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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain Richard H. Jackson, United States Staff Representative in Paris, to Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

IL 8350

<Cablegram,   October 29, 1918.>

From:     Paris Naval Staff Representative

To:       Opnav Washington

          8350 Referring to recent dispatches relative to disposition Northern bomb group. Arrange transfer seaplane station from Dunkirk to Zeebrug<g>ee supported by available squadron land machines such support not to exceed four squadrons day and night bomber authorized investigate immediate possibility bomb operation in Adriatic Sea against Naval objectives using seaplanes supported by day land machine squad protecting seaplane stations against enemy airplanes. Total number land squadron for above operations not to exceed those authorized.1 18328 8350

Sims                   

1123pm             10-29-18

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is confirmed by the notation below the signature.

Footnote 1: For more on basing the Northern bomb group, see: David C. Hanrahan to Roger J. B. Keyes, 30 October 1918. According to Hanrahan, the idea to base the group at Zeebrugge originated with Adm. William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations. For more on plans to create a Southern Bombing Group, see Rossano, Striking the Hornet’s Nest, 206-7. Rossano notes that both the Southern Bombing Group plan and expansion of Northern Bombing Group operations shared an “aggressive, offensive spirit that defined presidential and naval aspirations, if not activity, during the war.” Ibid., 207-8.

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