US Navy Hanriots

Forumites,
Last night I picked up a copy of Squadron's book on VF-14 (Tophatters) which chronicles a US Navy fighter squadron through the years. One of the first pictures shows a naval aviator with his Hanriot in 1919. Can anyone direct me to more information on the Hanriot in the US Navy?

Very Best Regards,
Mark Daymont
a fan of naval aviation

[Rick]

There MIGHT be some information in a book just out by Noel Shirley entitled, "United States Naval Aviation 1910-1918". I don't know for sure because my copy hasn't arrived yet. Look in the latest (Jan 01) Zenith Catalog.

Rick

Mark, you lucky seadog you,
I just happen to have a copy of Profile Publications #109, "The Hanriot HD 1". Your photo (I think) is there, with the following caption:"U.S. Navy HD-2 convert A5624 at North Island, late summer 1919. Note retention of early HD-2 enlarged rudder and generator mounted on lower port wing root." The man in the photo has his right hand on his right hip and stands so that the numbers are seen, but not the letter.
Further on: "The United States Navy operated a few coastal air stations in France in the late stages of the war. This brought them into contact with French naval aviation units operating Hanriot HD-2's and led to an American purchase of ten aircraft. It is recorded in one document that these were acquired as seaplanes but were sent to the U.S. Naval Aircraft Factory at League Island, Philadelphia, for conversion to land-planes. (It ws for long believed that they had been built at the N.A.F.). These Hanriots were allotted the U.S Navy designating numbers A5620--A5629 and were fitted with Clerget engines. They were armed with twin Vickers guns.
The U.S. Navy's HD-2 converts were used for training in combat flying, and at least one, A5624, was flown froma gun-turret platform on U.S.S. Mississippi in 1919. This aircraft had a large wind-driven generator mounted on the port lower wing, suggesting that it may have had an early radio-telephone installation. Four other HD-2 converts were used by the second Ship Plane Unit that began its training activities at Langley Field on 28th May 1919. This unit was disbanded in the following August.
THe Hanriots survived at least these early U.S. Navy activities for, in the report of the Navy Department of aircraft on hand on 1st November 1919, all ten Hanriots were listed. It is of interest, in view of their origin, to note that they were even at that date recorded as "Hanriot seaplanes".
Some figures from the U.S. Navy Dept. report of 25.6.19: Engine-- 130 h.p. Clerget; Weight (lbs.) empty-- 1,021 Military load-- 185 Pilot-- 165 Fuel and oil Loaded-- 1,605; Max. speed (m.p.h.) Ground level-- 113; Climb to 9,840 ft.-- 8 min. 30 sec.; Endurance (hours)-- 2-4 ...
Hope this is useful. HUB!

Thanks Capt. Lewis, that seems like the same picture! Sounds like I need to get that book. The caption in the book I have also listed the location as North Island also. I have to check later tonight, I think it gives the name of the pilot (don't have book here at work).

Regards,
Mark Daymont

Under the command of "Chevvy" Chevalier, the USN had a detachment at Moutchic (near Dunquerque) I think. They operated the Hanriots as seaplane fighters. A rare book: "The Wartime Letters Of George Clarke Moselely" narrates the experiences in general there and specifically such events in GCM's experience- as ie. drifting into a vessel's mast on take-off and narrowly surviving the resulting crash. VBR. Lee

Daymont:
I doubt if it's possible to find easily the Profile Series... it's only ten pages long (more of a pamphlet). Give me an address and I'll be happy to send you a photocopy (and as my father was a printer, it'll be a GOOD photocopy!)
HuB.