U.S. Naval Air Station Berehaven Ireland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
NAS Berehaven
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U.S. Navy Observer disembarking from a dirigible after an anti-submarine patrol, during World War 1 at Berehaven in 1918
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| Summary | |
| Airport type | Military |
| Operator | United States Navy |
| Location | Berehaven, County Cork, Ireland |
| Built | 1918 |
| In use | 1918–1919 |
| Elevation AMSL | ft / 16 m |
| Coordinates | 51°39′00″N 9°55′00″W / 51.65000°N 9.91667°W |
| Map | |
 NAS Berehaven
Location in Ireland
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U.S. Naval Air Station Berehaven was a special base in Ireland used by the United States Navy during World War I. It was a "Lighter-than-Air" (LTA) station, which means it worked with aircraft like balloons that float. This base was specifically for kite balloons. It was located in Berehaven, County Cork, Ireland. The base officially opened on April 29, 1918, and closed less than a year later, on February 12, 1919.
Contents
The Start of the Base
When the USA joined World War I, they needed bases to help their allies. Five places in Ireland were chosen for the U.S. Navy to operate from. These included Berehaven, along with Lough Foyle, Queenstown (Cobh), Wexford, and Whiddy Island.
A naval officer named ENS Carl E. Shumway was put in charge of the Berehaven station. This happened on April 26, 1918. Just three days later, on April 29, 1918, the base was officially opened and ready for use.
What Were Kite Balloons Used For?
NAS Berehaven was set up as a kite balloon station. These balloons were meant to help destroyer ships. Destroyers are fast warships. The balloons would be used for convoy and patrol duties.
- Convoys: A convoy is a group of ships traveling together, often with warships protecting them. Kite balloons could float high above the convoy.
- Patrols: From up high, observers in the balloons could spot enemy submarines or ships from far away. This helped protect the convoys from attacks.
The base practiced balloon flights by towing them with trucks. However, Berehaven was not very close to Queenstown, where the destroyers were based. This made it hard to move the kite balloons from the base to the ships. Because of this, and because destroyers were very busy, the Berehaven station was not used as much as planned.
Equipment at the Base
NAS Berehaven was a special place where kite balloons were kept. These balloons were designed to be used with torpedo-boat destroyers. The balloons would be moved from the land base onto the destroyers. Once on the ship, they would be tied down securely. Then, they would be towed behind the ship, floating at a height of about 500 feet (150 m) (about 150 meters).
This naval station was located on a sound. A sound is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water or separates an island from the mainland. This sound was inside Bantry Bay, located near Bere Island and Castletown.
How the Base Operated
In July 1918, many of the U.S. Navy's Lighter-than-Air (LTA) staff and kite balloon gear were moved. They went from Berehaven to a base in Brest, France.
However, Berehaven later became a kite balloon station again. In late July and early August 1918, it helped support operations for a Royal Navy ship. This ship was a 24-class sloop called HMS Flying Fox. A sloop is a type of small warship.
After that, Berehaven changed its focus. From late August to mid-October, it supported balloon operations for three U.S. battleships. These were Nevada, Oklahoma, and Utah. Battleships are very large, heavily armed warships. These three battleships had been sent to Europe to protect Allied convoys. They operated from Bantry Bay, close to Berehaven.
By late October 1918, plans were being made to move all LTA operations from Berehaven to Queenstown. This move would make it easier for ships in Queenstown to get the kite balloons they needed.
Closing the Base
When World War I ended, the U.S. Naval Air Stations stopped their anti-submarine patrols in Ireland. All aircraft were grounded, meaning they were no longer flown, and their weapons were removed.
When the Armistice of 11 November 1918 was signed, which officially ended the fighting, NAS Berehaven still had 16 kite balloons. The base was the only U.S. Navy kite balloon base in the British Isles. It was officially closed down on February 12, 1919.
