Naval Air Station Chatham was an operational United States Navy airfield from 1917 to 1922.

It helped to patrol the northeast United States coast and even participated in a skirmish off of Orleans.

As German U-boats began to get more emboldened by their successes, it became apparent to many that the United States would soon enter a war.

As a result, the Department of the Navy planned six new Naval Air Stations on the East Coast.

[1] Before the United States even entered World War I, construction of Chatham Naval Air Station was beginning.

The original plans called for building living quarters for officers and enlisted men, hangars, a gas holder, boat house, hospital, pigeon loft, repair shops, garage and assorted storage and maintenance buildings.

Planes were equipped with emergency rations and water for three days, a flashlight, flare pistol with red and green cartridges, a sea anchor, life preservers, signal book and local charts.

[1] One of the few known times when the station was utilized for the war was when a report came in of the shelling of nearby Nauset Beach.

Nine Curtiss HS-2Ls were dispatched to bomb the submarine that had already sunk five ships and was proceeding to start shelling Orleans, Massachusetts.