BOOK REVIEW OF

BY
 WINGS OVER THE SEA –
A HISTORY OF NAVAL AVIATION

AUTHOR- DAVID WRAGG

PUBLISHER- ACRO PUB., NEW YORK

YEAR OF PUBLICATION- 1979

PAGES - 224

PRICE - RS.122
CONTENTS:-

(1) Faltering Steps

(2) First Blood

(3) The Flat Tops Appear

(4) Arms Race

(5) War In Europe

(6) The Carrier Fleets Clash

(7) The Balance Of Power Changes

(8) Into The Jet Age

(9) The Nuclear Navy

(10) Challenge And Change

(11) The V/STOL Ship

(12) Index
INTRODUCTION

1. The book “Wings over the Sea” by David Wragg is an eminently readable account of

the History of Naval Aviation, starting from 1910 when the first flight took off from a

platform built over a gun turret from USS Birmingham to the advancements in Naval

Aviation. The book tells the whole exciting story of naval aviation ie. the formation of the

first naval air arms, the development of the floatplane, the flying boat and the battles &

innovations of World War I, which saw the birth of the aircraft carrier. The book is

international in its scope and wide-ranging in its treatment. It deals with the arguments

about the value of carriers and their role in war.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

2. Born into a naval family in 1946 David Wragg was educated in England and

Malta. He has worked in journalism and PR, writing for The Sunday Telegraph,

Spectator and Scotsman. He retired as Head of Corporate Communications with the

Royal Bank of Scotland to become a consultant and author. Since then he has

published with Harper Collins, Weidenfeld and Nicolson amongst others. Malta - The

Last Great Siege was his first book with Pen and Sword Books (2003). He lives in

Edinburgh. He has authored some twenty books on aviation and naval history, of

which eight have been published abroad. His books include Janes's Air Forces of the

world (2003), The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-45 (Sutton, 2001 and 2003),

described by one magazine 'As good a single volume on the subject as your reviewer

has located', Carrier Combat (Sutton, 1997 and The Naval Institute Press, USA), and

Wings Over the Sea (David & Charles, 1979 and ARCO, USA).
ABOUT THE BOOK

3. The book is divided into eleven parts. The book begins with the evolution of

Naval aviation in 1910, when Lieutenant Ely of the United States navy took off from a

platform built over a gun turret on the USS Birmingham and the early experiments

carried out by US and Royal Navy to launch aircrafts from sea. In section two the

author has explained the development of Naval aviation during World War I, how the

importance of air strike at sea was felt by the allies, induction of airships, flying boats

and conversion of battle cruisers into landing/ take off platforms by the Royal Navy. In

sections three and four the author has explained the development of flat top air craft

carriers and the arms race between the US, British, Japanese and German Naval

fleets to achieve supremacy in Naval aviation prior to the outbreak of the World War II.

4. The finest part of the book are undoubtedly the fifth and sixth sections which

cover the World War II and clash of the carrier fleets in the Pacific. These sections

give a detailed account of Japan's devastating blow to the US Navy's fleet at Pearl

Harbour and the reader is left in no doubt that maritime air power was much better

appreciated by both the USA and Japan, and that by failing to damage any US aircraft

carriers the Japanese had sealed their own fate. These sections are concise yet they

provide an highly informative account of the vital role played by aircraft carriers in all

naval theatres of war. Augmented with interesting photographs, these sections are a

treat for war book fanatics. In rest of the sections of the book the author covers the

gradual mordenisation of naval aviation till 1980’s.

STYLE OF WRITING

5. The book is written in first person and David Wragg's well-researched text has the

ability to hold the reader’s attention throughout. The book is well structured as it covers

naval aviation from its conceptualisation to growth. The author has used too many military

terminologies and abbreviations which a common man may find difficult to understand

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

6. In one book the author has covered a wide-ranging subject which could easily

fill four or five volumes, but he has skilfully covered all the major averts in the history

of naval aviation between 1910 and 1980 with 146 black & white photographs. This is

essentially a book for reading by any reader seeking basic information about the

history of naval aviation and importance of aircraft carrier based operations. Such

readers will find this book both interesting and informative, probably leaving them

wishing to learn more about specific actions and operations.

CONCLUSION

7. David Wragg' has written an authoritative and detailed account of the evolution

of naval aviation. The text is given immediacy by the use of excellent photographs.

The book provides a good insight into the events that lead to the acceptance of naval

aviation as a lethal and inescapable strike force in a war. The book engages the

reader from page one and is highly recommended for readers who have an interest in

naval aviation.