At the start of United States of America's involvement in the First World War, five sites in Ireland -Queenstown, Wexford, Lough Foyle, Whiddy Island and Berehaven- were identified to be operated by the United States Navy in support of allied operations against enemy submarines.

Patrols and convoys for the waters to the southwest of Ireland were furnished by this station.

Joseph Leo Hogan (USNRF, AQM2, Mechanicville, NY) was lost at sea on 10 October 1918, while on the RMS  Leinster when it was hit by a torpedo from UB-123.

[4][full citation needed] Walford A. Anderson (USNRF, AE2, Springfield, MO) was killed in a crash after completing an air patrol for U-boats off the south coast on 22 October 1918.

[5] While the base operated under wartime conditions for only seven weeks, patrols continued for some months after the armistice, and it was eventually closed on 29 January 1919.