Sopwith Camel Being Dropped from an Airship, 1918

In 1918, the Royal Air Force tested a Camel as a “parasite aircraft”—a fighter dropped from an airship to intercept enemy planes. The Camel in this photo was piloted by Lieutenant R. E. Keys, Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) 212 Squadron. He is seen in flight moments after being dropped from British Rigid Airship No. 23 (23 Class, HMA 23) at Howden Air Station, England (UK), probably during the first experimental release on November 6, 1918.