Adm. John McCain-- Part 2: World War II Service

Upon commissioning, he took part in the Great White Fleet's voyage around the world, then joined the battleship USS Connecticut.

After that, he was ordered to the Asiatic Squadron and then based at San Diego, California, on the armored cruiser Colorado, patrolling off the Pacific coast of the troubled Mexico.  He was executive and engineering officer on this ship.  His next posting was to the flagship of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the armored cruiser USS San Diego.

After the United States entered World War I, the San Diego did convoy duty in the Atlantic Ocean escorting troop and supply ships.    The USS San Diego was based out of New York and Halifax.

In may 1918, he transferred to the Bureau of Navigation.  Two months later, the USS San Diego was sunk by a mine placed by a German U-boat off the coast of Long Island.

During the interwar years, McCain advanced  in rank and became a major proponent of naval aviation which had so much impact on the next war.

I'll write about his service in World War II in my Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog.

--Cooter

World War I Chronology, November 1917, 100 Years Ago

NOVEMBER 18

First U.S. Naval aircraft sortie of the war is flown by a Tellier flying boat on anti-submarine patrol from Le Croistic, France, at the mouth of the Loire River.

NOVEMBER 20-DECEMBER 4

U.S. 11th and 212th Engineers (Railway) participate.  11th sustains 18 casualties on November 39.

--Cooter

Naval Technology in 1916-- Part 1: Superdreadnaught USS Arizona Commissioned

From a 1916 Scientific American "Technology of Naval Warfare, 1916."  This is in the form of a slide show.

1.  Naval aviation.  A picture of a battleship carrying seaplanes.

2.  Catapult for aircraft on a battleship.

3.  Destruction of landmarks taken by Germany along the Belgium coast.  They destroyed anything that could be used by the Allies to navigate.  The picture showed a lighthouse being blown up.

4.  The USS Arizona, superdreadnaught, shown leaving Brooklyn Navy Yard after commissioning in 1916.  It was the U.S. navy's largest and most modern battleship.

5.  Submarine warfare.

Latest in 1916.  --Cooter