Battery Henry Adair (1916-1919) - Battery Henry Adair was a reinforced concrete, World War I 6 inch coastal gun battery on Ford Island, Honolulu County, Hawaii. The battery was named Battery Henry Adair in G.O. 13, 16 Jan 1917, after 1st Lt. Henry R. Adair, (Cullum 4309), 10th U.S. Cavalry, who was killed in action at Carrizall, Mexico, on 21 Jun 1916. Battery construction started in August 1916, was completed in December 1917 and transferred to the Coast Artillery for use 17 Dec 1917 at a cost of $ 59,045. Deactivated in 1919.
Battery Henry Adair Magazine Room Entrance.
Battery Henry Adair Magazine Level.-->
Battery Henry Adair Gun Emplacement Covered over by Quarters "K" on Ford Island, HI.
Originally built as a World War I concrete coastal gun battery with two 6" Armstrong M1898 guns mounted on M1898 Armstrong Barbette carriages. This was a two story battery with the guns located on the upper level and the magazines below. Shells were moved from the magazine level to the gun loading platform by hand. No shell or powder hoists were provided.
Source: RCW Form 1, 31 Mar 1919, CDSG, Berhow, Mark A. ed, American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, 2nd Edition, CDSG Press, McLean, VA, 2004, ISBN 0-9748167-0-1, pages 92-93, 218. Note 1: CDSG Gun Card Collection from NARA - The original order to scrap the guns and carriages came on 22 Jul 1919. Gun & Carriage cards indicate that the carriages were recorded as scrapped on 6 Sep 1921 and the guns were salvaged on the same date but later entries indicate that the guns were both retained on 23 Dec 1922 as "ornaments", location unspecified.
The U.S. entry into World War I resulted in a widespread removal of large caliber coastal defense gun tubes for service in Europe. Many of the gun and mortar tubes removed were sent to arsenals for modification and mounting on mobile carriages, both wheeled and railroad. Most of the removed gun tubes never made it to Europe and were either remounted or remained at the arsenals until needed elsewhere. The guns of Battery Henry Adair were direct to be scrapped on 22 Jul 1919.
