The First Royal Marine Flyers

Unit/ Formation: RM Airmen

Location: Royal Aero Club aerodrome, Eastchurch

Period/ Conflict: 20th Century

Year: 1911

Date/s: 2nd March 1911

Lieutenant E.L. Gerrard, R.M.L.I., was one of the first four officers to be trained as a naval pilot at the Royal Aero Club’s airfield at Eastchurch in 1911.

Lt. Gerrard was originally detailed for duty with the first Naval Airship, Rigid Naval Airship No.1, popularly known as the "Mayfly", in 1910. In February 1911 Mr. Frank K. McClean, a pioneer of the Royal Aero Club, offered the Navy the free use of two Short Biplanes for traIlling pilots at Eastchurch. A George Cockburn offered to act as flying instructor.

In 1911, Short Brothers was a pioneering British aircraft manufacturer, primarily known for producing the S.27 "pusher" biplane, which was used extensively by the Royal Naval Air Service for early flight trials

Out of 200 Naval Officers who applied, four were selected of which one was Lt. G.V. Wildman-Lushington RM. Unfortunately he went sick in March and his place was taken by E.L Gerrard and he qualified for his pilots certificate on 2nd May 1911.

When the Royal Flying Corps was established more Royal Marine officers were trained for duty with the Naval Wing, and on the outbreak of war in 1914, by which time the Royal Naval Air Service was in being, 12 had qualified as pilots.

Many more joined during the war; others served as observers, and Royal Marine N.C.Os. assisted in training recruits in the elements of drill and discipline.

Lieutenant Gerrard won the D.S.O., and Captain R. Gordon, R.M.L.I., the second officer to qualify, distinguished himself in the destruction of the Konigsburg in East Africa and at the Battle of Ctesiphon in Mesopotania.

He was awarded the C.M.G., and both he and Lieutenant Gerrard retired as Air Commodores in the R.A.F.

Related Royal Marines 'Dits':

• First British Naval bombing of WW2 

• Sinking of the Submarine Iride and Human Torpedoes - Captain Oliver Patch RM

• Operation Catapult - Attack on the French Fleet - Mers-el-Kébir

• Sinking of the German cruiser Königsberg 

• Taranto - first all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack in history, Major Patch RM DSC

• Attacks on Invasion Barges in Rotterdam

References/ Further Reading:

1. We have Ways Pod (video) - A Plane So Bad it was Brilliant

2. Flying Marines - A History of Royal Marines Aviation

3. Read about the - Royal Marines & FAA Battle of Britain Pilots here

4. Wings Aviation - 812 FAA