$2 Florida Keys S rt rnl VOL. 9, NO. 4 SUMMER 1999 OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE KEY WEST MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY NAVAL AIR STATION, KEY WEST IN WORLD WAR ONE • • . The following is a Historical data re- port submitted on March 17, 1919 by Lieu- tenant Commander N. Mason, the Com- manding Officer NAS Key West, to the Director ofNaval Aviation. The Naval Air Station, Key West closed on June 15, 1920 and property disposed of The Naval Air would remain inactive until 1939. At the time of the entrance of the United States into the war there was but one American Naval Air Station in existence, .......... that at Pensacola. The Navy had however, for some years U.S. Naval Air Station, Key West in 1918. Photo credit: Monroe County Library. been experimenting with various types of that recent developments in tactics would nized as is proven by the fact that the post- aircraft and were in point of fact further make necessary a tremendous expansion office department has selected it as the chief advanced in their work than was the army. in the equipment and personnel of the Naval base for mail distribution to Cuba, the West It is perhaps worthy of note that at the Air Service. Indies, the Canal Zone and ultimately South outbreak of the war itself the British Royal Plans were immediately drawn which America. Hydro-aeroplanes must certainly Naval Air Service adopted an American type would enable a comprehensive program to be utilized for this work so, the port will of flying boat for patrol use and that this be put into effect as expeditiously as pos- perhaps witness an even increased aerial type with some modifications is in use today sible. Sites were selected and one after an- activity after the advent of peace. both in this country and abroad being other stations started. The station itself is built upon made land, generally accepted as the best model ob- One of the locations eventually fixed upon the property of the F.E.C.R.R.Co., and has tainable for this particular work. This fly- was at Key West, Florida, and the wisdom nearly three fourths of a mile of water front- ing boat - for it is such - is known in En- of the selection has since been apparent. age. gland as the "America" type, so-called from As regards elementary flight training, condi- The dredging-process was used for the the boat of the same name in which a trans- tions are ideal. The weather on which so fill and the result is a hard close packed atlantic flight was contemplated in 1914. much is necessarily dependent is favor- gray surface which when dry has almost Not only is the land plane a distinctly able for flying the whole year through, and the hardness of concrete. American invention but in addition this the water of the bay is so protected by the Ground was broken for-the station on country has the honor of having produced surrounding keys that it is practically never July 13th,1917, and on December 17th, 1917 the first hydro-aeroplane, Glen Curtis be- too rough for seaplane purposes. the first of the Navy personnel reported - ing responsible for its appearance. It is not For the purpose of a patrol base the situ- Stanley V. Parker Captain U. S. C. G. be- unnatural then that our ideas on this phase ation is strategic, commanding the navi- ing in command. At that time one han- of aeronautics should be accepted and types gation water from the tip of the Florida gar only had been completed the others of machines developed by us placed in the mainland to the coast of Cuba and mak- being in the course of erection, it being very front rank. ing possible a survey of vessels bound to February 8th before they were actually With the entrance of the United States and from Mexican ports and Cuba. Its into the war it became increasingly apparent pivotal position is now generally recog- (Continued on page 13) St tr, ld rp nd Spl Evnt By John Viele The Florida Keys Sea Heritage Jour- nal is published quarterly. Subscrip- President Ed Little at the Turtle Cannery Building during the open house on July tion is available through member- 24. Photo credit: John Viele. ship. Copyright 1999 by the Key May 12: John Viele, Keys historian and the wreck. A second snorkel dive was made West Maritime Historical Society author, gave a talk based on his new book, over the coral heads around Sombrero Key of the Florida Keys, Inc. The art "The Florida Keys, Vol. 2 - True Stories Lighthouse. on the masthead, the USS Shark, of the Perilous Straits." With. accompa- was drawn by Bill Muir. nying slides, Viele told the little-known July 24: In conjunction with the maritime history of the Keys and the Straits Harborwalk Fest, the Society hosted an open Editor: Lynda Hambright of Florida from the early 1500s to the end house and maritime history exhibit at the Production: Tom Hambright of the Second Seminole War in 1842. In rebuilt Turtle Cannery Building at the Key Staff: Bob Elliott, Ed Little, Bill the straits, called one of the most dangerous West Bight near the foot of Margaret Street. Muir, John Viele sea passages in the world, and along the With photographs on loan from Wright reef, thousands of men and women died Langley, the exhibit told the story of the Letters and articles are welcome. in shipwrecks, native attacks, sea battles, maritime industries that once flourished at Please write to: Editor, Florida Keys and pirate boardings. Viele related sev- the bight and contributed so much to the Sea Heritage Journal, KWMHS, eral stories from his book including the economic growth of the city. These included P.O. Box 695, Key West, FL 33041 harrowing voyage by dugout of five fishing, turtling, sponging, and shrimping. (305) 292-7903. Franciscan friars to the Keys in 1697 and The exhibit was put together largely through the valiant battle of one-armed privateer the efforts of Society president Ed Little. captain James Wimble, outnumbered four Jack King and John Viele assisted in the KEY WEST MARITIME to one, against a Spanish privateer. set up and Corey Malcom helped to wel- HISTORICAL SOCIETY come visitors. BOARD OF DIRECTORS June 26: Aboard the catamaran Spirit, twenty seven Society members journeyed The exhibit was a preview of what the President: Edward J. Little, Jr. to the site of the wreck of the sailing ship Society expects to become a mini-mari- Vice President: Don Lowe North America located in 14 feet of wa- time museum featuring the history of the Secretary: Corey Malcom ter on Delta Shoals off Marathon. The Key West Bight. Although the bight has Treasurer: Lynda Hambright wreck is one of several on the Marine been renamed Key West's Historic Sea- Sancturary' s "Shipwreck Trail." A handout port there is nothing in the area to tell Philip Carney told the history of this 1842 wreck and that history. The Society's board of di- John Cryer the subsequent salvage operation. Corey rectors has engaged Mary Perkins to de- Bob Elliott Malcom, underwater archaeologist, briefed sign the museum and will soon begin a Tom Hambright the group on the wreck site and the lo- fund-raising campaign to get the project John Jones cation of the various pieces of wreckage underway. This is the biggest project the Jack King they would see. Each snorkler was pro- Society has undertaken to date and we will Leonard Lucas vided with a waterproof handout to en- need all the help we can get to bring it Dean McClure able him to identify the various parts of to fruition. Diane Silvia Art Skelly Mbr John Viele Bob Baumann, Keys; Seana Cameron & Coast, FL; Frank & Peggy Kirwin, Key Lee Starling, Key West; Ben & Carlene West; Father Tony Mullane, Big Pine Key; Edwards, Big Pine Key; Rita S. Jones, Palm Peg & Leon Niemiec Kensington, MD. 2 FLORIDA KEYS SEA HERITAGE JOURNAL - SUMMER 1999 lht rnn AS K Wt 8 By Harold D. Jobes I met Harold Jobes in 1987. He had re- turned to Key West to celebrate his 90th birthday and his first visit since 1919 to the town were he was stationed during World War One. He was born in Staten Island, NY and a graduate of the Pratt Institute. He enlisted in the Navy in 1917 and was stationed in Pensacola, at the Massachusetts of Technology and then Key West for flight training. The letters he wrote his father about his training and Key West survived. He allowed me to copy some of these letters. Ensign Jobes completed flight training in 1918 and became the 1,966 person to wear the Navy's Wings of Gold. Harold Jobes, on the left , and friends on the porch of the house at 718 Eisenhower He stayed in Key West as an instructor Drive. The house was used as Bachelor Officers Quarters during the War. Photo until he was discharged in 1919. He settled credit: Harold Jobes. in Boston and worked as an insurance un- rrvd n K Wt th rnn t bt t n I nr t ht I hv derwriter and investment counselor. He 0 A.M. W t th v tr t t lrd tld . died in June 1988 at the age of 91. Tom th ttn nd rprtd nd hd d I hv hd fr flht n th lp 2 Hambright l x nd pd. j rd n th nn pt nd th lt .