a brief history fleet patrol plane squadrons › hyperwar › nhc › newpdfs › usn... · preface...

(

j

1

A BRIEf HISTORY

of the

fLEET PATROL PLANE SQUADRONS

from the Organization of the

First Squadron

in 1919

To the present Organization

in 1935

i

i

PREFACE

HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT

The development of the naval patrol planes started ~ith the World War ~hen the HS - H16 and F-5-L flying boata ~cro developed and employed on coastal patrol The patrol plene of the War carried out its dual functions ef a heavy bomber hen it nas used against submarines and ene~y land bases

The yoars 1918 and 1919 brought the development of our first long range patrol boats the IIC type Six planes of thi s type nere built and four formed tro units of the Fleot Air Detechoent in 1921

The period 1919 to 1925 17a~ primarily a period of development of observation planes During this poriod the patrol plano sq~adrons consistod of cartime HJ - Hl6 and F-5-L flyinG boats Flights 7Cre rl8de by the planes attached to the Atlantic Fleat to Guantanama Bay and PanOmD Th~ patrol planes attached to the Pacific Fleet fle~ from San Diego to Panama The patrol planes of this period had a cruising speed of fifty-five knots and a cruising radius of about nine hours giving a naximum range of approximately 450 miles

The period 192~ - 1925 brought forth the first devshyelop~ent in our flying boots since the rar with the exshyception of the so called Giant boot rhich nos not comshypleted During this period to PN-7s uith ~ooden hulls ere placed in service The hulls Dere similar t o the F-5-L but the Dings nore shorter and had a single bay The engineB nere 525 horsepo~ler

The 1925 - 1923 period brought the developIilCnt of the P~l 9-10-11 and 12 a ll minor lilodifieations of th_ PN-7 -i th the different types of engines

~ he p-riod 1928 - 1931 brollbht the deve loprlent of a squadron of PD~ PKs PMls and Plf-2G ell of 11hich ere roetol versions of the F-5-L The XPY tlas dovelopeddurinc this period

The period 1932 - 1935 brought out the devel opment of our first ne-- t rpc of petrol boats the PHs P2Ys a nd XP2H s

The follo 7 ing tlble gives f sllllll1lCry of the charectershyisties of pe trol planes from 1919 to 1935

-Ishy

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PERIOD TYPE ENGH1E CRUISING RADIUS ARMAIIElIT~ SPEED

i917-25 F-5-L 2 Liberty 4~ 56 450 8 30 cal

1919-22 NC 3-4 Liberty 420 70 1500 2 700 Ibbomb - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - shy1924-25 PN-7 2 - T2 525 80 700 2 500 lb bomb

1925-29 PN-9 2 Packardmiddot 600 80 1500 2 - 30 cal 1925-i9 PN-10 2 Packard 600 80 1600 2 1000 1bbm

192529 PN-12 2 Wright 525 80 1600 2 1000 lbbm

1929-32 PI-1-2 2 lright 575 85 950 4 - 30 cel 2 1000 Ibbm

1933-34 XPY 2 P amp IV lJ50 85 1000 4-30 cal 2 1000 Ibbm

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - shyPH 2 I7righ t 525 90 1800 3 - 30 cal 2 1000 1hbm

It It P2Y-1-2-3 2 1right E 6eOrGd

o~ F engines 620 90 2500 3 - 30 cal Z 1000 lbbGl

An analysis of the [bove table shos that very little proshygress in middotpatrol planes was made fr eo 191 0 to 1933 This was mainly due to lack of large and reliabl e pOller plants leck of appr eciation of the capabilities of patrol plan0s and to the o ~centration during this pcriod on the developme nt of shipshyboard and ca irier type planes

PAST OprnATIONS

Operatiors of patrol planes up to the present may be divided into three cla ssos (a) 7orld rlar operations (b) the

period from 1919 to 1931 inclusiveend (c) the period 1932 - 1935

~lar tioe operat10ns wcrc vory limi tcd consisting pri shyllllrily of anti-submarino patroJs along ports of the AG1Cricon British and Frcnch coaste

After the war a patrol squadron uas attached to both the Atlantic and Pccific Fl ~ cts The plcn~s were F-5-Ls Thc Atlantic Squadron accompained the Flect on s everal occasions to ~uantanamo and Panamo and in 1925 TIer~ carri ~d on the JASON to Ronolulu bull Thc Pacific and Atlontic Fluet Squadrons accshyompainied tho Flcat to Panama for thc first time in 1921

The patrol plane squadrons have fully demonstrated their capablli tics as ahown in lDLIny Flcet Preblems and during oxshy2 tcnsivo Advanced Baso Operations in the Alaskan and Caribbean

-II-

fIRST YEARS OPERA~IONS

The first oDcration conducted gCS the obsorvation of LonG Range Dny Spotting of one division of tho Fleet

On 19 February the squodron uhile out for prltlctieo in forrxtion flyinS suffered its sltcond mishap Ensign l1 ur ph s pI ne encountered motor trouble and nos forced to l~nd in a vltry hecvy sec fiftcen miles cEst of Guinshyt e ccna Bey The fpbrie of th~ t~il nas erushcd in landshyi~g end thL hull rep idly filled with netltr The cre~ und~essltd ~nd 8sc~nded the top ging chere they waited for essistnle( hich i7as not long in coming At the tine of the ccicLnt nsign llurphy 70S accompanied by to oti1 r )lnnes one of hich fleN imcdictely to a Bettleship Division hich liCS maneuvering nearby reshydiaedone ~~~hor L d th e informtion that e pl-ne 1IS on the ter ~nd nedltd assistence et once Th other plene fl n to Gura tcncrao on thc seme ili ss ion H i ther one of t lCSC pl~~cs e r ~bL to lcd on thc Ictcr Gld cffect a rescue of EnsiGn lurphy and his crel on (ceount of the

--h 0(-0 Ihl ll ~ bull

Thlt bcttlcships stopped ~ll n~ncuvcrs end nrde at full sy0cd for the t1is~ bled plen aich hed drifted in t~e ce nti le prec~riously ncar the COG st Before tho ~ISSISSII first ship to r~cch thc sClnc could lo~cr r bO1t -i til ~ reSCI ~nrty th plene he s struck the corel r cf ~it~ dcstr ct ive force Th~ impct of this forid~bl middotrmiddot ier of udersclt roc[lt trcI one fJUlbcr of th crc L~to t~ -~ter T e oth~rs jumped l1itn lt1 (our ell iv h~ d mcde their C to t1C top of c cliff middotcrc t1- ~ i ted th- rcscu( crt A fc hours l~ r bO-t frcl -il C lTSSISgtPIIP bcichcd in c nc ~ rby cove ene ) ic l d ul th i ive stral1clcd ~vi-tors ho ere t to the bi lchip hcr the- hd hot olcol rcshycCl0d dry clotll~3 cnd cere rctlrKd to their rlOt~cr-2~li)J t1- 3_-h (j~ i10il tic orsc for trcir lxpcricnco Th- sqj-1ron hoc ~r hed lost its ~ccord pl-ile 1ithin cck

Jt in t-rct i~G COCTuicntcrtmiddot on this episode is tl~ fct t ~ t tmiddot 1 L Adil offct t for a r C ief of the Bureau Acr~l uticsJ then C~)tCin middot7~G in cOJlnd of thc

i8S 13JII_ Cc]tin tcc-Ie no hcl to csk for t middoto more plcnes

~i~C t-c E-16 ler 2t once dcspctehd from P( nsccol~ J~1cr cC Gl~nd c Li~Jt POII -cenc r ~Id insign ~thittLd

7 lt middot rJ~ iv~d - t C-t_~1t ~~~~o cbcut the first of ~c rch b~il1P nG t ~ sr~l ej ron ence ~g~ in u to its full COl1)shyL(lt rJlsy d~middot 0 0110 cd for tc 9tchlQlt CUny fl shyl~~~middott z ~~ ~5 i7middotd 011 ecrch JrobLts 1 th the Flcct One prot I co~ ic t~c of s~ rching for the Fleet nd thcn iirLctiil t s us ri1 - s by r~middot dio) to its position

During thl period bull hile thl Fl e et lns engGged in Long Rango Settl e PrctiOe plcncs s )ottcd for the bottleshyships The Fleet ~t this time lGS skeptic~l of the reshylieblit of nircroft spotscnd fl of thee mde usc of the~e sots recCcivcd froe eircreft T o ships hOCcver the UTAE rnd FLORIDA did UIC tho sgots ~nd it is inshyt(r stinc to note tht th UTAl ~on the gunnery trophy f or thot ~(Ocr In the I ~ttr x~rt of Horch c short cruiso ~ns token in order to give officers ond con shore liberty The pl-es flel first to Port nu Prince liiti end then to Ki1gstCn JmricD At Port au Prince thlt sight of these tr~meftdous birds so terrified the nctivcs that they rushed into churches for protection Gnd the priests nere forced to hold service s to distrrct rnd quiet them It developed th~ t ttesc ~ere tl first plrnes to ever fly over the city

At Ki~gsto n t~e officers end r(n ere rOclly entlrshytcined by ti~ ( rglis cople ond enjoyed their first Plrnters Punch ct the Myrtle Bnk Hotltl This ~s 1 more thnn cdequt~ cc~~enltion for the rigors of tuo months flyiig

April 7th th Dekehment st-rt d for hocc The gtlGn( 7ere flon to the ~nv~l Air Stction Key iiest vio Ne uvi t s ~ herl 811 h~ nds bomiddot-crded thCc SHAl1JI r nd proceedshyed te lC York for r lt cretion rnd their first leove (lnd liberty

TRA~S-ATLAIITIC FLIGHT

ihlle in lie York the SA1uT cs ordered to Lisbon FortuG~l to r ct ]s t nder for the T-C plrnos hlch uere nOOlt to rr k_ t~o1r historiC Tr ils-Atl~ntic flight Capt gtt c elc tr c1 sfcrred hi pcnn~nt to t~l Hcmptom ROrds Air Stction l(~ tlll(d over comcnd of th SHATuT to thlt Exshyecutive Omiddotficcr Comm-nder Cummil1s The flying officors c rc ~cn t to hllcdlphiu to gt ne pl~n-s the or igshyi~l aix gtl~ns h-ving ben llt-ft in Kcy l7est for usc there

F-5-Ls RIPLACE H-16e

Thc llt 1 11lnes lt r c of the F-5-L typl n British deshysign lru~revil1g on the H-16 in- m-my oys but not differing r c dicclly from it in type

During lly end June the Dctcchlen t took en ective p~rt in Fleet rork off the Ccpcs of th~ Chescplcke As c fcc tlUe for June 11eek at the Accdlt-my the plancs nere sent to Annmiddot polis ~herc th cros Tiere qurrtcrcd on thlt old REIA nRC-DES

On 11th June the SHAmUT returned to Hampton Roads from Lisbon and the Detachment returned aboard proceeding at onco to Solomon 18~8nd for a waeks shakedown

CHAPTER III

THE BOMBING EXPERIMENTS OFF

THE VIRGINIA CAPES

1921

The Bombing Controversy

Sinking of U-117

Search for tha IOWA Sinking of Destroyer

Sinking of FRAN KFU RT

Sinking of OSTFRIESLAND

The Bombing Controversy An important event in the history of Naval Avia~ion

as non about to take placebull For Borne years after the War there was much discusshy

sion resarding the ability of nar-ships to withstand attacka by bombing planes This aroused wide spread public interest anu developed into a ~ ea ted controversy There woere exshytreme partisans on 00 th sides Some claimed that a single $20000 airplane could easily sink a $40000000 battleshyship others maintained that aviation could be of little value against armored vessels

The Navy Departnont neantime had quietly gone ahead gith experimental bomb dro~ping on the old battleship INDshyIMJh in the shoal naters of Chesapeake Bay Considerabl~ data of value as ob-eined regarding the effect of undershyva-er expJsions Naval air ~raft wi thout any publicity had been carrying ou t regular bombing exercises at moving targct s I7hen the eX-German warshigts that were turned over to the US Navy in accordance with the terws of tte Peace Tr ~aty the Degtartment decided to use them as targets to deter~ine the effect of bombs gunfire and torpedoe s on vessels of the different types turned over

To satisfy the deraands of the Army Air Service for a battleship on Hhieh to conduct bombing tests the obsolete battleship ALABAEA ~as toned to Chesapeake Bay and anchored off Lang ley Field and given over to the a r Department and she nas repeated ly bombed by Arny aircraft gith spectacularresults

Uueh publicity RaE given to these tests and to the st~tci~ents of Col it~ litchcll Assistant Chief of the Air Sc rvice that Iaval vessels were helpless egainst air shycraft He ~intaned that Naval Officers feared that battleshyships would ce sunk if bombed by a i rcraft and refused to nae the German ships ava ilable to the Army Air Service as argets lest tc rr8VY be discredited if thcy were sunk NevGr he l ess thlt- tavy Dr)artment lent ahead nith its own plans Dnd decided to U3C the ex-German warships as targets in a serics of bombing and other ordnance tests t o be conducted by ~h( Navy The battleship OSTFRIESLAND the light Cruiscr FRAlKTIJRT Q et roye r G-I02 end subnar1ne U-117 were towed to Lynn Havc ROJds and anchored there to await tho t ests Ihieh were ar rangcd t o take place during the sUlller of 1921 Al though the lavy Dpartr nt refused to turn any of thses ~essels over to the Army the Arny was invited to participate ~n the t e sts The Iide publicity und the bitter partlsanship engenderod 1n the heated discussions preceding the tests obscured their rc~ l purposc and lcft in the public mind the impression that the ir sole object was to determine uhcther or not warships cO~ld be sunk by aircraft end whethe r aViation personified by Col Mitchell of the Artrr Air Service or the Navy per

sonifiod by whito whiskered conservative Admirals was right As a Latter of fact the tests were carofully plannod

by tho Navy Dopartment with a vi~w of obtaining accurato data ctneerning the offect of differ0nt types of bombs and fuses upon different parts of the structure and to ascertoin thc penetrativo effect of bombs dro~pod on armorod and unshyarmorod docks The t0sts wero to be progr~ssive b~ginning with bombs of light weight and crding qith attacks with 2000 pound bombs and 14 armor picrcing shell droppedfrom high altitudes If thc targcts r~ined afloat after these attacks thoy wore to bo attacked by gunfiro and then by torpedo fire A Joint Army and NavY Board of highrllnking officers ordnance experts and photogrriJhcro Ilere to examine th~ ships after each attack and earfully record the results

In order also to dotormine the accuracy with Which aircraft could loellte and bomb a ship undorway at soa it waS decided to make uso the USS IOWA 0 radio controlled battleship torget by sending hcr to on unreveolod position at sea 100 to 200 miles off shore somewhere b~tween Cape Hatteras and Cope Henelopon She was to st~am toward the Coast controllod by thc USS OHIO Captain HalliGan st~cmshyins at various speods of over 7 knots The soqx9hing planes carrying a complete ermament of machine guns and 100 pound concrete bombs TIore to attock her if they could loco to her before she uas within 50 miles of the Coast

The Commandor in Chief Atlantic Fleet Admiral HilaryJones wos placed in complete chcrge of the tests Captoin A7 Johnson Commanding Air Force Atlantic Fleet wos plashyc~d in direct charge of all aircraft taking pnrt The Navy oss0mbled at Hampton Roods to carry out the tests about 36 planes using the Fleet Squodron rnd flying bots frOOl Pcnoocola Rockowoy and Hllmpton Roeds os well rs Lieutenant Commrnder HP Bartletts sqlUdron of Hrrtin BO[lb~rs at Yorktown and a squdron of ~crine AviCltion of DH-~s under Major RS Geigor ot Qunntico The patrol pl~ns of ti1c F-5-L end HC types rere bosed in th i~vrl Air StC1ton at Hampton noeds under Corlll1rnd of Sa)tnin SHR Doyle

The Army eece)ted the inviktion to trkc pert in the bomb1ng exercise s ltnd 0 Prov1s10nrl Air Brgde consistins of bout 87 plenes 11~rtin Bombers H~ndley Pages DH-4s ~nd BE-5s wore asscmbld at wngley Field under the COlllll~nd of Col Mi tchcll

The tests liere to begin in June cOllI1encing 111 th an ~ttcck on c submcrine ~nd rfter th~t by one on the destroyer tic se 1ere to be foIl o~ed by the search for the IOHA cnd on ltt[lcka on the light cruiser and on the bttleship In order th~t the Arcy rnd Hcvy Cl ircrcft should have

equal opportun1 tics in the bO[lb1ng attccks Cptc in Johnsonin his opercting order provided for [lltcrn~ting rtkcks by h~VY ~nd Army planes He controlled the oper~tions frol

S flgship at seC close to the k rget ships sending directions by ireless hen the attccls should be launehed nnd hen suspended for the eX2mination by th~ Bocrd of

Observers Eoch of the Ex-G~rmon uarships prior to being middot bombed

nere torcd to a point 50 lI]lles Ecst of Cope ChorlGs Lightvessel and anchored there 1n 70 fathoms of ~ater A l1ne of destroyers Beven miles apart nas~botucen Lynn H~ven Roads cnd the target vessels to guide the plones and to act os rescue vessels

On the days the sh1ps nero to be bombed the USS BENDshy1lSON Tl1th the Secrotcry of the Navy on bocrd end c lerge delegction of Congrossmen cnd nospcpcrmen c~e dorn from Washington to 171 tness the spectaclo ~nd ncQrly ell the ships of the Atlantic Fleet ere prGsGnt There f iCS grcctexcitemont and much speculetion as to the results

BOMBING OF U-117

Th~ first of the ~ctuel bombing tests took place on June 21st pith the U-117 ae the t1rgct Division ONE of the Airboct S~udron Lt WC Thomas (3 F-5-Lsl att~cked first and dropped trelve 163 pound bombs 1n tro runs over the target threo in the first salvo end nino in the second T~o of the bombs in the second salvo ero direct hits end the other seven lended so close elongside bull The sub~1r1ne sonk in 12 minutes

BOMBINO OF TID DESTROYER G-I02

I

-

The next vessel to be bombed ua~ the 0-102 The Navy bull hcV1ng sonk the submcrine middot Captcin Johnson assigned Armyplanes to ritteck the destroyer Elevon (11) pursuit planeseach carrYing four 25 paund Cooper demblit10n bombs ettccked first Tho boobs rcre dro~ped from en altitude of about 200 fect Of the 44 (25 pound) bombs dropped 21 scored direct hits Eleven (11) Mcrt1n bombers then ottackGd dropping 44 - 300 pound bombs scoring three h1ts from an alt1tude of about 1500 feet Tha dostroyer s~nk as a result of the combined mining effect of the sevon (7) odd tons or bombs th~t ere droppedon or ncar her

SEARCH FOR THE IOWA

On June 29th th~ IOWA n1th no one on bocrd ~nd st~cm1ng ct var10us speeds end steered ent1rely by r~d10 control from the OHIO c qucrter of e m11~ estern of her nos approaching thG coast somenhere betrcen Cope Henelopon cnd Cepe H~ttores At middot 900 cm upen the r~ceipt of orders from the Corom nder -II ir Force 12 A1rbo~ ts r1 th complete =r loads took off from the temporary beses estb11shed ct Bctte~cs Delrmre Br(rk1~eter nd Hampton Ro~ds cnd bc~n the scorch

Division Ou trom Cepe Henelopcn proceeded to sec on 0 course of 90 desrees to form scouting l1ne 1ith the(1

-27shy

I f_shy

inshore plene fifty miles from the boech end c distrncc of 27 miles bettleen p1ancs end scouted on a southrICster1y courso parol1e1 to th~ coast Division TWO took up r s1mshyi1er position on c bearing of 90 degrees from Cape Charles Lightship and scouted in a northocsterly direction The Penseco1a-RoekcTIay Division took up its position in tho scmc mnnncr 90 dogreos from Cope Henry and scouted on e south- easterly course hile the NCDivision come northtost from r similar position due eest of Cepe Hatteras No 81 Lt Garvey of Division ONE mrdo contact 11 th the IOWA at a )osshyition rbout 85 miles bellring 45 degreee from Capo Cbcr1es bull Upon recoipt of contact message ell othor p1cnes immeditte1y cTh~ngod course to intercopt tho IOWA end upon thcir arrival proceeded TIith th~ cttack The Hartin Bombers of th~ Atshylantic Fleet Torpedo Pkne Division flell from their baso rt Yorktoml~nd bombed the IOW4 on their crrive1 over hor cnd returned to YorktoTIn ithout furthet incident The Mrrinc

middot DBs from Quantico c1so proceeded to the cttack and upon comshypletion returned to Quantico so short Of ges thet one plane cnded in the )ter clolte to the Air field Of the 78 conshycrote bombs droppod threo registered hits The IOlA lIou1d no doubt h~ve beon put out of cetion hrd live bombs boon used by those the t fell alongsido The Airboats rccomp1ish~d the rcol purpose of th experiment in demonstrating that eir shycraft ero capable of finding and attacking enemy vessels tithin their rediu3 of action None of the Army circraft took prrt in this problem but three Army blimps Ioro used in thQ seer ching opcrntions Tho soarch problem attracted little public cttention as it TIOS dovoid of spectecu1~rfectures

On July 2nd the SHA7MUT ent to Ne Yerk for ( four day liberty period e lrrge number of the officer end men of the bombing divisions going in her

BOMBll1G OF THE FRAlIKFURT

The bombing of the middotex-G(rmon cruiser FRANKFURT took place on July 19th All divisions ri the Army end Ncvy Forces ongagod in this attock eoch Division proceeding from its besc et interv-1e on orders from the SHAWMUT Alshythough the FRANKFURT actu-1ly senk under the attock ofmiddot Army planeD dropmiddoting 600 pound bombs th 230 -nd 550 pound bombs droppod by the Navy plcnes earlier in the day hed dono such extensive domage benee th tho tlcter lino thot she l7as in a sinking condition by the time the Army planes attacked l71th the hoavier bombs A 550 pound bomb dropped by ono of the Navy Matin Bombers 1rnded close clongeidotho fore pert of the ship end did pnrtieulllly severe under~cter dcmrge bull In Qll about 14 tons of bombs tero droppod on her from altitudes of 1500 to 2000 feet

BOMBING OF THE OSTFRIESLAND

On the 21st of July the ox~orman battleship OSTFRIEshy

----------------______I

SLAND ana of the most 1mprognablo sh1ps of the German Navy was ottaeked wh1le anchored 1n a pos1t10n only a short d1sshytanoe from the spat ~hero the ~naruRT hod been sent to tho bottom As 1t hod bean eonducted1n tho attock on tho FRANKFURT nIl D1vis10ns proceeded to drop thair bombs according to a predcturmined schadule During the day s largo numbor of 250 and 550 pound bombs wore dropped by the Navy planes ~hllc tho Army pInnas attackod Hith 600 pound bombs At the conclusion of the bombing on that dey a thorough examination of the vassel showed that clthoughthe diroct hits hod dono littlc domego and thnt only to the upper works thc comb1nod mining effect of tho smaller bombs dropped close alongSide hed startod sevorol locks end she was beginning to go down by tho starn On the following morning the attack nos resumod Army planes droppod 5-1000 pound bombs cnd oftor ~n examinction of the damage she was again ettackod with 7-2000 pound bombs She cnpsized and senk in 22 minutes ~ ftor this attack In all 33190 poulds of bombs narc dropped on the OST~IESLAND As the krmypIanos gave the Coupo-de-Graco the Army got the credit for sinking of this bnttloship

kfter the completion of the bombing experiments the roport of the Joint Army and Ncvy Boord of Obsorvers was mede public nnd nhile it gave ell the fects it never comshypletoly ended the controversy reg~rding th6 bettle botoen a ircraft end thc bllttleships Hhich still goes on

REPORT OF BOARD OF OBSERVERS

Tho genorel result of these tosts hes been to convince the BOllrd thet the nirplone is 0 po~Crful neopon of offenco No mattor uhrmiddot t rcason to the contrnry mar be advcnced such ero thc fects that the ships bombed nere ct anchor (exshycept the IOWA) that there uerc no crons ebollrd to rectifyhull damege end kcep ships aflact that the planes uero guided to their terGets by a lino of destroyers pIeced there for thct purpose (except the IO~A) thet the ships nero without ont1-aircr~ft gunfirc or protection of their own planes thot 1deal summer gteethor prevailed except nhen it became necess~middot ry to postpone oporations on account of fog nind or soc end that the planes bCQbod from very Ion altitudes the fact remains that in every cnso of ntteck by airplones 7ith bombs thc ships so attacked uhether Subtl~rina destrofer liGht cruiser or bnttlcship 17erc actshyually sunk and by airplanes uith bombs alone

OPERATIONS IN NEW YORK amp VICINITY

With the cOCljJlotion of the bombing t(sts the Srum1UT end Sq~dron shiftod base on July 23rd to the North River NY rClllining thore until uugust 1st DiVisions TWO nd THREE ~d() the f light froItJH~Hlpton Ronds to NOH York in fi ve ~ hours nithout inCident but No 92 of DiVision ONE f~S

-29shy

crlgtI7S rere trcrsforreu tc the RIGm ~ t t~ lovy Yard ller Yor

bull u bull s S -RIGHT COilnSSIOllED

The UGS RI(ET 10S for~l1y COrn1Esi~nec at 1el Y~rk en Deeelcr 16th 1lt21 11 hnrs ere bU31ly o1gqecl in eetshytin rer 1n shCpe f r sec [n~ f~r the s u tle-n cruise but 0)1c- leiaro t1ne ~S alln~e( thn t 11 hnnns nig~t t1c r()l(hly crj~ the Christrrs vc Ne~ Ycnr ho11(1~ys _

le RIGHT rel iecd the SHimiddot ill ~s FlcGhip ~n- tender f r t~e ir F)rce ~hiei1 I~S then lt1eG1CJ~teltl s 1 Scu-r ns U S tlntie Flcet Th llUT ~s transferred to the rine Feree rt Phil~aolnhi~

Tho ers -~el 1 the 11rboct Sqlrcrn Iore tr-rsferrcd ~eck t middot HTtgttrn H~middot 00 J~nucry 19 1022 f(1 tho purosc ~f

c c nplctir-c the re 1 chinc gun prctice r ~t the s ~ e tLlt gettin everytinl in r e-~ iness t ~ fly scmiddotuth cs soon ~s t~ RIGHT sh ul1 e~re lin fr on ICI Ymiddotrk

bull lt this tL6 )eecl~(r 1921 the ir Sq~r rs US tshy

l 1tic Fleet ccnsistcmiddotf th e foll ilG uritsshyU~SS ~nIGHT C ~l~ t~ln 11 ~7 J- n n CCi~~ nrill6 -nc -15 0

C) middotc]er [ir SqurJr 1J VS lItl 1tic Fleet US3 j~mpIPE-~ c ~ ~f~n(lcd by Lieut middot1 Joh130n

i J3 TElL c ~ middot l middot~c (l by Lt (T) G Pync (S irb~ t Squa rcJs ()crmn cmiddottly b ~s middot nn RIGm 6 F-5-LD

nrd 2 riC s) CgtlC c - - Li utenJt Cmiddot yuer HB Cecil j bull T TIgt((~O Fl-ne 3ql~dr gt n OrmiddotiL C ~[Lr (ei Jy Lieute~~nt CCJshy

[ middot n ~ler HT BJrtlctt (10 PT 1 F-5-L n 3 M~rtin BOub er

bull l~~ J t middotmiddot middot ~(middotr-rily b~ee(l_ ~t rr1 r trn V~

Si~ PI - ne squ middotmiddot~r~n corrla(~()1 1)y LL utennt Corulo(c r VC Griffin (couiste middot~ ~f VE-s LoaninG JC nmiddot)lanes n DH-4S)

t c ~) middot ril~~ C~~ t H 1)t ~middot n R ~ Vr

bull bull Jn~)~ -1 i bull j

Kite IYllc middot n 3q~(~r n Ol crmiddotrln ( by Li e utL I~-nt CX HvlI1 Kite llmiddot gtlD cUoute in trrin v(2 sel to Gint1oc B--y Cl~ ~

The f(reCGi1 [i veG ~ eener 1 icture of th~ first thre( ye rc rrc pcrti1s 8i lC flyiC ()~ t s ~ ~ ~ rCJns -tkCIO1 tc the middott~ ntlc Fleet l siIi1 r squ( r r n - flying h( ~ ts s ~t shy~~c t c t~ Pcific Flee t it thmiddot US0 IlOOSlOOK ~ n

G~~llLI tc -s Il c middot ~)r middot ti_a~ r~lCcics of til( t F~) cClJndc rl iffcrcc fundshy

c rCl t-lly ih~ ltlrntic SqU1 rns uper ~ t e middotl c 0 nti1 ~usly ith t~ t Fl c et ~l ~middot 1h tmiddot lt- st C-st fr rf r1le t P- nrl~ th intcrr

bull tis l- lly ei1 sltnt in thl 7est In~ies n~ tle su~ors in Nel7

ErSI~ On the tler h~nl the Iirh ~rt quc lr middot n ott~ched t middot th( Pa c ific FLot a s nrTlly ut Sa~ DieGO as the Fieet ~ent rst c f the tice i tht nrc The ir B~~ t Squ~rJn Atshyl r ntic Fleet t712 pe~middot ~~ne~tly bse on th tender the flying eramp IU1(l beinl reculrly ctt middot~che ~ tr) n (~ serving on bor( the ten~ er 7her they ~er1orue~ reGular ships duties in 11 tien t~ duty ~ ith ci~ cr(ft Tho flyin6 bo~ts of the Atlcntic Fleet e 21s equently rlt1ro1y visi ted en lir Sktion anr Ihen not in

-33shy

bull fliGht rere ( n c l1(lr lt(~ in vnrious h~rbcrs rlong tho ccrst Th1s ~f cours e ent~il eJ e enside rnbl c ueer ~nd t ecr on the plenos P cri n1 ie lly et intorvcls of fron t rreo to slx Q(nths it 17(S

nc coss ~ rr t C turn all pl~ncs in t o th lir Sktion It Norfolk or to th 1ircrnft Fnctory nt Phllcl1elph1a for rJ jar ovcrhrul bull 1 ncr set of pl~nes rTcrcusunlly ro~t1y to tkc the plneo of t 11lt2 ones net th o nper~ tions c 0ntinuctl rs hef-ro In thoBO rpor~ ti (l ns th e gtilots averaged nbout 30 hours flying per 8 onth

The 1rcrnft 3quldr ns of the ltlntie Fleot in dr11 tion t th sq u-~(~ro n ~f flyinc b Jnts cnnsistc( of sh1p-plcne oqur r n r tco-sc t c r o~servn ti on plenos desiened to fly off t h() f T1c~ r turrets of b~ ttl cships 1 sq ua c1 rI n of t orpodo amp b lb i1~ pl ries oper r t1nc fr m shr re ba s cs Thls squclrc n 70S

flst c nnl)ose(l cf lrtin Bober 1 11 pl~ ncs but these 17 cr c l r tc r c ~l e c 1 by 1n pnnt (on pl~no s I f the PI type I tlobik i vi 10n of ki t ( l ~ ll oons hich 17erc erlploy f or gunnery obshys e rve tL Il on 1 ci 1[ ns01ercd t C oc ch b ttleship (l urinc tergct pr ~ ctic( ~ s rls C rtt c ch0(1 t c tho ircrtft ~qu~ trrne U3 t( rtic Fl ec t It ril c~ rs r~rr 7ri~ t c t o nO1 bricfly covcr

bull tho hist Cry r f t h0 units bull

bull -34shy

KITE BALLOON DETACHMENT

CHAPTER IV

No trcublc Has expericnced Ii th the belloon aild th( spotting by b~llo r n pilots 17ho ner( tctrlly inexperienced in

~ Kite Balloon Detochnent ~as organized for eoch fleet in 1920 as [ pert of thc Fiect Air Forces The mteriel and cres for the tlentic Fleet Uni t ere ssenbled at H-moton Rods ~md pleced obord the PROllETHEUS for trnsportotion to Gu~ntnnDno B~y Cub chOre a cop on shore Ims cstoblished The unit 17S under the c08cnd of Licu tenQnt COClllcnder LL Bbbitt rho as lcter relieved by Li()uten~nt CH Havill USN The cren cbnsistcd of cbout 30 [wn including mess cttend~nts in th~ beginning but by trcnsfers ~nd de~ths the nurber fles reduced te bout 18 by the til- ~ctU1~l oper(tions bege n Officers ~nd [len nere busy d~y and night inflcting these CIkl7ord uilginly gen brgs either on the stern of the coin deck of the SHLmm or on shore lifter infl1tion the hgs llere t ored to th~ bcttleships Chich furnished tgt ( obshyservers Cor gunnery exercises

The officcrs Here quartered on the old survey b~rge the cre in the strtion bc rrrcks ~nd in tents The blloon field ICS le id out 01 Fisherocn s ~o int The officers rne nen ere divided i1to tro section one for overhcul of shipIJ belloon ninchlts cnd instruction of ship perso1nel in thcir operation ond the others for prcporetion of bellopn-beds ershyection of nindbrecks hydrogen plcnts etc

The first belloon 7 S inflcted e nd flights r~de on 28 J nlcry 1920

KITE BtUOON TRtINIIG AT GUMlTANAMO

The [itv Belloon Division relTined ct Guntancno throshyughrgtut the linter oper~ting fron shore in the beGinning end l ter fron thc bettleships utilized for treiril1G pUrposes A balloon 17inch 171S inst-llcd Cshore e nd one cborrd one of th(J berces All pilots officers end Gen nere trcined in transshyferring b~lloons fr oD the beech to the bergc nd fron the lxnge to the bea ch rnd tc =ke fliehts underrey frn the barges - the bil rees beine tOIled by c sub-ch~ser This tr1 inshying uns very essential 2nd inportent es the ~en and pilots cre in SOQe cescs quite inexperienced

Trcnsfers Hcre [l~dc to eceh of the bcttlcships by rt bllloon crcI~ hich rlCS deteiled ~ nd tr~ined cs ( unit Fron these tests the fim~l balloon cres iere selected end one ercn dekiled to eoch balloon for operotion purposes ~ith each bnttlchip

KITE BALLOON OPERTIONS lT GUtNTNtJIO

Balloons observed the firing of bcttleships rt to tcrget practices One ~elloon nes ~et(iled for eech firing divi1jion The belloons -ere toued to Gu~c~ny~bo Gulf on Desshytryc rs and trms ferred to the bcttlcm ips there lfter the conplotion of prc ctiees on the bcttleships they returned Ii th the bnttlcships

the noot eeses r~s equnl if not better then that by the regul~r ships spotters

Dur1rg the 1iret pr~ct1ee the 1gtdnirl ould not perni t using the b~llocns on the firing ships but required th~t they be florn frow the fo11oing ship During the second pr~etice the ~~lloons ere florn fron the flrlng shlp

ifter one cOlpletcd flrlng the b~llo(ln r~s topped up Qna trcnsferred to thu shlp next on the schedulo 1n th~ r~y l~klnG one klllon sufflcc fer c hole dlvlslon

CASUALTIES

On lmiddot~rch 17th durlng Fleet Tactlcal Exerclses t170 ki tc b ~11oons c ttcehed to the FLORID ~nd the NEVADJ orc carried Qr~y by thc hlSh 171nd rhcn thc vessels fron rhich thoy rere flo~m lde abrupt chongcs 01 course 1ron dorm ~lnd d1- rectly lnto thc strenG trcdes rhich blol7 off the Cuben co~st One passenger ln the FLORIDAS bcllooil p-rnehuted t~ middot the a ter end rc s plcked up The balloon p110t WeI ter AJoms CGHbullbull USN bullbull 705 throDn fron the bcskct end kllled The brllocn frcQ thc NEVJDJ cnt up to 9000 1eot end then cltoo de~n on the rnter Ilbout ton oilee fron the bcttlcshlps Ono of thL ~lrbonts Lleuten~nt Crrlson pl1ot lrnded 1n r hervy sec -nd pickcd up thc p110t froo hls bolloon 1gts tho Jirboot nos being secured to the prmSYLVlNIA for tor bock tC th( b~se 11fred R McNeil P-2e USN bullbull tme struck on the hend by r propeller ~nd inst~ntly kl11ed

BINDONUENr OF KITE BiLLOONS RECOMMENDED

COllrnder Jlr Squrdrons US Jtlrntlc Flect ln his Annu~l Report for 1921 ~nd 1922 recomended ob~ndonoent of Kite B-lloons cfloct ln v1 ( of the r~pld devclopncnt of heevi er-thcn-~ lrcrcft middot1111eh rould o)on be superior to the Yitr Balloon for all purpoBo~

CHAPTER V

SHIP PLANE DETACHMENT

SHIP PLANE DIVISION ORGANIZED

Upon the return of tho inolicen Blttleships free Euroshypeon flstcrS after the 1rnistiee it flCS decided to continue the oxperi~ents of flying planos froe the turrets ~d using then fo~ spotting Th~ TEXAS hcG beon equipped ith flying eff PlattrnS Cn No2 aOld 3 turrets at Ner-ccstlo EnglandSoveral reign built ex-US irny plenos Iere obte ined and brought er to the United Statos Lieutenent Concendor E O McDonnell (nol1 retired) uas ploeod in ehcrgc of tho avshyiation unit and gtrdered to eoll eet planes end LLlke nll preshyparatiOns for going oouth ~ith the Fleet

On 31 Jrlnuery 1919 the unit loft Ne~ York The avshyirltion pers r nnel consisted cmiddotf Lieuton~nt CODrICndor Me Donshynell USN Palner Hnvilond end five nviction ratings on the USS TEXAS end Hanoond on the USS 1ITSSISSIFPI The unit os jeincd sceetino rfter rrrivol in Cube by Wnrdloll Wagner end Blotner The eviation equipnent consisted of tflO Conels (160 GnDoe) one one-cnd-a-hnlf strutter (130 Clorget)end 17es eugncnted [fter arrival in Cube br ~o SE-is (150Hispano) Thore Ioro practically no spllres

Tho TEXAS orectod a plctfore on No2 turret but did not install the plrtforn on No3 The MISSISSIPPI built cnd installed e platforn on No2 turret r1th themiddot ships forco

FIRST YEARS OPERATION HI CUBA

Upon the nrrivnl in Cuba th0 plenes ore taken to the flots ~lck of Crndo Bluff hore they floro orected and tested

A totel of six flights ere cede froe the platforosthree froe the TElClS Ihile at ancher in Gunntrnaea one froe the MISSISSIPPI under sieilar conditions ane tuo fron those ships at Sea upon their return to Guontennno fron Barbadoes All of theso flights 17ere succossful McDonnell Haviland Pelcor middotan1 HOUDond ~~de thoBe tlights

McDonnell spotted for the TElCS firing opereting fron the beooh end using a one-end-n-holf strutter equipped 11th redio telephone (nd not 171th excollent sueOOSD H-viland spottod the torpedo dofense battery but could not get his conounicationa thrnugh though they Iloro rocoiv(d on the booch The other plencs on voriOUB occnsions though not equipped Hith radiO sinuloted spotting koeping a record of the tall ~ shot on speciclly prepnred dioBrtms Duringthe uintor cn oxporinontal radio nnd pr~ctiee cross-c0untryflight uos =do tC Sontirgo

Tt1enty-oight enltstod con uoro dotnilod to ossist tho unit in its oporlltiona fioe Conde Bluff

Upon the roturn of tho Fleet to Hoepton Ronds (abeutMay 1919) the plnnos an~ pilots ~oro put oshoro

AT UNGLEY FIELD

Pcreission roos then obt~ined troe the Lrey to train ct

L~nGloy Fiel (~ Under cor=nd of Licut(n~nt Cc =ntier Mc D)nncll a unit ras forncd cnd undernent intonsive cnel trenshyUOU training thcre f~r c poriod of about three nenths Opshyerrti~ns at Longley Field counencod en 28 May Three keoks ~fter stnrtir~ eonnond of the unit possed to Lieutencnt CO~J~n~er Hrvilcnd USNRF Mc Donnell being ordered to W~shinston This unit opercted unier the NcVltl ir St middot tion Hcnoten Hoens There ere cbout sixteen pilots and one hun~red ~en igtQ)ng the pilots ere Heviland Cers gtn Hcushy~~ nnl Biggs Junscn Hoiley Finch Brcnlcnstcin Letzkus Eli~t Conley Rhod es Her~onderf ~elfer Grier Curtis cnd lc n t gu ery bull

Teh equipncnt c ~nsi9t e d of t olve JN4Hs fer eleDentcry tr~ iliceight DHs tr SZ5s one Seprith Pup and four li--rirtl The pilots received elenentCry training gunnery conbnt ferootion flyillG ocrotBtfalen~ eone photogrephic - rk The tro inicg uas excellent ~nG the pace set eztrenely strenuous During this tine H=nn IOS killcd in a crcsh ond H0ntlooery lost e leg

In ~ugust 1919 thc Lrngl cy Field unit nes Gisbendod soo goinS t o ships nf the ltlentic Fle et othor te the West CJ est entI others to Hnpton Roeds Hc vilanel Rhodes Lovcrshyonts c n~ GillLspio rc~ined c t Hc~ton Roeds nith such plenos os nere th ore

At Areu ie Floride

Prlissi lD 8s obk1ne (~ frnl1 the lmy to teke a Dctcchshyent t o Ce rlstron Field kIee die Flr for eleDentary trcinshying Th 0 Detc e hcent ~ rrivbd ct kIc~rir eb cut 22 October 1919 Li eut ennt Co~~nder Chevalie r os off1ccr in chorge Flooc c n rl B~ iley re r c killed et lrc d in cO(~ Brcndenstein severely injurer Th e lest nrnec1 is nO7 in exce lle nt hea lth but is out of the s ervice He uos ine ~ prcitcte~ for flying The Deta chc lt l eft rctU e on 23 De c enber 1919 t n~ m~ s d1sshyt ributec1 in the Flee t

ifter t he r e turn cf the Flee t t o Ne rthern m~ ters ebout the 1st of May 1920 thmiddot_ renining pl middotnes Iere put cshorc r t the rTe vol f ir Sta tion H=ptcn R c8 S r nd ere e ventuclly junkec By perni si cn c f the Jrny tt~ D1vis1 0n tiCS ordered t c Mitchell Fi e ld G~rden City Lr h c re it rcnrinec fr on June 1920 to Jrnu~ry 1921 Lieutenant Connc~dcr Chevalier rns reli evo frc co=nd of the D1visio] in October 1920 by Li c ut rcnt CorJ-1~ nc1 er VC Griffin US H

~t Uitchell Field

During the sunocr at Mitchell Fi eld the Div~si ~n prashycticed r~Gi o middot cress c ountry eOlbet rcrob~t1cs tn r photoshygr(phy The c qu1pUlnt cons isted of JI-I-64 s ~ n DE-8 s obshytrinec fren t lrry No bUMery prnct i ee 7 s p oss ible The f1rst VoUlht flirplanes rorc r c eeivert to~rd the end of the suorJer One Junker (n6) r~s received Ne cooperrti 0n

sshy

with tho Fleet ucs possible Lieutonant Coonondor CorryLieutonont Wag lor nnd Lioutonant Grior noro killod during tho eu=or thc tflO fornor crashing ct Hertford Conn end beingburnod to doath tho latter crashing at Forost Hills uhilo engaged in photogrcphic uark 17i th Sergoant Saxo US Aroy

The ~ t1cntio Float Ship-plane Division 7CS deco=issionshyed in the middotffll of 1921 end its porsonnel becano part of tho U3S LNGLEY iviation Detcehnent a unit fornod ns c nucleus for the Avic tion oloncnt of tho cron of tho LANLEY

Fron non on the Bureau of Aeron~utics uas to eonconshytrate its efforts on the dovolopoent of cirplane carriers end carrior planas and on the dovelopaents of catapults and their installation on capitel ships of tho Fleot As 0 conshysequence thoro uas to be little proGross in the developnentof flying bon ts The F-5-L centinueC in service but ~cs grccunlly replaced by tnin pontoon seaplanes for nork ~ith the Fleet Sooe ioprovenent over the F-5-L cone cbout through the devclopnent cf th0 PN type of flying boot rith its foner struts cn~ botter ongines but for ~ny yearsdevelopnent rmiddotork in the flying boct lageod

bull

CUfulli FLIGHT

J f light to CutJ~ T70a [I-de by the lir Squndr ens bqinniI1amp Ikrch 5th 1922 The HC-8 as drocged ncar Co~e Henry nd oas returner t- rvrl lir Station ampupkn B)~ds for repairs On nrrivl Ct Key test cinar rl-gtcirs Ier G e n(~ fulty el3inos ehr neee ell units on(l tenners re[cino~ for several 10)s Due to the RIGHTs 1rnft she could not noor elongshyside the daek ~n~ it IOS nocessory to cnehJr obJut three Jiles off th ci ty The 3H 1middot1JT ~i th tho l1eurohtcr nrcft cue higher seed as in these middot refpects 0 nore useful teider thCn the ffiIGFT but In the other h~nd she Ucs n a t riGged t~ h- ist out hecry plrn lt- s The trip fren Key tiest to Guntcruno i OS netic i th tIIO sto~s ene at CienfuCcs c 1( one t EeU LUM Cay erossi--G ()vor the [1~i l~ ( ot Horiel Thl SquocrOE ec ploto~ the trip tC Gu~tn[lO on lrch 26tl

During the eek oding t1ril 8th thl- F-5-L plnres spotshytecl for the cttlcship prcctiee cnd sirul ~ te (l ct ctteek aGcinst the destroyors Ihieh uere rttcckiilB the bottieshis it o~ericentcl tor~e~o ~retice Leter tae l nl-s assi~tod i1 1~- 1Iog the tor lc middot re s for th e lestroycrs

Dur inC tJ Te(k er(ing 1ril 15th tho Squc rLW iC( t~o returl trip to Koy ~est Iii th no st ct CienfueGDs

RtDIO TIS

bile at Ci()luCllQS a rO lio test os rcce i th 0 plnne I n tle T7oter usi~ e kite oltenr cnc Koy -iest CS cClUnishyertee ith r tiatclce of 165 rilos The inl~ riven Ge~orshyokr una plccod in tho slip strea~ of Cbull bullpropeller iliL the i)lane t~xie( on the -ter bull

t fliGht fraU Key Icst te Huton Races cs ucde i thout incident ~y the F-5-L flying beets lth the exce~tlGn of one plene 3790 ~hich h~l its hull ltku-God at FerJCncUn- Fla ~n~ U~3 Intor trken ~bo~r~ the S~IrnIPER Lt Key est nh1le tteptillG te kko off th IIC-IO sucko-] its bOtt0rshycut cre boc~re a cCnletc nreck The cllGinos ~r other 17eithts ~ore rocovcd free tho =ecked r-lono -nd she t~s hoista~ Jut of the t7ctor -nj illncod on the feroecstlo middotof the RIGHT Uon rrrivnl ct H middotn)ton Rorr2s tho gt10n05 ucroturnod in t() the Unvol Air Sktion for cJr~lcte ()~erhrul Nell ~lnes oro issued to replece those turned in

REVISION OF ORCmUTIOn

On June 17 1922 th~ Chicf fl1c~l Or()rnti~middotM issued a revislon of the CmiddotrB~niwti()n ef 1I~1 lvietion This reshyVision chrnGed the nrne8 of tho Ur Squccr(nB tlrntie Fleot (nlt1 Pacific Fleot to Aircraft Squc(~r-ns Scuting Floet nltl 1rcratt Squadroll8 Pacific Fleet respectively In addishytion to the change in titles there res also changes in the composit~on of the tro organizations The names of the middot Squadshy

-40-

- ----~- ~

of all un1ts Consldorablo minor troublo uas oiperlo~oodbT many of the planes ln tho tr-1p south duo probably to on iIllllCturo orscnlzatlon and no17 lIIIl tor1al ono plano YmS dos-middot middot troyod by firo at Bclboo t~o t70rO dol1vofcd to tho Alr sta- I

t cn at Coco Solo by orders of tho BUroau of Aoronnutlos and six to Ponsncoln tho romalnlng planas rellching bpton Reeds on schodule The passago north uos romcrkobly tast and froo trotl cosUtllt10s

On May tho 4th 1923 Commcndor LR middot Loehy U~S~N roshy110ved Captnln WR Ghorcrdl as Co~ndlDG Offloor USS IffiIGffi rihoreupon Captain Ghorardl 8 dutios bocotlo oxclusiteq those of Commandor Aircraft SQuodrons US SooutiDs Ploet

~ORPEDO ~ic~H~irxON ~Hi On Soptom~dr 26th spociel torpodo prnotloa flOS carrled

Cut ogcinst throo bctt~oshlps ot the SC (l utlne lPloet lICnshyouvor1ns cbout o1Ght t11lcs cost of Crpo Henry Eightoen plcnes rlGSvcl 11th torpedoes lJere -used --U1 thls middotatteck All plnnos toro succossful in rcaohlDb tho tcrgotjseventoen torpodoos nero launched one rclccso ta1l1ns middotto funotlon bull All torpedoos modo 100 por cont runs and orossed tho 1100 bull shy

nIGH TO KE WEST FLORIDA

On Jaluory 9th tho Squadron conslst1D of sixteon P1-2 and tt70 PT-l planos lett Hcapton Roods Ve O~-Q oruise to Koy West Flo Sootion dlvision end squadron middottorcntion flyine lOS cerried Cut onrouto At Koy Wost Flo johe 3qua(1ron brso- t the Uavy Yard and hDuled the plrnc8-o~ on thEi A1r Stnt10n opron

EtrMENTARY TORPEDO PRACTICE

On the nrr1Vtl r t Key Host Fla tho Squadron immedshylctely co~encod proprrct1ons tor elomentary torpedo pract10e No1 Proct1co torpodo runs and dumtly drops noro Clado and on Fabruary 6th th~ prect1ce roas rccocmoncod All DrTOl avlators and navel av1at10n pllots ~ttcohod to tho Squadroncerr1ed fut thls proctloe ln aooordanoo uith tho Orders tor Gunnory Exorolsos 1922-23 Tho ~orpodoes t7E1ro droppod obout elsht t11los south of Key Woat Tho proctloe VQS eotlplotod on Fobrunry 18th

On Maroh 17th olotlantary tOJpodo practloo No 2 flasmiddotmiddot cl)Iaencod Th1s prectioo fl8S carr10d out sltl1lnr to praotloe 0 1 oxoopt that tirlne YmS by seot10ns The torpedoes ron noll and all ~erc rocovered at tho ond of th~ run Th1s prnct1co iOS cOllplotod on Keroh 22nd

sPEcIAL FLIGHTbull -DT-2 WPiANB ~-

1 DT-2 t17in pontoon saaplane tho tYPo tlhich _voll intended ~ ~ t r - -

~5- ~ -

SIXTH YEARS OPERATIONS - 1924

Advanoe Base ExerGieee at CUlebramiddot

On January 10 1924 Scouting Squadron ONE consisting of 12 F-5-Ls 2 H-16 1 s and 1 PN- Lieutenant Commander JC Montfort commanding and Torpedo and Bombing Squadron ONE 18 P-T-P1s Lieutenant Commander PaUl Cassard commandshylng left Hampton Roads for CUlebra P R to partiCipate in the Fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean Stops were made at Lookout Bight Charleston Fernandina Miami Key West Mariel Cienfuegos Media Luna Key GuantanalllO St Louis Bay and Mayaguez w1th WRIGHT BAJIDPIPERmiddotahd TEAL act1ng as tenders shy

The planes arr1ved at CUlebra on the 29th and 30th of January and remained there unt11 April 1st They pnrticshy1pated 1n the defense of the Island with the Mar1ne Expedshyit1ona~y Force against the Fleet and carr1ed out bombing comounicat1ons and scouting exerc1ses and experlme~taL work in dropping flares md torpedo recover nnd other ut11ityservices for the Fleet

Leave wnS granted to off1cers andmRn to take passage in WRIGHT and SA~1DPIPER for a Visit to S int Luc1a nnd 1n TEAL to Fort de France Martinique Allplanes remaining at CUlebrn except the middotPN-

The Squadrons departed from CUlebrn for GuantanDlllO on Apr11 1st ~nd after completing middotbomb1ng exerc1ses nt Gunnshytannmo dep~rted on 21 April for Hampton Roads nrr1vins there on lay 1st and 2nd

Durinpoundgt llay and June the plnnes underwent overhaUl at H~mp0n Roads N- go1ng to the A1rcraft Flctory and four F-5-middotLs nddisted Destroyer Squadron FOURTEEN in Torpedo p~ctioe off the Virginia Capes

CAPTAIN YARNELL RELIEVES CAPTAIN GHERARDI

On 27 June Captain HE Yarnell USN relieved CaptnlnWR Gherardi USN as Commander Aircraft SquadronsScouting Fleet nt Hampton Roads Va

Summer Operations in Narragansettmiddot BAY and Nantucket Area

Scouting SquadronONE and Torpedo and Bomb1ng Squadron One spent JUly and August 1n Narrngansett Bay Rnd Nantucket ope~nting w1th the Fleet and carry1ng out scouting exerc1ses and simUlating bomb1ng and torpedo atttoks Returp1ng to Hampton Ronds early in September the squadron oarried out gunnery and bomb1ng sxerc1ses towsdanti-airoraft targets

-48-

for the 11ght cruisers and observed gun pract1ce for the ARKANSAS WYOMING UlAH and TEXAS and acted as recovery de- tchment for torpedo firing by the Scouting Flest otf the VIrgin1n Cnpes

BOlmING EXPERIMENTS AGAINST USB WASHINGTON

Dur1ng November otf Hampton Ronds Torpedo and Bombing Squndron ONE partic1pated in the experimental bomb1ng ot the USS WASHINGTON one of the new battleships nearly completed which was to be scrapped under the terms of the WaShington Trenty

Upon completion of these exercises all planes of both Squadrons were preJX1led for shipment on bonrd the 1IRIGHT and JASON to tnke part 1n the forth coming operatlons ot the Fleet in the Hawaiian nren

The WRIGHT served as tender and flagShip throughout the ~E~r Her c11uge steamed during the iecol ~enr ending Juno 3-) 1924 Wos 8345 miles bull

PREFACE

HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT

The development of the naval patrol planes started ~ith the World War ~hen the HS - H16 and F-5-L flying boata ~cro developed and employed on coastal patrol The patrol plene of the War carried out its dual functions ef a heavy bomber hen it nas used against submarines and ene~y land bases

The yoars 1918 and 1919 brought the development of our first long range patrol boats the IIC type Six planes of thi s type nere built and four formed tro units of the Fleot Air Detechoent in 1921

The period 1919 to 1925 17a~ primarily a period of development of observation planes During this poriod the patrol plano sq~adrons consistod of cartime HJ - Hl6 and F-5-L flyinG boats Flights 7Cre rl8de by the planes attached to the Atlantic Fleat to Guantanama Bay and PanOmD Th~ patrol planes attached to the Pacific Fleet fle~ from San Diego to Panama The patrol planes of this period had a cruising speed of fifty-five knots and a cruising radius of about nine hours giving a naximum range of approximately 450 miles

The period 192~ - 1925 brought forth the first devshyelop~ent in our flying boots since the rar with the exshyception of the so called Giant boot rhich nos not comshypleted During this period to PN-7s uith ~ooden hulls ere placed in service The hulls Dere similar t o the F-5-L but the Dings nore shorter and had a single bay The engineB nere 525 horsepo~ler

The 1925 - 1923 period brought the developIilCnt of the P~l 9-10-11 and 12 a ll minor lilodifieations of th_ PN-7 -i th the different types of engines

~ he p-riod 1928 - 1931 brollbht the deve loprlent of a squadron of PD~ PKs PMls and Plf-2G ell of 11hich ere roetol versions of the F-5-L The XPY tlas dovelopeddurinc this period

The period 1932 - 1935 brought out the devel opment of our first ne-- t rpc of petrol boats the PHs P2Ys a nd XP2H s

The follo 7 ing tlble gives f sllllll1lCry of the charectershyisties of pe trol planes from 1919 to 1935

-Ishy

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


i917-25 F-5-L 2 Liberty 4~ 56 450 8 30 cal



192529 PN-12 2 Wright 525 80 1600 2 1000 lbbm







PAST OprnATIONS






-II-



















CHAPTER III


THE VIRGINIA CAPES

1921


Sinking of U-117





















BOMBING OF U-117



I

-


SEARCH FOR THE IOWA



-27shy

I f_shy








----------------______I







-29shy























-33shy






bull -34shy


CHAPTER IV













CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-






- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


i917-25 F-5-L 2 Liberty 4~ 56 450 8 30 cal



192529 PN-12 2 Wright 525 80 1600 2 1000 lbbm







PAST OprnATIONS






-II-



















CHAPTER III


THE VIRGINIA CAPES

1921


Sinking of U-117





















BOMBING OF U-117



I

-


SEARCH FOR THE IOWA



-27shy

I f_shy








----------------______I







-29shy























-33shy






bull -34shy


CHAPTER IV













CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-
























CHAPTER III


THE VIRGINIA CAPES

1921


Sinking of U-117





















BOMBING OF U-117



I

-


SEARCH FOR THE IOWA



-27shy

I f_shy








----------------______I







-29shy























-33shy






bull -34shy


CHAPTER IV













CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-























BOMBING OF U-117



I

-


SEARCH FOR THE IOWA



-27shy

I f_shy








----------------______I







-29shy























-33shy






bull -34shy


CHAPTER IV













CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-






I f_shy








----------------______I







-29shy























-33shy






bull -34shy


CHAPTER IV













CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-






----------------______I







-29shy























-33shy






bull -34shy


CHAPTER IV













CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-




























-33shy






bull -34shy


CHAPTER IV













CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-











bull -34shy


CHAPTER IV













CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-







CHAPTER IV













CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-


















CASUALTIES




CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-






CHAPTER V












AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-
















AT UNGLEY FIELD





At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-









At Areu ie Floride



~t Uitchell Field


sshy




bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-









bull

CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-






CUfulli FLIGHT




RtDIO TIS





-40-

- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-






- ----~- ~













~5- ~ -












-48-

















-48-






a brief history fleet patrol plane squadrons › hyperwar › nhc › newpdfs › usn... · preface...

Documents