Dec 25, 1918 "The Leading Edge" reproduced

15 February 2006, 10:54 AM

I was able to upload reproduction scans of "The Leading Edge," the USNAS Porto Corsini newspaper, from December 25, 1918. (I believe this was the third and last publication as the unit was decommissioned 6 days later.) This issue includes a few aircraft and facility photos, and even the local Italian submarine that protected the station.

There are 12 sets of scans, starting with:

http://www.wbhaviland.org/cb005.html

(Thanks to Claudio Battistini for helping by providing his own scan of the top, front page as my copy of the front page was pretty messed up.)

":O) Willis

Pat Daily · 15 March 2006, 10:17 PM

This is an outstanding effort. Thanks for sharing it with us. The website about Haviland is reallly interesting. Please make sure you get this to the historian at Nav Air.

Pat Daily

pvernon · 16 March 2006, 12:21 PM

I have a question do you know when the NAS was established? I suspect it was July but ...... Also do you know when they were considered operational? Thanks

duedicoppe · 17 March 2006, 12:08 PM

According to Italian Navy documents, the seaplane station was officially given to U.S. Navy on 24th July 1918. Until that in Porto Corsini was the 263th Squadriglia and for the Italian Command the new unit retained the same number. The US airmen flew their first mission on 21th August. During this mission (a drop of leaflets over Pula) Hamman saved Ludlow and received his Medal of Honour.
Happy landings
Paolo