RNAS Air Station Crete in 1917?

[Ian Burns]

The log book for HMS Empress (seaplane carrier) contains -

7 April 1917

Suda Bay

Lat 35.48, Long 24.14

4.00pm: All Royal Naval Air Service stores discharged to air base.

I have been unable to find any mention of an air station/base on Crete.

 

Can anyone educate me?

 

[horatio2]

Ian

I cannot answer your specific question but the logs of HMS ARK ROYAL contain multiple references to Suda Bay, with officers and men and aircraft being regularly transported there from Mudros, starting in February 1917 and continuing to early 1919, when RAF stores are mentioned..

https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-04-HMS_Ark_Royal.htm

https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-04-HMS_Ark_Royal2.htm

Also some mentions of manning Suda Bay here:-  https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/29704-hms-louvain/page/2/

 

Edited 21 January by horatio2

[horatio2]

The RNAS Suda Bay runes are hard to read but my best guess is:-

No.2 (Naval) Wing re-formed at Mudros in mid-1916 and then formed a number of lettered flights (A to G) which operated as a notional ‘Aegean Group’. In late 1916/early 1917 another seaplane flight was formed under 2 Wing to operate out of Suda Bay but this flight was never given a letter or number. Flight Commander Roger M FIELD may have been in command. I have found no record of its operations.

From April 1918 No.2 (Naval) Wing became 62 and 63 Wings RAF (Aegean Group) and eventually, in September 1918, the Suda Bay aircraft (Short 184s) were numbered as 264 Squadron RAF.

EDIT - @mickdavis  seems to agree here  -  https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/191483-63-wing-1918/#comment-1872580  He states:-

"63rd Wing was formed on 1 April 1918 and for most of that year its component units were the untitled seaplane units inherited from the RNAS.  ...  The Wing's components prior to the formation of 264 and 266 Sqns (on 27 September) were un-numbered/un-lettered seaplane stations at Suda Bay, Siros (named Syra in the Unit List of the Royal Air Force for 1.11.1918, NA AIR1 2112 207 51 1-4) and Skyros, HMS Ark Royal, based on Siros, and the Repair Base - i.e. the seaplane elements of the Aegean Group, which came to include numbered flights within 264 & 266 Squadrons in 15 (Aegean) Group, from its formation on 27.9.1918."

 

Edited 21 January by horatio2
New reference

[horatio2]

Not 1917 but the December 1918 Navy List shows the officers of Suda Bay, including (now major RAF) FIELD.

https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92327822

Notwithstanding the anonymity of RNAS Suda Bay, the naval base was clearly of importance to operations in the Aegean/Eastern Med. The cruiser HMS PELORUS was based there as a depot ship for warships and submarines from mid-1916 until the end of the war. Her log does not help in nailing down the RNAS contribution, however, nor does the visit by RMPRESS in April 1917 get a mention - but see entry 6 Feb 1917.

   -   https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-05-HMS_Pelorus.htm

Edited 21 January by horatio2
Add PELORUS.

[Ian Burns]

Thanks Horatio,

A very comprehensive answer. More than answering my question. The Aegean remains a complex, fascinating and under studied area.

Re; Field see attached.  Page '90' confirms him as CO Suda Bay in late 1917. I have been unable to locate any AIR 76 (RAF) records of his service

Ian

ADM-273-4-90.pdf

[horatio2]

13 minutes ago, Ian Burns said:

I have been unable to locate any AIR 76 (RAF) records of his service

I think he served on in the RAF to WW2, so his record is still held by MOD.

[Ian Burns]

Well old reliable Sturtivant and Page shows the Suda Bay unit to be 439 (Seaplane) Flight, RAF, then part of 264 Squadron, RAF, including 440 (Seaplane ) Flight from Syra. In command was Major R M Field. The squadron disbanded 1 March 1919.