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.

[2] In all, five Curtiss Model H planes were based in Whiddy Island during 1918: BUNO *A1072, A1078, A1084, A3466, A4047, A4048.

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.