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 World War 1 at Sea

 

CASUALTIES of the UNITED STATES NAVY
NAVAL AVIATION by Date and Base

 

Compiled from "Officers and Enlisted Men of the United States Naval Service Who Died During the World War", by the Bureau of Navigation, 1920

Enlargement shows NC-1 and NC-3 flying boats in Newfoundland (US Naval Historical Center, click to enlarge)

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1. Information is in order - Date of death, Base or Location, Incident, Name, Rank, Service other than USN, Cause of death
2. Main abbreviations:
A - Aviation, BN - original Bureau of Navigation publication, DOI - died of injuries, DOW - died of wounds, G - General, JG - junior grade, NHC - Naval Historical Center, R - Radio, USNRF - US Naval Reserve Force
3.  Ranks of US Navy Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Men

4. US Navy Casualties by Name


 

 

 

1917

 

 

June 28, 1917

 

Tours, France (possibly French Air Force Training School), aeroplane accident

 BARRETT, THOMAS WINCH, Landsman for Quartermaster, DOI

 

 

August 2, 1917

 

Naval Air Station, Bay Shore, Long Island, N Y, seaplane accident

 FLEISCHMANN, CHARLES, Electrician, 3rd class, USNRF

 

 

August 6, 1917

 

Aeronautic Detachment, Huntington, Long Island, seaplane accident

 WELLS, HARRY MASON, Seaman

 

 

August 21, 1917

 

Tours, France (possibly French Air Force Training School), aviation accident

 MANLEY, GEORGE HERBERT, Landsman for Quartermaster (A), injured, DOI

 

 

 

November 4, 1917

 

Naval Air Station, Bay Shore, Long Island, N Y

 REYNDERS, JOHN V, Jr, Electrician, 3rd class, NNV, injured (possibly flying-related), DOI

 

 

November 23, 1917

 

Naval Aeronautic Station, Pensacola, Fla, seaplane accident

 BOSE, HERMAN, Quartermaster, 2nd class (A ), drowned

 

 

December 5, 1917

 

Aviation Naval Headquarters, Paris, France, airplane accident (location probably outside Paris)

 BAKER, CLAUDE ALBERT, Seaman, 2nd class, drowned

 

 

December 7, 1917

 

Naval Air Station, Hampton Roads, Va

 RICHTER, GEORGE, Quartermaster, 1st class, USNRF, injured (not known if flying-related)

 

 

December 17, 1917

 

Naval Aviation, possibly based at Royal Naval Air Station, Felixstowe, England, seaplane accident, North Sea, off Harwich, England

 PAGE, PHILLIPS W, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 

 

December 25, 1917

 

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla

 CROWE, EDMUND JAMES, Seaman, 2nd class (A), USNRF, drowned (not known if flying-related)

 

 

 

Curtiss HS-2 flying boat at Cape May, N J in 1918, with USS Sea Gull  in background.
Enlargement shows sub chaser SC-71 in foreground

 

 

1918

 

 

January 6, 1918

 

Curtiss Aeroplane & Motor Corporation, aircraft manufacturer, Buffalo, N Y

 HALE, WILBERN RILEY, Shipwright, accident, died (not known if flying-related)

 

 

February 2, 1918

 

Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa, seaplane accident

 BENNETT, JOHN WILLIAM, Boatswain

 

 

February 15, 1918

 

Royal Naval Air Station, Felixstowe, England, co-piloting one of two British Curtiss H-12B flying boats, in action with five German float-planes over North Sea, shot down

 STURTEVANT, ALBERT D, Ensign, USNRF (class 5), killed, first US Naval Aviator lost in combat  

Three Royal Naval crew also killed:

 HOLLIDGE, Sidney J, Air Mechanic 1c

 PURDY, Claude C, Ty/Flight Lieutenant, pilot

 STEPHENSON, Arthur H, Boy Mechanic

 

 

February 23, 1918

 

Newport, R I (probably Naval Air Station), aeroplane accident

 HIGGINBOTHAM, JAMES H, Seaman, 2nd class, USNRF (not in active Service), killed

 

 

February 26, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Dunkirk, France, aeroplane accident

 EICHELBERGER, EDWARD CARY, Quartermaster, 2nd class (A), killed

 

 

February 27, 1918

 

Cape May, N J (probably Naval Air Station), aeroplane accident

 WEED, WALKER TEN EYCK, Ensign, USNRF, died of burns

 

Dunkirk, France (probably Naval Air Station), seaplane accident

 READ, CURTIS S, Ensign, USNRF (class 5), killed

 

 

February 28, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Illetudy (or Ile Tudy), France, seaplane accident

 SKAGGS, ANDREW DONNIE, Landsman for Quartermaster (A)

 

 

March 2, 1918

 

Naval Aviation Forces In France, seaplane accident (location not known)

 HARVIE, LEO SHOTT, Boatswain's Mate, 1st class, killed

 

Cape May, N J (probably Naval Air Station), seaplane accident (possibly on February 27 - see Ensign Weed)

 BENNETT, JOHN WILLIAM, Chief Quartermaster, injured (BN - died in Naval Hospital, Cape May, N J)

 

 

March 8, 1918

 

First Aeronautic Detachment, Ayr, Scotland

 VELIE, HARRY GLENN, Quartermaster, 2nd class (A), accident, died (not known if flying-related)

 

 

March 9, 1918

 

Pensacola, Fla (probably Naval Air Station), aeroplane accident

 FAZIO, CHARLES JOHN, Machinist's Mate, 2nd class (A), killed

 

 

March 13, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Hampton Roads, Va, "fall in seaplane"

 MACNAUGHTON LESLIE M, Ensign, Reserve Force (class 5) (NHC - Ensign McNaughton, killed in seaplane accident at Moutchic, France with Ensign Lloyd A Perry, but on April 12, 1918)

 

Naval Headquarters, London, England, aeroplane accident (location probably outside London)

 HOUGH, FREDERICK WILLIAM, Quartermaster, 2nd class (A), died

 

 

March 14, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Key West, Fla

 PERKINS, ROGER CONANT, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF, drowned (not known if flying-related)

 

 

March 18, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Miami, Fla, seaplane accident

 LANGDON, FRANCIS ELLIOTT, Electrician, 3rd class (R)

 

 

March 20, 1918

 

Naval Aeronautic Detachment No.1 (possibly French Air Force Training School, Tours, France), "falling of airplane"

 NELSON, CLARENCE ARTHUR, Machinist's Mate, 1st class

 

 

March 26, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, seaplane accident, both drowned

 DELEHANTY, MICHAEL JOSEPH, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 DRAPER, THOMAS W M, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 

 

April 5, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Key West, Fla, two seaplanes collided

 EATON, THOMAS WINDAL, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF, killed

 

 

April 12, 1918

 

Naval Aeronautic Detachment, France (possibly Detachment No.1, French Air Force Training School, Tours), aeroplane accident

 CHAPIN, MINOR JUDSON, Quartermaster, 2nd class (A), DOI

 

Naval Air Station, Moutchic, Lake Lacanau, France, seaplane accident (see Ensign Leslie MacNoughton, March 13, 1918)

 PERRY, LLOYD A, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 

 

April 25, 1918

 

Naval Aviation, Royal Naval Air Station, Felixstowe, England, second pilot in one of two British seaplanes, in action with two German seaplanes, one of which he shot down near the North Hinder Lightship in the North Sea. Five more German aircraft arrived and Ensign Potter's aircraft was shot down

 POTTER, STEPHEN, Ensign, USNRF (class 5), (this was the first enemy seaplane credited to a US Naval Aviator; NHC - enemy aircraft shot down on March 19)

 

 

April 27, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Chatham, Mass

 HOXIE, RALPH BOWMAN, Chief Machinist's Mate, USNRF, accident, died (not known if flying-related)

 

 

April 30, 1918

 

Naval Headquarters, Paris, France, seaplane accident (location probably outside Paris)

 SMITH, EDWARD AUGUSTUS, Quartermaster, 1st class

 

 

May 4, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Bay Shore, Long Island, N Y, seaplane collision at Station

 ALDEN, SPENCER T, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 

 

May 5, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Cape May, N J

 WARLSH, CHARLES Jr, Seaman, 2nd class, drowned (not known if flying-related)

 

 

May 10, 1918

 

Naval Station, Pensacola, Fla, seaplane accident

 McCALLA, RICHARD CALVIN, Chief Quartermaster (A), killed

 

 

May 17, 1918

 

Naval Base, Norfolk, Va, aeroplane accident

 CRAILIE, CHARLES CABANNE, Ensign, Reserve Force (class 5), killed

 

 

May 18, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Dunkirk, France, aeroplane accident

 GANSTER, JOHN, Quartermaster, 2nd class, injured, DOI

 

 

May 20, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Dunkirk, France

 MARSHBURN, DJALMA, Quartermaster, 2nd class, drowned (not known if flying-related)

 

 

May 31, 1918

 

Miami, Fla (probably Naval Air Station), seaplane accident

 EVANS, GEORGE B, Jr, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 

 

June 14, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Key West, Fla

 JONES, WILLIAM D, Machinist's Mate, 2nd class (A), accidentally killed (not known if flying-related)

 

 

June 19, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, seaplane accident, both killed (not known if same incident)

 BLAIR, ANDREW BEIRNE, Jr, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF

 SYLVESTER, BRYL EDWIN, Quartermaster, 2nd class (A ), USNRF

 

 

June 28, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, seaplane accident

 ZELLER, GEORGE JOHN, Machinist's Mate, 1st class

 

 

July 1, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Le Croisic, France, seaplane accident (not known If same incident)

 KNEIP, EDWARD CHARLES, Machinist's Mate, 1st class (A)

 WEDDELL, THOMAS MACMILLAN, Landsman for Quartermaster (A )

 

 

July 7, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Moutchic, Lake Lacanau, France, seaplane accident

 CROSSCUP, WOLDEMAN E, Ensign, Reserve Force (class 5)

 

 

July 9, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Miami, Fla, seaplane accident

 MUTTY, LOUIS PETER, Quartermaster (Chief) (A), USNRF

 

 

July 11, 1918

 

Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service (location not known)

 FERRELL, EDWARD WASHINGTON, Machinist's Mate, 2nd class, USNRF, injured, DOI (not known if flying-related)

 

 

July 12, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Bay Shore, Long Island, N Y

 BEHAN, WILLIAM JOSEPH, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF, drowned (not known if flying-related)

 

 

July 13, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Chatham, Mass

 ANDREWS, JUNIUS FRANKLIN, Ensign, USNRF (class 5), accident, burned to death (presumably flying-related)

 

 

July 17, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Miami, Fla, seaplane accident

 PERCIVAL, CHARLES EDWARD, Chief Quartermaster (A), USNRF

 

 

July 19, 1918

 

East Greenwich, R I (possibly Gallaudet Aircraft Co, manufacturer of D-4 combat seaplane), seaplane accident

 SOUTHER, ARTHUR FULLER, Lieutenant (JG), USNRF (class 5), killed

 

 

July 30, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Moutchic, Lake Lacanau, France

 KRUGER, CHARLES EDWARD, Electrician, 2nd class (R), USNRF, drowned (not known if flying-related)

 

 

August 11, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Porto Corsino, near Ravenna, Italy, seaplane accident

 GOGGINS, JAMES LAWRENCE, Landsman for Quartermaster (A ), killed

 

 

August 12, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Dunkirk, France, seaplane accident

 LAVEN, HARRY, Yeoman, 3rd class, DOI

 

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, seaplane accident (not known if same incident)

 FRALEY, GUY BARSTOW, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF, killed (BN - airplane accident)

 MANDEVILLE, GARRETT THOMPSON, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF, killed

 TOPP, AUGUSTUS, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF, killed

 

 

August 13, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Moutchic, Lake Lacanau, France

 PHILBRICK, EVERETT GERRISH, Electrician, 3rd class (R), USNRF, drowned (not known if flying-related)

 

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, seaplane accident

 FENTON, JOSEPH JOHN, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF, killed

 

 

August 14, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Moutchic, Lake Lacanau, France, aeroplane accident (not known if same incident)

 BARNETT, LESTER ACHAN, Quartermaster, 2nd class, killed (BN - airplane accident)

 DAVIDSON, DELOZIER, Ensign, Reserve Force (class 5), (BN - seaplane accident, NHC - on 22nd)

 

Naval Air Station, Pauillac, France, aeroplane accident

 CAMPBELL, DALE VERN, Quartermaster, 2nd class, killed

 

 

August 17, 1918

 

Italy (possibly Naval Air Station at Bolsena, Porto Corsini or Pescara), (NHC - seaplane accident, both Ensigns killed; possibly involved Machinist's Mate Hartle)

 HARTLE, ORRIN FRANCIS, Machinist's Mate, 2nd class, USNRF, killed (BN - aeroplane accident, Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service (location not known, possibly Italy))

 NICHOLS, ALAN L, Ensign, USNRF, (BN - aeroplane accident)

 TERRES, HUGH, Ensign USNRF (class 5), (BN - aeroplane accident)

 

 

August 20, 1918

 

Dunkirk, France (probably Naval Air Station), seaplane accident

 McKINNON, THOMAS NEIL, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 

Naval Air Station, Moutchic, Lake Lacanau, near Bordeaux, France, bomb explosion

 VATH, EARL JOSEPH, Electrician, 3rd class (R), USNRF, (possibly killed at Naval Air Station, St Trojan)

 

Naval Air Station, St Trojan, near Bordeaux, France, seaplane on slip leaving for patrol flight, bomb exploded due to defective bomb-carrying gear, total of 8 killed and 16 injured, only 6 or possibly 7 of the killed have been identified. The dead might have included Electrician Vath from Moutchic Air Station, and perhaps Yeoman O'Gorman drowned while serving with Naval Aviation Forces)

 HOLLEY, MILES HENRY, Quartermaster, 2nd class (A), (BN - accidental bomb explosion, killed)

 RICHARDSON, JESSEE CARTER, Machinist's Mate, 1st class (A), (BN - seaplane accident, killed)

 TUCKER, LEWIS FRANKLIN, Landsman for Quartermaster (A), (BN - accidental bomb explosion, Naval Headquarters, Paris, France), probably Naval Air Station, St Trojan

 

Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service, (not known where)

 O'GORMAN, MATTHEW E, Yeoman, 1st class, USNRF, drowned (not known if flying-related, possibly blown into sea by bomb explosion at Naval Air Station, St Trojan)

 

 

August 21, 1918

 

Brest, France (probably Naval Air Station), seaplane accident (all three possibly same incident)

 BOORSE, ARTHUR LEE, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 CLARK, ROBERT F, Ensign, USNRF,

 REDMAN, WILLIAM FREDERICK, Machinist's Mate, 2nd class USNRF, (BN - Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service, seaplane accident in Brest Harbor)

 

 

August 22, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, St Trojan, France, seaplane on slip leaving for patrol flight on 20th, bomb exploded due to defective bomb-carrying gear

 BARRY, EDMUND BOSTON, Ensign, USNRF (class 5), presumably DOW, (BN - bomb explosion on seaplane, died)

 KNEELAND, LEONARD LEANDER, Quartermaster, 2nd class (A), presumably DOW, (BN - accidental bomb explosion, died)

 

 

August 23, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, St Trojan, France, seaplane on slip leaving for patrol flight on 20th, bomb exploded due to defective bomb-carrying gear

 McVEIGH, JOHN JAMES, Quartermaster, 2nd class (A), (BN - seaplane accident, wounded, DOW)

 

 

August 24, 1918

 

Naval Aviation (possibly Naval Air Station, Bay Shore, Montauk, or Rockaway, all on Long Island), seaplane collision, 12 miles southeast of Fire Island Lightship, off Long Island, N Y

 PERO, DONALD C, Ensign, USNRF, killed

 

 

August 26, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Miami, Fla

 CANFIELD, HERBERT FLORIAN, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF, injured, DOI (not known if flying-related)

 

 

August 29, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, seaplane accident (not known if same incidents)

 CHURCHILL, JAMES FLOYD, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF

 WILCOX, DE WITT GIFFORD, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF

 

 

August 30, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Rockaway Beach (or Bay), Long Island, N Y

 NEWMAN, FREDERICK ARMAND, Machinist's Mate, 1st class (A), drowned (not known if flying-related)

 

 

September 2, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Bay Shore, Long Island, N Y, seaplane accident

 TALASKA, WALTER PAUL, Chief Quartermaster, USNRF, fell from seaplane

 

 

September 3, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Paimboeuf, France

 LAMPORT, NATHAN HARRY, Seaman, 2nd class, USNRF, injured, DOI (not known if flying-related)

 

 

September 14, 1918

 

St Inglevert, France (probably Northern Bombing Group aerodrome), aeroplane accident, both killed

 FROTHINGHAM, PHILIP BERNARD, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 PALMER, CLYDE N, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 

Naval Aviation (probably Naval Air Station, Cape May, N J), seaplane accident near Five Fathom Lightship, Cape May, N J

 CATCHPOLE, HARRY G, Ensign, USNRF,

 

 

September 15, 1918

 

Naval Aviation (probably Naval Air Station, Port Corsini, near Ravenna, Italy), seaplane accident at Porto Corsini, Italy (probably same incident)

 BERGEN, LOUIS JOSEPH, Ensign, USNRF, (BN - aeroplane accident, died in Hospital, Ravenna, Italy)

 MURPHY, THOMAS LEO, Gunner, injured, died in Hospital, Ravenna, Italy

 

 

September 18, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Lough Foyle, Ireland

 KELLY, WILLIAM EDWARD, Boiler Maker, USNRF, drowned (not known if flying-related)

 

 

September 21, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Paimboeuf, France

 NORMAN CRAIG, Seaman, 2nd class, USNRF, injured, DOI and complications (not known if flying-related)

 

 

September 24, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, aviation accident (not known if the same incident)

 BOURNIQUE, JOY CURTIS, Ensign, USNRF, (BN - seaplane accident, Pensacola, Fla, killed; probably Naval Air Station)

 JONES, TOM OWEN, Chief Quartermaster (A), USNRF, (BN - aviation accident, killed)

 SAUNDERS, STUART BENTON, Chief Quartermaster (A), USNRF, (BN - seaplane accident, Pensacola, Fla, killed; probably Naval Air Station)

 

 

September 25, 1918

 

Pensacola, Fla (probably Naval Air Station), seaplane crash, Chief Machinist's Mate Francis Ormsbee went to the aid of the two man crew, saved the gunner, but was unable to rescue the pilot. Awarded Medal of Honor

 McCARTHY, THOMAS CARROLL, Ensign, USNRF (class 5), pilot, killed

 

 

October 4, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, seaplane accident (not known if same incident)

 McKINNEY, DOOLEY OAKLEY, Machinist's Mate, 1st class, USNRF, killed

 PETERSON, CARL OLIVER, Ensign, USNRF (class 5)

 

 

October 8, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Cape May, N J, all possibly same incident, seaplane crash near Fenwick Island Light Vessel, off Delaware

 GROH, HERBERT ELMER, Machinist's Mate, 1st class, USNRF, (BN - lost at sea in seaplane)

 JOHNSON, WILLIAM JENNINGS, Electrician, 2nd class (R), (BN - lost at sea from aeroplane A-1210)

 TIBBITTS, RUSSELL D, Ensign, USNRF (class 5), (BN - seaplane accident 15 miles NE of Fenwick Island Light Vessel, Del (NHC - 11th); possibly Naval Air Station, Cape May, N J)

 

 

October 11, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Killingholme, Lincolnshire, England, all seaplane accident, possibly same incident, off Immingham, Lincolnshire

 RICHARDSON, ROBERT EVANS, Electrician, 3rd class, USNRF, drowned (BN - Naval Air Station, European waters)

 SERGAI, BENNETT, Machinist's Mate, 2nd class, drowned

 TYSON, CHARLES McGHEE, Lieutenant (JG), USNRF (class 5), (BN - off Immingham, Lincolnshire, England)

 

 

October 19, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, St Trojan, France

 STOKER, ELLSWORTH WILFORD, Chief Machinist's Mate, wounded, DOW (not known if flying-related)

 

 

October 22, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Whiddy Island, Ireland, seaplane accident

 ANDERSON, WALFRED ALLEN, Electrician, 3rd class, (R ), killed

 

 

October 26, 1918

 

Naval Air Station, Illetudy (or Ille Tudy), France, seaplane accident

 SPRAGUE, WILLIAM G Ensign, USNRF (class 5), (NHC - August 26)

 

 

October 28, 1918

 

Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, seaplane accident (location not known)

 FISHER, RAYMOND GEORGE, Machinist's Mate, 2nd class, lost at sea

 

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