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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 Vice Admiral Henry B. Wilson, Commander, United States Naval Forces Based in France

25 November, 1918

Comfran-Brest

   S-1

Following refers to Aviation See my 9399, 9444 and 9952.1 Send to United States or transfer to units other than Aviation in your command as may be desirable all such aviation officer and enlisted personnel as can be spared retaining only such as are necessary to demobilize and close stations. Do not send any personnel attached to the Supply or Medical corps as they are still needed in forces in Europe. Also do not send any legal personnel mentioned my 9817.2 One exception to the foregoing is the station at Paimboeuf which will be retained in full commission for experimental work until further orders .3

SIMS

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

Footnote 1: For “9962,” see: Sims to Henry B. Wilson, 22 November 1918. The others have not been found.

Footnote 2: On the retention of legal personnel, see: Nathan C. Twining to William S. Benson, 29 November 1918.

Footnote 3: On this date, a similar message was sent to the commander of the American detachment at Queenstown to close the station and send all personnel home, save those in the Supply and Medical corps; DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Also on 25 November, Sims sent a query to Benson asking if the British should be allowed to keep the roughly 550 Liberty engines sent to them. Sims added that the British would “probably” need them for their “commercial aerial transportation.” Ibid.

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