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Historic First


siege1863
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Just received this real photo postcard to add to my USS MISSISSIPPI collection. The postcard is dated June 5, 1914, and was sent by a crew member to a girl back home. Some background...

 

On December 30, 1913, the MISSISSIPPI was detached from the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia for duty as aeronautic station ship at Pensacola, Florida. Departing January 6, 1914, the battleship arrived January 21, transporting equipment for the establishment of a naval air station. At Pensacola, she stood by while her crew, along with the early naval aviators, rebuilt the old naval base, laying the foundation for the largest and most famous American naval air station.

 

With the outbreak of fighting in Mexico, the MISSISSIPPI sailed April 21 to Vera Cruz, arriving on the 24th with the first detachment of naval aviators to go into combat. Serving as a floating base for the fledgling seaplanes and their pilots, the warship launched nine reconnaissance flights over the area during a period of 18 days, making the last flight 12 May. One month later, the battleship departed Vera Cruz for Pensacola.

 

The photo was taken April 25, 1914, at Vera Cruz and shows Lt. (j.g.) P.N.L. Bellinger and a Curtiss AB-3 flying boat. He was going up to search for sea mines. This was the FIRST US operational air sortie against another country.

 

post-211-1197952431.jpg

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