Post by trans1007 on Jun 14, 2008 1:22:06 GMT -5
Been pouring through thousands of documents and phots and wow does GTMO NAS has a extensive aviation history dayeing as far back as 1913. Dang 95 years of aviation history and MS booboo'ed in all fs platforms. Heres a excert from offical GTMO Notes. This base also played host to blimps and still does on occassion depending on the USCG mood.
On January 6, 1913, the entire aviation element of the Navy, with the exception of Lieut. Ellyson who was invalided with a broken ankle (suffered while hurrying to catch a train), arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and set up an aviation camp on Fisherman's Point. Ellyson joined Captain Chambers in the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, and assisted him in overall administration of Naval aviation and in providing special support need for the experimentation that was involved in Naval aviation's first operation with the Fleet. This operation, which included scouting missions and exercises in spotting submerged submarines as part of the fleet maneuvers, served both to demonstrate operational capabilities of the aircraft and to stimulate interest in aviation among fleet personnel, more than a hundred of whom were taken up for flights during the eight-week stay. Experimental work at Guantanamo included bombing, aerial photography and wireless transmission from airplanes.
On January 6, 1913, the entire aviation element of the Navy, with the exception of Lieut. Ellyson who was invalided with a broken ankle (suffered while hurrying to catch a train), arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and set up an aviation camp on Fisherman's Point. Ellyson joined Captain Chambers in the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, and assisted him in overall administration of Naval aviation and in providing special support need for the experimentation that was involved in Naval aviation's first operation with the Fleet. This operation, which included scouting missions and exercises in spotting submerged submarines as part of the fleet maneuvers, served both to demonstrate operational capabilities of the aircraft and to stimulate interest in aviation among fleet personnel, more than a hundred of whom were taken up for flights during the eight-week stay. Experimental work at Guantanamo included bombing, aerial photography and wireless transmission from airplanes.