U.S. Army Air Service Sea Sleds for Aircraft Rescue

[airplane176]

In looking through Report on Aircraft Surveys, House Documents 621, available here:

https://books.google.com/books?id=vJ...urveys&f=false

I came across some interesting notes. On page 10, it lists Van Blerck engines, both from the Van Blerck Motor Co. and Murray & Tregurtha. Van Blerck did develop V-8 and V-12 aircraft engines c.1914-15, but these orders appear to be from 1918-19 time period. Murray and Tregurtha were builders of boats. I am wondering if these engines were for the sea sleds that Murray & Tregurtha built for the Air Service (and Navy) for aircrew sea rescues (and Caproni launching). Elsewhere, I have seen that at least some of these boats were paid for with aviation funds. The engines certainly seem to have been. Additionally, The boats were numbered. I have seen references to numbers 3 and 8 for postwar disposal. There was a separate flying boat serial number system, of which most were used for Curtiss HS-types from the Navy. Numbers 1 to 28 are unaccounted for except for 2 Curtiss F-boats from the Navy. I wonder if the sea sleds fit in the missing numbers. I have been unable to determine how many were ordered. I also wonder if the odd Winton vertical marine engine in A.S serial block 44772-44816 is also part of this program.

Perhaps someone with a knowledge of these boats could help bring together this information.

Thank you.

Roger