U.S. Naval Air Station Queenstown Ireland

Last updated

NAS Queenstown
CorkHarbourMarch25pic2 large.jpg
Aircraft on slipway at Aghada
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
Operator United States Navy
Location Aghada, County Cork, Ireland
Built14 February 1918 (1918-02-14)
In use1918-1919 (1919)
Elevation  AMSL 3 ft 3 in ft / 1 m
Coordinates 51°50′N8°13′W / 51.833°N 8.217°W / 51.833; -8.217 Coordinates: 51°50′N8°13′W / 51.833°N 8.217°W / 51.833; -8.217
Map
Ireland adm location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
NAS Queenstown
Location in Ireland
Remaining gateposts to NAS Queenstown near Aghada Old Naval Base Entrance (geograph 3208421).jpg
Remaining gateposts to NAS Queenstown near Aghada

United States Naval Air Station Queenstown was the first US Naval Air Station established in Ireland. NAS Queenstown was close to the village of Aghada on the eastern side of Cork Harbour (across the harbour from Queenstown/Cobh). NAS Queenstown was commissioned on 22 February 1918 with LCDR Paul J. Peyton, USNRF, Naval Aviator 47 in command. [1] [2]

Contents

History

At the start of America's involvement in the First World War, five sites in Ireland - Queenstown, Wexford, Lough Foyle, Whiddy Island and Berehaven - were identified to be operated by the United States Navy in support of allied operations against enemy submarines. [3] This station supplied patrols and convoys from Cape Clear on the west, south into the English Channel to the sector covered by the aerial patrols from the north coast of France, and southeast and east to the sectors covered by the stations in the southwest of Wexford and England. [3]

On 14 February 1918, LCDR Frank R. McCrary, USN, Commanding Officer of U. S. Naval Aviation Detachment in Ireland, during World War 1, [4] was headquartered at the location throughout the war. [3]

The Queenstown/Aghada base was built on lands commandeered under the Defence of the Realm Act 1914. [5]

Operations

The base's six hangars and three slipways were operational by September 1918. [6] [7] It operated as a seaplane base, assembly and repair location for aircraft, and as a training station for pilots. [8]

The station's aircrews, using Curtiss H-16 flying boats would fly a total of 64 war patrols and record three bombing attacks against German submarines. [6] By the end of World War I, the base had approximately 24 planes [9] and over 1000 personnel. [5]

End of hostilities and closure

With the end of the war, the U.S. Naval Air Stations Anti-submarine warfare patrols in Ireland were discontinued and all aircraft grounded and disarmed. Armistice was on 11 November 1918, and NAS Queenstown closed 20 April 1919 [10] - although some remnants of the slipway remain.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

Naval Air Station Glenview

Naval Air Station Glenview or NAS Glenview was an operational U.S. Naval Air Station from 1923 to 1995. Located in Glenview, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, the air base primarily operated training aircraft as well as seaplanes on nearby Lake Michigan during World War II. Reconfigured as a Naval Air Reserve base following World War II, NAS Glenview supported Naval Air Reserve, Marine Air Reserve/4th Marine Aircraft Wing, and U.S. Army Reserve 244th Aviation Group as well as an active duty Coast Guard Air Station.

Lough Foyle estuary of the River Foyle, north Ireland

Lough Foyle, sometimes Loch Foyle, is the estuary of the River Foyle, on the north coast of Ireland. It lies between County Londonderry in Northern Ireland and County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. Sovereignty over the waters has been in dispute since the Partition of Ireland.

USS <i>Sterett</i> (DD-27)

USS Sterett (DD-27) was a modified Paulding-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was the first ship named for Andrew Sterett.

USS <i>Patterson</i> (DD-36)

The first USS Patterson (DD-36) was a modified Paulding-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and later in the United States Coast Guard, designated as CG-16. She was named for Daniel Patterson.

Naval Air Station Jacksonville

Naval Air Station Jacksonville is a large naval air station located approximately eight miles (13 km) south of the central business district of Jacksonville, Florida, United States.

USS <i>Jenkins</i> (DD-42)

The first USS Jenkins (DD-42) was a modified Paulding-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for Rear Admiral Thornton A. Jenkins.

Kindley Air Force Base Former United States Air Force base in Bermuda

Kindley Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base in Bermuda from 1948–1970, having been operated from 1943 to 1948 by the United States Army Air Forces as Kindley Field.

Treaty Ports (Ireland)

Following the establishment of the Irish Free State, three deep water Treaty Ports at Berehaven, Queenstown and Lough Swilly were retained by the United Kingdom in accordance with the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 6 December 1921.

Whiddy Island Isle in Munster, Ireland

Whiddy Island is an island near the head of Bantry Bay in Ireland. It is approximately 5.6 km (3.5 mi) long and 2.4 km (1.5 mi) wide. The topography comprises gently-rolling glacial till, with relatively fertile soil. As late as 1880 the island had a resident population of around 450, mainly engaged in fishing and small-scale farming, but today the population has reduced to approximately 20 people. Previously home to Whiddy Island Naval Air Station, the island is noted for its oil terminal facilities – and the related Whiddy Island Disaster.

Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field

Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field (IATA: NGU, ICAO: KNGU, FAA LID: NGU), is commonly known simply as, Chambers Field, and is named after Captain Washington Irving Chambers. It is a military airport in Norfolk, Virginia that is a part of Naval Station Norfolk. It supports naval air forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean. It's important to note that, "Chambers Field" only refers to the geographical area of the airport runway, taxiways, two heliports and six helipads.

The Royal Munster Fusiliers held the 'home' Depot for their three Reserve Battalions at Ballymullen Barracks, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, where since 1881 most of the regiment's recruits enlisted in peacetime and received their first training before being assigned to regular battalions stationed around the UK and Ireland. Regular officers and N.C.O.s also provided instruction for part-time special reserve battalions during their annual training camps and other special courses during the year.

U.S. Naval Air Station Whiddy Island Ireland Naval air station

U.S. Naval Air Station Whiddy Island was a US naval air station operated during the last year of World War I and commissioned 4 July 1918. Located on Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay, County Cork, Ireland, it was also known as Bantry Bay Station. The base was used for anti-submarine warfare patrols by Curtiss H-16 seaplanes.

Naval Air Station Key West United States military installation

Naval Air Station Key West, is a naval air station and military airport located on Boca Chica Key, four miles (6 km) east of the central business district of Key West, Florida, United States.

The Seaplane Experimental Station, formerly RNAS Felixstowe, was a British aircraft design unit during the early part of the 20th century.

No. 209 Squadron RAF Military unit

Number 209 Squadron of the British Royal Air Force was originally formed from a nucleus of "Naval Eight" on 1 February 1917 at Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, France, as No. 9 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and saw active service in both World Wars, the Korean War and in Malaya. The use of the squadron number ceased in 1968 and it has not been reused since by an RAF squadron. However the number, badge and motto is in current service within the RAF Air Cadets at 209 Squadron ATC in Nottinghamshire.

U.S. Naval Air Station Wexford Ireland

U.S. Naval Air Station Wexford was a seaplane station at Ferrybank, Wexford, Ireland which was operated by the United States Navy (USN) and commissioned on 2 May 1918. Its mission was to operate Curtiss H-16 anti-submarine patrols (ASW) to counter German submarine attacks on shipping in the area east of Queenstown. The Commanding Officer LCDR Victor D. Herbster reported on station on 28 March 1918.

Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland Military unit

The Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland was both an admiral's post and a naval formation of the Royal Navy. It was based at Queenstown, now Cobh, in Ireland from 1797 - 1919. The admiral's headquarters was at Admiralty House, Cobh.

U.S. Naval Air Station Lough Foyle Ireland

U.S. Naval Air Station Lough Foyle was a seaplane station at Lough Foyle in Ireland, which was operated by the United States Navy (USN) and commissioned on July 1, 1918 with Commander Henry D. Cooke, USN as the commanding officer. Located near Quigley's Point in County Donegal, and approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Derry in County Londonderry, the station was disestablished in early 1919.

U.S. Naval Air Station Berehaven Ireland

U.S. Naval Air Station Berehaven was a Lighter-than-Air (LTA) kite balloon station at Berehaven, County Cork, Ireland that the United States Navy (USN) operated in the First World War. It was commissioned on 29 April 1918 and decommissioned on 12 February 1919.

HMS Aubrietia was one of 12 Aubrietia-class sloops completed for the Royal Navy and was launched in 1916. During World War I, she functioned as a Q-Ship and served under the name Q.13, also taking the names Kai, Winton and Zebal. Aubrietia was part of the 1st Sloop flotilla, based in Queenstown and subsequently, the 3rd Sloop Flotilla in the North Sea.

References

  1. Flying Officers of the U.S.N. 1917-1919. Washington DC: Naval Aviation War Book Committee. 1919. p.  300 . Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  2. Treadwell, Terry C (2000). America's First Air War: The United States Army, Naval and Marine Air Services in the First World War. MBI Publishing Company. ISBN   9780760309865.
  3. 1 2 3 Sitz, W.H. (1930). A History of U.S. Naval Aviation (PDF). Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 27.
  4. Loomis, Steven. "Together We Served McCRARY, Frank". Together We Served. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  5. 1 2 Ronald V. "Abandoned, Forgotten & Little Known Airfields in Europe". Archived from the original on 28 December 2014.
  6. 1 2 Martin, Emily. "Naval Air Station Queenstown, Ireland 1918". U.S. Naval Institute. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  7. John Abbatiello (2006). Anti-Submarine Warfare in World War I: British Naval Aviation and the Defeat of the U-Boats. Routledge. p. 125. ISBN   1135989540.
  8. Karl E. Hayes (1988). A History of the Royal Air Force and the United States Naval Air Service in Ireland 1913-1923. ISBN   0950823112.
  9. Denby, Honorable Edwin (1923). The American Naval Planning Section London. Washington Printing Office. p. 106.
  10. "World War 1 Era Naval Air Stations". Bluejacket.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.