Gurn

Even Post WWII there was the "Seaplane Striking Force" concept. Jet powered fighter, seaplane bomber, and cargo planes. The idea you could disperse easily, without the loss of an airstrip. It also would be cheaper than a carrier. But the Navy didn't want something that would undercut it's budget for carriers. 

There's a great book, Attack from the Sea. It goes into the history, and how politics got involved in the process. They even found a way for submarines to refuel and rearm the flying boats. Great but slightly technical read. 

wag air bella bella I beleave had the last Grumman  geese , goose lol  flying  on the coast .

^ Thanks for the reference

"They even found a way for submarines to refuel and rearm the flying boats. "

The Japanese did re-fuel 2 of their H8K "Emily's" at French Frigate Shoals from I-15 class subs; for their second attack on Pearl.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_K