| − | While still under construction, the single-screw steel-hulled freighter '''Agwidale''' was acquired by the Navy from the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, [Virginia]], near the end of [[World War I]]and assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS). Commissioned at Newport News on 16 November 1918, Lt. Comdr. Maurice E. Huntley, USNRF, in command, Agwidale shifted to the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Piers at Norfolk on the 24th, and there took on board a cargo of motor tractors. On 4 December 1918, she sailed for the [[Virginia]] capes, and at 1300 that day sighted a disabled seaplane off her port bow. | + | While still under construction, the single-screw steel-hulled freighter '''Agwidale''' was acquired by the Navy from the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, [Virginia]], near the end of [[World War I]] and assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS). Commissioned at Newport News on 16 November 1918, Lt. Comdr. Maurice E. Huntley, USNRF, in command, Agwidale shifted to the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Piers at Norfolk on the 24th, and there took on board a cargo of motor tractors. On 4 December 1918, she sailed for the [[Virginia]] capes, and at 1300 that day sighted a disabled seaplane off her port bow. |
| | Agwidale altered course accordingly, and reached the downed Curtiss HS-2L flying boat soon thereafter, maneuvering to take the plane in tow. She apparently then headed back toward Hampton Roads, with the plane—still occupied by its three-man crew— traveling in tow astern. Eventually, at 1512 the subchaser SC—195 came alongside and relieved the freighter of the towing chores to take the plane back to Hampton Roads. | | Agwidale altered course accordingly, and reached the downed Curtiss HS-2L flying boat soon thereafter, maneuvering to take the plane in tow. She apparently then headed back toward Hampton Roads, with the plane—still occupied by its three-man crew— traveling in tow astern. Eventually, at 1512 the subchaser SC—195 came alongside and relieved the freighter of the towing chores to take the plane back to Hampton Roads. |