Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

World War I

Key West — Florida Keys Historical Military Memorial

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

1. World War I Marker

Inscription.

World War I. Key West — Florida Keys Historical Military Memorial. World War I . Key West became a major naval training base during World War I. Even before war was declared, work had begun to expand and improve naval facilities on the island. In 1914, the Key West Naval Station became headquarters for the Seventh Naval District, the overall command for naval forces in Florida. By 1915, the Naval Station included 101 acres, 55 buildings, coal sheds with a 50,000-ton capacity, a machine shop, a marine railway with a 750-ton capacity, a small hospital, and a civilian work force ranging from 100 to 300 personnel. Construction of a Naval Air Station for training seaplane and lighter-than-air naval aviators began July 13, 1917, On September 22, 1917, the facility's log book recorded the first naval flight ever made from Key West - a Curtiss N-9 Seaplane flown by Coast Guard Lt. Stanley Parker. The construction was completed in February 1918. Three months later the Air Station was commissioned, and Lt. Stanley Parker became the first Commanding Officer. Located at Trumbo Point on land leased from the Florida East Coast Railway, the station had one large blimp hangar, seven seaplane hangars, three seaplane ramps, barracks, messhalls, and shops. During the war, the station trained approximately 500 naval aviators. It was the largest training center for seaplane pilots in the United States. By the war's end, personnel strength had reached 989 enlisted men and 45 officers. In addition to training, aircraft from the station, in conjunction with Navy surface ships, conducted patrols in the Straits of Florida to block German submarines and surface ships from access to the Gulf of Mexico and Mexican oil Supplies. Destroyers, submarines, submarine chasers, and patrol craft conducted training and patrol operations from the Naval Station and from a Section Base at the foot of Duval street. Work was begun in 1917 to construct a submarine basin, but it was not completed until 1920. Thomas Edison stayed at the Naval Station while he was working to develop underwater weapons for the Navy. Army and National Guard units manned coast artillery batteries and outlying posts to defend Key West and the Keys against enemy attack. Once again, military forces at Key West had made an important contribution to winning a war. (Captions) Key West was the largest training center for seaplane pilots in the United States. By the war's end, personnel strength had reached 989 enlisted men and 45 officers. (Wright Langley Archives) Aircraft and blimps from the station in conjunction with Navy surface ships, conducted patrols in the Straits of Florida to block German submarines and surface ships.

World War I
Key West became a major naval training base during World War I. Even before war was declared, work had begun to expand and improve naval facilities on the island.

In 1914, the Key West Naval Station became headquarters for the Seventh Naval District, the overall command for naval forces in Florida.

By 1915, the Naval Station included 101 acres, 55 buildings, coal sheds with a 50,000-ton capacity, a machine shop, a marine railway with a 750-ton capacity, a small hospital, and a civilian work force ranging from 100 to 300 personnel.

Construction of a Naval Air Station for training seaplane and lighter-than-air naval aviators began July 13, 1917, On September 22, 1917, the facility's log book recorded the first naval flight ever made from Key West - a Curtiss N-9 Seaplane flown by Coast Guard Lt. Stanley Parker. The construction was completed in February 1918. Three months later the Air Station was commissioned, and Lt. Stanley Parker became the first Commanding Officer.

Located at Trumbo Point on land leased from the Florida East Coast Railway, the station had one large blimp hangar, seven seaplane hangars, three seaplane ramps, barracks, messhalls, and shops.

During the war, the station trained approximately 500 naval aviators.

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It was the largest training center for seaplane pilots in the United States. By the war's end, personnel strength had reached 989 enlisted men and 45 officers. In addition to training, aircraft from the station, in conjunction with Navy surface ships, conducted patrols in the Straits of Florida to block German submarines and surface ships from access to the Gulf of Mexico and Mexican oil Supplies.

Destroyers, submarines, submarine chasers, and patrol craft conducted training and patrol operations from the Naval Station and from a Section Base at the foot of Duval street. Work was begun in 1917 to construct a submarine basin, but it was not completed until 1920.

Thomas Edison stayed at the Naval Station while he was working to develop underwater weapons for the Navy. Army and National Guard units manned coast artillery batteries and outlying posts to defend Key West and the Keys against enemy attack.

Once again, military forces at Key West had made an important contribution to winning a war.
(Captions)
Key West was the largest training center for seaplane pilots in the United States. By the war's end, personnel strength had reached 989 enlisted men and 45 officers. (Wright Langley Archives)

Aircraft and blimps from the station in conjunction with Navy surface ships, conducted patrols in the Straits

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

2. World War I Marker

of Florida to block German submarines and surface ships.

Erected by The City of Key West and Monroe County.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World I • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 24° 33.576′ N, 81° 48.447′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of Wall Street and Tifts Street. This marker is located on Mallory Square within the Key West — Florida Keys Historical Military Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Wall Street, Cumming GA 30040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. World War II (here, next to this marker); Cold War (here, next to this marker); Cuban Missile Crisis (here, next to this marker); Spanish American War (here, next to this marker); War on Drugs (here, next to this marker); Civil War (here, next to this marker); Key West — Florida Keys Historical Military Memorial (here, next to this marker); Second Seminole War (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . . A lot of stuff you didn’t know about the history of the Navy in Key West. (Submitted on May 23, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Key West - Florida Keys Military Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

3. Key West - Florida Keys Military Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 23, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 3. submitted on May 24, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.