The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was established on 1st July 1914 as part of the Royal Navy responsible for operating aircraft and airships. Prior to this, on 21st June 1910, George Colmore had become the first qualified pilot in the Royal Navy and later that year the Royal Aero Club offered 2 aircraft to train pilots. This was taken up and 4 naval officers were subsequently taught how to fly. On 13th April 1912, the Royal Flying Corps was established and this absorbed the naval air detachment. This established a central flying school which trained both naval and army officers and during the same year, aircraft took part in naval manoeuvres for the first time.

Upon formation, the RNAS was responsible for fleet recognisance, coastal patrolling, for both ships and submarines, and coastal raiding. By the beginning of the First World War, it consisted of 93 aircraft, 6 airships, 2 balloons and 727 personnel. It also operated 12 airship stations and the RNAS Armoured Car Section. This was intended to defend communications and rescue downed aircrew using Rolls-Royce armoured cars, along with other unarmoured vehicles. These were used during the retreat from Antwerp to Yser but would late be transferred to the Middle East, Romania and Russia when trench warfare made their use in France difficult. In November 1914 it became the Royal Naval Armoured Car Division, which was made up of 20 squadrons, before being absorbed into the army in 1915.

In December 1914 the RNAS conducted the first British attack using ship-borne aircraft when seaplanes from HMS Hermes attacked Zeppelin bases. In addition to this, and throughout the First World War, it would also operate fighter squadrons on the Western Front and an independent strategic bombing force. It was also briefly responsible for the air defence of London.

On 1st April 1918, the Royal Naval Air Service was merged with the Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Airforce. At this time the RNAS was made up of 55,066 personnel, 2,949 aircraft and 103 airships operating from 126 stations. The squadrons that had previously been part of the navy were renumbered by adding a 200 o their number. Following this, the RAF would be responsible for naval aviation until the establishment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937.