RNAS Tresco
Encyclopedia
RNAS Tresco was a Royal Naval Air Service
base on Tresco from 1917 to 1919.
Early in 1917 a handful of Short Type 184
seaplanes were stationed at Porth Mellon on St Mary’s. They were followed by several Curtiss Type 12
flying-boats from RNAS Cattewater near Plymouth.
As the tidal surge was too great for these relatively fragile machines, the detachment moved across to Tresco
, and formed RNAS Tresco at New Grimsby. The new unit’s first patrol was undertaken on 26 February 1917. Enemy submarines were engaged two months later, during which Curtiss ‘8654’ sustained gunfire damage.
The first conclusive action took place on 17 May 1917, when an unidentified U-boat
was sunk by a Curtiss Type 12
whose crew were later decorated. By the summer, full facilities had been established and from August there were around 22 planes including Short Type 184
and Felixstowe F.5
flyingboats.
A number of other significant actions followed, notably the thwarting of U-boat attacks on the White Star liner
Persic.
The squadron patrolled the Western Approaches of the English Channel
and gained two DSCs
, one DSM
and a CGM
in doing that.
In August 1918, the unit became No. 234 Squadron, RAF with Short Type 225 seaplanes.
The last patrol was made on 10 November 1918, by which time all four Flights had been incorporated into the RAF as No. 234 Squadron RAF
, before being disbanded in May 1919.
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
base on Tresco from 1917 to 1919.
History
Short Type 184
|-Manufacturers:Source: Barnes and James#Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd. #Frederick Sage & Co. Ltd. #J. Samuel White #Mann, Egerton & Co. Ltd. #Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company #Robey & Co. Ltd. #S E Saunders Limited...
seaplanes were stationed at Porth Mellon on St Mary’s. They were followed by several Curtiss Type 12
Curtiss Model H
The Curtiss Model H was a family of classes of early long-range flying boats, the first two of which were developed directly on commission in the United States in response to the ₤10,000 prize challenge issued in 1913 by the London newspaper, the Daily Mail, for the first non-stop aerial crossing...
flying-boats from RNAS Cattewater near Plymouth.
As the tidal surge was too great for these relatively fragile machines, the detachment moved across to Tresco
Tresco
Tresco is the second-biggest island of the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is in size, measuring about by .-History:In early times one group of islands was in the possession of a confederacy of hermits. King Henry I gave it to Tavistock Abbey which established a priory on Tresco;...
, and formed RNAS Tresco at New Grimsby. The new unit’s first patrol was undertaken on 26 February 1917. Enemy submarines were engaged two months later, during which Curtiss ‘8654’ sustained gunfire damage.
The first conclusive action took place on 17 May 1917, when an unidentified U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
was sunk by a Curtiss Type 12
Curtiss Model H
The Curtiss Model H was a family of classes of early long-range flying boats, the first two of which were developed directly on commission in the United States in response to the ₤10,000 prize challenge issued in 1913 by the London newspaper, the Daily Mail, for the first non-stop aerial crossing...
whose crew were later decorated. By the summer, full facilities had been established and from August there were around 22 planes including Short Type 184
Short Type 184
|-Manufacturers:Source: Barnes and James#Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd. #Frederick Sage & Co. Ltd. #J. Samuel White #Mann, Egerton & Co. Ltd. #Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company #Robey & Co. Ltd. #S E Saunders Limited...
and Felixstowe F.5
Felixstowe F.5
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bruce, J.M. " Flight, 2 December 1955, pp. 842—846.* Bruce, J.M. " Flight, 16 December 1955, pp. 895—898.* Bruce, J.M. " Flight, 23 December 1955, pp. 929—932....
flyingboats.
A number of other significant actions followed, notably the thwarting of U-boat attacks on the White Star liner
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
Persic.
The squadron patrolled the Western Approaches of the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
and gained two DSCs
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
, one DSM
Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy and members of the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, up to and including the rank of Chief Petty Officer, for bravery and resourcefulness on active service...
and a CGM
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal was, until 1993, a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Armed Forces and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy at sea...
in doing that.
In August 1918, the unit became No. 234 Squadron, RAF with Short Type 225 seaplanes.
The last patrol was made on 10 November 1918, by which time all four Flights had been incorporated into the RAF as No. 234 Squadron RAF
No. 234 Squadron RAF
No. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit , Tactical Weapon Unit and...
, before being disbanded in May 1919.