[twocee]

Stig,

It looks as if this a large and complex topic for anyone interested in researching it (not me). For example, it seems as if the first State Militia flying boat was acquired by Illinois as a gift from two individuals in May 1915. Several other states then followed this lead. Then in 1916 the Navy was authorised to lend up to 12 aircraft to the Militias, but lack of funds and trained pilots slowed down the implementation. All changed, of course, in April 1917.