Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Hutchinson I. Cone, Commander, United States Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service

[Extract]

A-1                                    17 August 1918.

From:-         Force Commander

To:-           Commander, U. S. Naval Aviation Forces,

Foreign Service.

Subject:-      WEEKLY REPORT OF ACTIVITIES - Week-ending

              August, 17, 1918...

The situation with regard to training of the ten day pilots at Royal Air Force Schools, Old Sarum and Boscombe Down has been complicated. In view of the delay inevitable if we made these men wait for a course at Stonehenge, it was decided that they should merely take as much training as possible at their present schools and then proceed to Dunkirk, with the proviso that they be given plenty of formation flying there before crossing the lines. It now seems best, both according to British opinion and the opinion of the pilots themselves, that they should be sent to the Royal Air Force School, Turnberry, or some such school for two or three weeks’ course in aerial gunnery, as this important item is not satisfactorily handled at their present schools....

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Related Content