WWI American Airbase in Cork

Paul91

Hi All, new to this area, I was interested to find that a American Airbase was situated in Cork, near Whitegate/Lower Aghada (Midleton) - i believe this was for flying boats - does anyone have any info on it (I live nearby and would love to know more)

Also, where there any other "Allied" basis set up in Ireland during the war?

FiSe

Baldonnel, Phoenix Park, Gormanston, Fermoy were used by the RFC or RAF.

Here, link to another similar topic:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055654477

V Bull

Also, for those that might be interested, there was an airfield in Tallaght, Dublin. Just off the Belgard Road, near the entrance to Burger King or there abouts, used by the RFC, pre Baldonnell days. I beleive that there were a good few accidents caused by the wind coming down from Kilinarden Mountain (Hill), might have been wind-sheer perhaps. Possibly the reason for moving to Baldonnel?

Morlar

V Bull wrote: »

Also, for those that might be interested, there was an airfield in Tallaght, Dublin. Just off the Belgard Road, near the entrance to Burger King or there abouts, used by the RFC, pre Baldonnell days. I beleive that there were a good few accidents caused by the wind coming down from Kilinarden Mountain (Hill), might have been wind-sheer perhaps. Possibly the reason for moving to Baldonnel?

Could I ask where you heard that ?

**Apparently there was indeed ! Just found this site here selling luftwaffe pictures of the Tallaght Airfield (as well as the Baldonnel one)

http://www.nigelclarkepublications.co.uk/Luftwaffe_photos.html

There is also a mention here ;

http://www.military.ie/aircorps/history/index.htm

diverdriver

I refer you all to an obscure publication: 'A history of the Royal Air Force and the United States Naval Air Service in Ireland 1913-1923' by Karl E Hayes of the Irish Air Letter published in 1988.

Tallaght indeed had an RAF base, I lived nearby and on publication of the book had a look around. There were still some very obvious RAF looking buildings incorporated into the industrial estate at the time. Indeed part of the old station morgue was in use as a security hut. I wonder if the security guards were aware of that. It might have discomfitted them in the wee small hours.:D They may indeed still be there but I doubt it. I think most of the reason it was never used again as an airfield was simply it's closeness to Baldonnel but the turbulence from the nearby hills was also a factor. It was also smaller. Remember too that Collinstown was ignored. The Air Service as was, hardly need three bases in Dublin.

Interestingly a WW1 aircraft bomb was found in the yard of the Tallaght fire station back in the 90s. Probably having fallen or jettisoned from one aircraft on the way back to Tallaght.

Also American airmen were based and trained there during the war, also in Gormanston, Collinstown and Baldonnel.

As for the US Navy, they had bases in Whiddy Island, Queenstown, Wexford and Lough Foyle. Also the Royal Navy had anti submarine airship stations at Wexford, Cork, Malahide Castle, Larne and Donegal.

It's a fascinating period in Irish aviation not generally covered.

Karl E Hayes is still around. Maybe he still has a few copies or maybe it could be republished. There could be a bigger demand this time round.

gizmo555

Paul91 wrote: »

Hi All, new to this area, I was interested to find that a American Airbase was situated in Cork, near Whitegate/Lower Aghada (Midleton) - i believe this was for flying boats - does anyone have any info on it (I live nearby and would love to know more)

Check this out:

http://www.thebantrygrapevine.com/index.php/latest-issue-mainmenu-2/140-us-airbase-on-whiddy-island?format=pdf

johnny_doyle

the Irish Times digital archive is free again until the 13th December. Saw a few references to the aerodrome at Tallaght and references to 149 Squadron being based there near the end of the war.

Would never have known that there was ever an aerodrome at Tallaght or a US base at Whiddy Island. Continually surprised by the range of material this forum roots out. Excellent.

FiSe

Another bit of information:

http://books.google.ie/books?id=13Y15VLx-zYC&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=US+Navy+air+base,+Ireland&source=bl&ots=iYDoEU_2gg&sig=bWQoKByBX0xJrMYDL7Z-LrmvyG4&hl=en&ei=dMMXS4XsMtSG4QaIm5j5Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=14&ved=0CDkQ6AEwDQ#

arnhem44

I've a good few photos found on the net of the ships and submarines at anchor in Cobh,Bangor and Castletownbere(Berehaven),will post them up once I have this new laptop sorted out.There seems to be a lot of activity around Ireland largely forgotten about to a certain extent,fishing trawlers been attacked,fish stocks been taken by rail from Baltimore(West Cork) for the war effort and so on

goldie fish

Paul91 wrote: »

Hi All, new to this area, I was interested to find that a American Airbase was situated in Cork, near Whitegate/Lower Aghada (Midleton) - i believe this was for flying boats - does anyone have any info on it (I live nearby and would love to know more)

Also, where there any other "Allied" basis set up in Ireland during the war?

The Flying Boat airbase(which operated Curtiss Flying Boats during WW1) is located in Aghada, not far from the tennis club., You can still see where the nissin huts used to be.

51.8412N, 8.2228W

There is a huge expanse of water here, ideal for flying boats. Oddly when the Yanks left, the RN/RAF never continued operating here, even though the Port remained under their control until 1938. The RE and RA remained nearby at whitegate though.

FiSe

goldie fish wrote: »

The Flying Boat airbase(which operated Curtiss Flying Boats during WW1) is located in Aghada, not far from the tennis club., You can still see where the nissin huts used to be.

51.8412N, 8.2228W

There is a huge expanse of water here, ideal for flying boats. Oddly when the Yanks left, the RN/RAF never continued operating here, even though the Port remained under their control until 1938. The RE and RA remained nearby at whitegate though.

Thanks for the coordinates. Clearly visible on Google Earth.

It was used as an anti-submarine air patrol base. And as such there was no use of the base for the RAF in the post war years.

arnhem44

A little off topic but can anyone confirm an airstrip with WW1 era hangers at Fermoy in Cork.

goldie fish

arnhem44 wrote: »

A little off topic but can anyone confirm an airstrip with WW1 era hangers at Fermoy in Cork.

Confirm what about it? The airstrip was recently converted into a car dealership/industrial estate. The Hangars were used by the 1st Cavalry Squadron as garages prior to their move to collins barracks. All that is left on that site now is a sole Dept of Defence building, and a Church.
52.149413,-8.281893
The airstrip, grass, went from east to west, just south of the hangars, which were located just north of the copse of trees.

Interestingly, when the ww1 film "the blue max" was filmed in the late 50s, instead of using the aerodrome, the Air Corps who flew taildraggers used a field at 52.127173,-8.23396

arnhem44

Just to confirm that an airbase exisited there,I didn't know that one was there until I heard a uncertain mention about it lately. Thanks for the info about it.

FiSe

There's a photograph of the hangars in Joe Maxwell's book 'IAC Illustrated Guide'. I think that they were torn down in the early 90's /?/

johnny_doyle

just picked up a copy of "A View from Above" (200 years of aviation in Ireland) by Donal MacCarron from the bookshop at the museum at Collin's Barracks. This followed from a recommendation from my father in law and a discussion where he talked about the capture of a British pilot by the IRA in Co Limerick and an incident between a plane and his father during the War of Independence.

Chapter 5 The RFC Returns
details some of the survey work carried out to establish airfields in Ireland in 1917. Photo of an RNAS airship operating out of Johnstown Castle, Wexford and mention of 3000 American personnel operating flying boats and kite balloons from stations in Wexford, Cork Harbour, Bantry Bay and Lough Foyle. Mention of a gale in the month before the Armistice destroying a number of BE2s, DH6s, DH9s and RE8s.

Chapter 6 RAF versus IRA
No 2 Sqn reformed at Oranmore Galway with detachments sent to Fermoy and Castlebar. 100 Sqn reformed at Baldonnel. No 4 Sqn stationed at Aldergrove. Info re aircraft used to transport senior personnel (e.g. Crozier), mail and supplies.

Nice book and well worth a read. Includes info the the previously mentioned "Blue Max"

Second book picked up was "Fighting for Dublin 1919-1921" by William Sheehan with British documentation re their attempts to police Dublin and surrounds. Has an appendix "Employment of Aeroplanes in Dublin District" giving outline of how planes were to be used in the area. Lists :

1. Escorts to convoys
2. Reconnaissance Duties
3. Raids
4. Attack and defence with machine guns

RadioRetro

Just stumbled on this thread. I have large photos of pages from a book printed by the US Navy when they left the Wexford base in late 1918 commemorating their time in the town.

The only part of the base surviving and available for viewing is their slipway (GE 52.204809N, 6.272234W). The car dealer's to the right, btw, was originally built on their apron but has since been resurfaced several times. The officers quarters (Ely House) is below that and is now part of a hospital (the rectangular building to the right of Ely House is a seventies wards construction).

I will be scanning the photos and will post a couple up if anyone is interested.

arnhem44

There's also a photo of the Ferrybank hangars (Wexford)on page 19 in the book British Commonwealth and International War Graves in Ireland since 1914 by Fergus A. D'Arcy

SpringerF

http://www.iol.ie/~mkeniry/ooUnitedStatesNAS.htm

I believe it's a tennis court today

cameramonkey

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=74795

anyone know where this is. looks a bit like casement but was never in fermoy so dont know.

goldie fish

cameramonkey wrote: »

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=74795

anyone know where this is. looks a bit like casement but was never in fermoy so dont know.

Its Fermoy. One of the Hangars was still standing up to recently. The Church is still there.