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U.S. Naval Air Station Wexford was a seaplane station at Ferrybank, Wexford, Ireland which was operated by the United States Navy (USN) from February 1918–1919. 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 station received the first aircraft on 18 September 1918 and commenced patrols;〔Tillotson, C.B., (1919) U.S. Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland 1 January 1919, History of US Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland, United States Navy.〕 its first engagement against a U-boat was on 11 October 1918, the day after the sinking of RMS ''Leinster''. Operations stopped with the Armistice in November and the base closed the following February. == History == At the start of United States of America's involvement in the First World War five sites in Ireland and two in England〔Queenstown, Wexford, Lough Foyle, Whiddy Island, Berehaven, Killingholme and Eastleigh〕 were identified to be operated by the United States Navy in support of British operations against enemy submarines. Wexford was chosen to cover the sector east of US Naval Air Station Whiddy Island (Bantry Bay Station) and US Naval Air Station Queenstown which was also the HQ for operations〔Sitz, W H (Technical Note No. 18 History of U.S. Naval Aviation ), United States Navy Department Bureau of Aeronautics. 1930 p27〕 The construction of Naval Air Station Wexford started in March 1918 under the supervision of USN civil engineers.〔 On 25 February 1918, USN Radio Officer Charles A. Rogers arrived in Wexford with 8 USN men. The Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Victor D. Herbster reported on station on 28 March 1918. Small drafts of USN men arrived from NAS Queenstown until there were 232 men and 13 officers on station on 1 July 1918. By 1 August 1918, there were 15 officers and 298 men. By the end of October 1918, there were 20 officers and 406 men.〔Gaul, L., (2013) Wexford The American Connection, Wexford: Wexford Borough Council p 20.〕 〔Tillotson, C.B., (1919) U.S. Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland 1 January 1919, History of US Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland, United States Navy.〕The location of the station was strategically critical: it lay directly at the southern entrance of the Irish Sea, within twelve miles of Tuskar Lighthouse. For over four years Tuskar Rock was one of the most important navigational marks in Irish waters; the area became known as the graveyard of ships, due to the many sinkings by enemy submarines within three or four miles and in plain view of lighthouse. A great deal of Allied shipping to and from the United Kingdom had to pass through nearby waters. Enemy submarines also used the Irish Sea as a short cut to and from their bases, and it was a fertile field for their operations; thus the Wexford area was a very busy with ASW activity, both offensive and defensive. Before the flying boats from this station began operations, submarines were exceptionally bold within the patrol area of Wexford. The naval air station was located along the Slaney river across from Wexford town;〔(History of Town ) Wexford Borough Council〕 it was well protected from wind, waves and weather due to the almost land-locked harbor. It is also easily accessible for transportation and shipping. 〔Tillotson, C.B., (1919) U.S. Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland 1 January 1919, History of US Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland, United States Navy.〕There had been some work performed by British Admiralty before the US Forces arrived at Wexford; part of the concrete hangar foundations had been laid, the roads were marked off and a portion of them excavated to receive the rock base. Contracted civilian labor had also done some work in draining the field behind the site of the hangars. But at that time, it was not certain that a Naval Air Station would ever be built. The US naval men spent their first week in a general cleaning up and renovating the Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ), titled the Ely House and Bann Aboo while including the surrounding grounds. Both BOQ's were formerly mansions. It was a little odd to see American sailors doing housework in time of war, and in Ireland. No unnecessary work was done, however, and quickly the grounds were staked out, holes dug, posts set and building begun. 〔Tillotson, C.B., (1919) U.S. Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland 1 January 1919, History of US Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland, United States Navy.〕The US Naval Airmen encountered problems as supplies and insufficient clothing (coats and rubber boots) had not yet arrived. It rained incessantly, and the site was a field of mud. Working hours were from 5 am to 9 pm, and all hands took turns at standing night watches. Makeshift beds were laid on cold and damp wooden floors. Many times the men went with insufficient sleep and started the new day's work feeling worse for what rest they did have. 〔Tillotson, C.B., (1919) U.S. Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland 1 January 1919, History of US Naval Air Station Wexford, Ireland, United States Navy.〕Tentative plans for the station were made before 15 March 1918, but when Commanding Officer Herbster arrived on 28 March 1918, many changes were made. The whole station was planned for maximum centralization; each building to be near the work to be performed and yet concentrated as far as possible into the minimum space. At the time the barracks were being erected at the rate of little better than one a day. In the meantime, civilian contract labor was working on the road construction, the concrete hangar foundations, aprons and slipway, the drainage systems, reservoir and reserve water tanks. They were also erecting the first hangar. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「United States Naval Air Station Wexford」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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