N.S.11, travelled so slowly and at so low an altitude that a fine view was had of its aluminium -coloured, torpedo-shaped body, and members of the crew were plainly visible – one sitting with his legs dangling from the gangway connecting theb fore-carriage with the engine-house. The machine came from the direction of Bristol, and when the north-end of the city was reached, it continued its cruise in a northerly direction at increased speed.

Gloucester Journal
Saturday 7 June 1919

Tuesday, 3 June 1919

Tewkesbury

On Tuesday evening an Airship (N.S.11) passed close to Tewkesbury about 6 p.m. and was plainly seen from the town. It approached from  a southerly direction over the Tredington and Walton Cardiff district at a low altitude, and went off towards Worcester. Its appearance aroused much interest in the neighbourhood.

The Tewkesbury Register and Agricultural Gazette
Saturday 7 June 1919

Tuesday, 3 June 1919

Kenilworth

On Tuesday evening an Airship (N.S.11) passed close to Tewkesbury about 6 p.m. and was plainly seen from the town. It approached from  a southerly direction over the Tredington and Walton Cardiff district at a low altitude, and went off towards Worcester. Its appearance aroused much interest in the neighbourhood.

Coventry Herald
Friday 6 June 1919

AIRSHIP N. S.11 – The airship N.S.11 which was struck by lightning while cruising over the North Sea, sailed over Kenilworth a few weeks ago. Coming into view from the direction of Warwick, where a letter dropped was picked up by a resident, the airship proceeded towards Coventry.

Coventry Herald
Friday 18 July 1919

Tuesday, 3 June 1919

Coventry

Although Coventry citizens have had the opportunity of seeing scores of aeroplanes hovering about over their heads, it has rarely been their privilage to see an airship in flight over the city. On Tuesday, however, at about 7.30 p.m., a splendid opportunity was afforded of seeing the dirigible N.S.11 pass over the town. The airship was flying quite low, at a moderate pace, and every detail could be plainly seen. It passed over the C. and N.W. Cricket Ground at a very low altitude, and the occupants of the gondola could be plainly seen, and waved as they passed over. It seemed to be flying in the direction of Rugby.

Coventry Herald
Friday 6 June 1919

July 1919 – exact date to be determined

Clacton on Sea

On Tuesday evening an Airship (N.S.11) passed close to Tewkesbury about 6 p.m. and was plainly seen from the town. It approached from  a southerly direction over the Tredington and Walton Cardiff district at a low altitude, and went off towards Worcester. Its appearance aroused much interest in the neighbourhood.

Clacton Graphic and East Coast Illustrated News
Saturday 19 July 1919

N.S.11 at Clacton-on-Sea, probably 1919. The photograph was taken by Reg Prewitt or Victor Cheeld, from the roof of the Castle Restaurant, which he owned. With kind permission of Clacton & District Local History Society.