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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to the Office of Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

Chronological Copy.                          File No. <4-4-5>

Cablegram Received <September 20, 1918.> Y-12

Origin    Opnav Washington                   Ser. No. 1864

M-1  Sept 21

B

Simsadus

     1864 Your 31551 Shipment to the United States of one North Sea type airship complete with power plant and spares is requested. In order that American personnel trained in England may be available to erect and operate this ship, it is recommended that 2 pilots well qualified in airship construction work receive further instruction in the rigging and operation of the North Sea type airship, and that about 6 petty officers be assigned to duty where N.S. type ships are being constructed and in operation, in order to become familiar with every detail of rigging and installation of power plant. Information is requested when an Italian airship of thelatest type M design and a French airship of the latest Grelais Meildon Ilden type could be shipped to the U.S. complete with power plant and spares, together with a sufficient crew of experts to erect them and give instruction to American pilots. 18020  1864

Benson             

3155 is R/T of Brest 4892

N.B. Page 1 “GRE” a two letter garble

Time sent  4:55 AM Sept 21, 1918

Time recd 12:25 PM Sept 21, 1918

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date notation at the end of the cable.

Footnote 1: This cable has not been found. For more information, see: Sims to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 24 February 1918.

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