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4. The French Coastal Unit
- University Press of Florida
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4 The French Coastal Unit Between the time the tiny First Aeronautic Detachment reached Europe in June 1917 and the Armistice 17 months later, the Navy created a far-flung system of patrol stations on the French coast designed to shield American troop and supply convoys from German U-boats. In many circles this ranked as the most critical challenge facing the United States. Sixteen installations were planned, including eight seaplane stations, four dirigible bases, and three kite balloon facilities covering most of the coast from Tréguier on the northern coast of Brittany to Arcachon and Gujan on the southern shore of the Bay of Biscay. Americans also built a flying school at Moutchic-Lacanau and an enormous supply, assembly, and repair base at Pauillac. The Navy carried out the enormous task virtually from scratch, at inaccessible sites, hindered by inhospitable terrain, inclement weather, labor scarcity, and crippling shortages of tools and construction materials. Nonetheless, by war’s end the majority of stations had actively executed their missions. From the first complement of seven officers and 122 enlisted men, the coastal force ultimately grew to more than 850 officers and 6,174 bluejackets.1 Kenneth Whiting, who conducted extensive negotiations with civilian and military officials and carried out extended fact-finding tours, established the basic outlines of the Navy effort. After lengthy review, the Department approved his recommendations in August and September 1917, and by the end of the summer work had begun at several sites, including Moutchic, Dunkirk, and Le Croisic. Hutch Cone’s arrival in late September and the centralization of command led to further definition of objectives, and by early winter the full parameters of the program were set.2 Success of the stations rested entirely on securing sufficient aircraft to conduct operations. The Intelligence and Planning Division under Cdr. Henry Dinger investigated several types for possible use. At first Moutchic utilized FBA training machines, Dunkirk and Ile Tudy flew Hanriot-Duponts and Donnet-Denauts, while Le Croisic employed Telliers. In April 1918 the French government announced that production of Telliers and DDs would cease and offered Levy-LePen aircraft with 82 Stalking the U-Boat 300 hp Renault motors in their place. The Navy accepted this proffer for NAS St. Trojan and received eight in June. Le Croisic served as clearing-out station for all French machines. Dunkirk utilized Allied equipment until the end of the war. Later in the year U.S.-manufactured aircraft began arriving; HS-1Ls assembled at Pauillac and Brest went to Fromentine, St. Trojan, Moutchic, Arcachon, Ile Tudy, L’Aber Vrach, and Tréguier. During the winter of 1918 the flow of personnel to Europe began to surge, and the 1,200 enlisted men present January 1 jumped to 4,300 by March 1, along with 257 officers. That same month the Navy issued a revised, comprehensive plan for establishing, manning, and supplying its network of bases. With the exception of Rochefort dirigible station, this program remained in effect for the remainder of the war. Priorities for the next several months included accelerating construction, commencing combat operations wherever possible, speeding the flow of men and equipment, formalizing the anticipated program for 1919, and transforming and relocating the command structure. By summer, however, most bases in France had still received just a fraction of their allotted flying personnel and aircraft, and a few stations had none. Le Croisic possessed 8 aircraft, Dunkirk 12, St. Trojan 9, with much of that a mishmash of inadequate French machines. Three stations—Dunkirk, Ile Tudy, and Le Croisic—carried out active patrols.3 During the same period, headquarters conducted extensive discussions to finalize the 1919 program, reaching their conclusions in early July. A total of 16 patrol bases would operate in England, Ireland, France, and Italy, all to be equipped with American-manufactured flying boats, except Dunkirk and Porto Corsini in Italy. Coastal stations at Brest, Fromentine, and Arcachon would fly H-16s, while L’Aber Vrach, Ile Tudy, Le Croisic, St. Trojan, and Tréguier would operate HS-1Ls. Stations supporting 18 patrol craft would be staffed with 54 officers and 327 to 394 enlisted men. Those allotted 24 aircraft would count 66 officers and 366 to 498 men, in all cases with 2 pilots per plane. Combined allotments for dirigible stations totaled 12 airships, 24 pilots, and 975 enlisted men, along with 3 kite balloon stations operating 18 balloons, with 36 pilots, and 324 enlisted men. The booming assembly and repair facility at...