So spake LCdr. W. Atlee Edwards, former aid for aviation on the staff of Admiral W. S. Sims, testifying before the Lampert Committee in 1925. http://warandgame.wordpress.com/2007/10/06/the-war-against-the-u-boat-wwi/ Ens. John F. McNamara, flying out of RNAS PORTLAND, England, made the first attack on a German U-boat by a U.S. Naval Aviator. His attack, although successful enough to warrant the commendation of Admiral Sims, was later evaluated as “possibly damaged. http://www.history.navy.mil/download/ww1-08.pdf The aerodrome at Chickerell first opened in 1918 as RNAS Portland for use by aircraft operating anti-U-boat patrols .There was one grass runway and one hangar.Some US Navy pilots were sent to RNAS Portland for training. One notable event occurred on March 25th 1918 when US Navy pilot Ensign John F. McNamara, flying out of RNAS Portland,made the first attack on an enemy submarine by a U.S. Naval Aviator. For his attack, reported by Admiral Sims as "apparently successful," Ensign McNamara was commended by the Secretary of the(US) Navy for his "valiant and earnest efforts on this particular occasion." Its use by the Navy was short-lived, ,the military units being disbanded very early in 1919. The beginning of Portlands association with Naval Aviation was in 1916, when on the 26th September,a Royal Naval Air Station was established in the marshy area known as the Mere on the west side of Portland Harbour. Named HMS Serepta, the station was used by floatplanes (ie; a water aerodrome). Initially four Short Floatplanes were based there,followed in 1918 by a larger unit with 12 aircraft. Operational flights were made not only by Royal Navy pilots but also by U S Naval personnel ... The US NAVY Records Office has the following dated 25th March 1918 ..... "Ensign John F. McNamara, flying out of RNAS Portland, England, made the first attack on an enemy submarine by a U.S. Naval Aviator. For his attack, reported by Admiral Sims as "apparently successful," Ensign McNamara was commended by the Secretary of the Navy for his "valiant and earnest efforts on this particular occasion." Following the Armistice in November 1918 the aircraft left and there were no permanent units based until just before the start of WW2 . In September 1939 a Squadron of Swordfish floatplanes arrived and stayed for 10 months.From that time, once again there were no permanent units based until 1946, when the first helicopters appeared in the shape of Sikorsky R-4Bs operating from the slipway at the Naval Base.
This man was a brave man himself ! Medal of Honor citation of Lieutenant Commander Walter Atlee Edwards as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 130 http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-e/wa-edwds.htm http://spg.navymemorial.org/individual.aspx?&navy_log_id=781083
An Interview with Owen J. McNamara http://testofwings.com/index.cfm?task=interview McNamara, John F. Ensign, U.S. Navy (Reserve Forces) Aviator, U.S. Naval Aviation Forces Date Of Action: World War I Citation - The Navy Cross is awarded to Ensign John F. McNamara, U.S. Navy (Reserve Forces), for distinguished and heroic service as a member of the U. S. Naval Aviation Forces, foreign service, engaged in patrolling the waters of the war zone, escorting and protecting troop and cargo ships, and operating against enemy submarines. http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/02_NX/citations/01_wwi-nc/nc_02_WW1_Navy-AVN.html
