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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Bureau of Navigation to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Operations in European Waters

Action Copy.                            File No. <4-2-3>

Cablegram Received  July <24, 1918,>: 22425 MJK1

Origin    Opnav Washington (Bunav)      Ser. No 8972

Ref’d. to

Date

ACTION, NOTES and INITIALS.

A 1

July 25

<July 24, 1918>

<C-3>

<EmC>

<9>

<26/7/18>

<R/T as our 4169 to Brest C-11>2

     33 ARD         CONFIDENTIAL.

     Simsadus:

8972.     Your 1142.3 Department approves policy of reinforcing British with seaplane pilots. Dispose of reinforcement so that we can take over operation of British seaplane Stations when fully manned by us, British to supply all material until we are in position to relieve them of this obligation. In accordance with your recommendation Department will undertake to supply full complement of three British Stations of twenty four H-16’s4 each by January 1st 1919. By August 15th under present plan will be training for duty abroad fifty to seventy five flying boat pilots per week. You may allot as many pilots to the British as the need of our stations abroad permit. Fifty seaplane pilots requested for British cannot be supplied at present due to necessity for now training all our pilots in big boat flying to meet needs of own stations abroad. Cable explicit information in regard to rate and training of two thousand men requested by British.  18224 8972

BENSON        

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Handwritten date confirmed by time/date stamp. Note after close; “Return sent to [Hutchinson I.] Cone WAE [W.A. Edwards].”

Footnote 1: Initials of the transcriber.

Footnote 2: That is, retransmitted as Cable #4169 to Naval Forces in Brest.

Footnote 4: Curtiss H-16 twin engine seaplane.

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