U.S. Naval Air Station Whiddy Island Ireland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
NAS Whiddy Island
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WW1 US NAS Whiddy Island Ireland
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| Summary | |
| Airport type | Military |
| Owner | Admiralty |
| Operator | United States Navy |
| Location | Whiddy Island, Bantry Bay, County Cork, Ireland |
| Built | 1918 |
| In use | 1918-1919 |
| Elevation AMSL | 3 ft 3 in ft / 1 m |
| Coordinates | 51°41′54″N 009°28′51″W / 51.69833°N 9.48083°W |
| Map | |
 NAS Whiddy Island
Location in Ireland
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The U.S. Naval Air Station Whiddy Island was a special base for the United States Navy. It was built during the final year of World War I and officially opened on July 4, 1918.
This air station was located on Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay, County Cork, Ireland. People also called it Bantry Bay Station. Its main job was to help fight against enemy submarines using special planes called Curtiss H-16 seaplanes.
Contents
Building the Base: A Wartime Need
When the United States joined World War I, they needed places to help their allies. Five locations in Ireland were chosen for US Navy bases. These included Queenstown, Wexford, Lough Foyle, Whiddy Island, and Berehaven.
The goal was to support the fight against enemy submarines. These submarines were a big threat to ships carrying supplies and soldiers.
Daily Life and Operations
The Whiddy Island station was set up on the eastern side of the island. From here, planes would fly patrols over the waters southwest of Ireland. They also helped protect groups of ships called convoys.
The base had five Curtiss Model H planes in 1918. These planes were "pusher" aircraft. This means their engine and propeller were behind the pilot, pushing the plane forward.
The H-16 Large America seaplanes were well-equipped. They had four Lewis machine guns for defense. They could also carry four 230-pound bombs. Each plane needed a crew of five people: a pilot, two observers, a mechanic, and a wireless operator.
A Sad Accident
On October 22, 1918, one of the aircrews had an accident. Their plane crashed, and Walford A. Anderson, a member of the US Naval Reserve Force, sadly died.
Closing the Base
The base was only active during wartime for about seven weeks. However, patrols continued for several months even after the war ended. The armistice, which stopped the fighting, happened in November 1918.
Finally, the U.S. Naval Air Station Whiddy Island officially closed on January 29, 1919.
See also
