Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 90066:  USS Pennsylvania after she was fitted with a temporary aircraft landing deck, January 1911

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The 1910s -- 1911

Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Preparations and Spectators


This page features all the views we have concerning preparations for Eugene Ely's 18 January 1911 flight to USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), and of the event's spectators.

For a historical overview of Ely's historic flight to USS Pennsylvania, and links to comprehensive pictorial coverage on other aspects of the event, see:

  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Narrative and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 106191-KN (color)

    First Airplane Landing on a Warship, January 1911

    Telegram from Captain Charles F. Pond, Commanding Officer of USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), sent on 7 January 1911 inviting civilian aviator Eugene B. Ely to come aboard the ship on the following morning.
    Presumably, this invitation was for the purpose of making arrangements for Ely's historic first landing on Pennsylvania, which took place on 18 January 1911.

    Courtesy of the Navy Department Library, Historical Manuscripts Collection.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 119KB; 900 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77523

    Eugene B. Ely


    Seated in his Curtiss pusher airplane, probably during the San Francisco aviation meet in January 1911. During this meet on 18 January, Ely flew out to USS Pennsylvania and made the first airplane landing on a warship.
    Sign in the center background reads "Tetrazinni Day".

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 550 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 90066

    USS Pennsylvania
    (Armored Cruiser # 4)

    At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in January 1911, after she had been fitted with a temporary wooden deck in preparation for Eugene Ely's airplane landing attempt. Ely landed his Curtiss pusher biplane on board the ship on 18 January, the first airplane landing on a warship.
    The landing deck, 120 feet long and 30 feet wide, was inclined slightly to help slow the plane as it landed, and had a thirty-degree ramp at its after end.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 70595

    USS Pennsylvania
    (Armored Cruiser # 4)

    At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in January 1911, after she had been fitted with a temporary wooden deck in preparation for Eugene Ely's airplane landing attempt. Ely landed his Curtiss pusher biplane on board the ship on 18 January, the first airplane landing on a warship.
    The landing deck, 120 feet long and 30 feet wide, was inclined slightly to help slow the plane as it landed, and had a thirty-degree ramp at its after end.
    The original glass plate negative for this image was cracked, producing the undulating horizontal line across the middle.

    Courtesy of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 1970.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 85460

    USS Pennsylvania
    (Armored Cruiser # 4)

    In San Francisco Bay, California, in January 1911, after she had been fitted with a temporary wooden deck in preparation for Eugene Ely's airplane landing attempt. Ely landed his Curtiss pusher biplane on board the ship on 18 January, the first airplane landing on a warship.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1977.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77568

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    With his Curtiss pusher biplane at San Francisco, California, just before or just after his 18 January 1911 flight to USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4).
    Note his helmet, goggles and life preserver made of rubber inner tubes.
    Also note the floatation tubes installed under the airplane's wings and the plane's eight-cylinder "V" water-cooled engine.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77515

    USS Pennsylvania
    (Armored Cruiser # 4)

    Crewmen crowd the top of the ship's after smokestack, the boat cranes, foremast, and other vantage points on the morning of 18 January 1911, awaiting the arrival overhead of Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss biplane. Shortly afterwards, Ely landed on board, the first time an airplane landed on a warship.
    Pennsylvania was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77581

    USS Pennsylvania
    (Armored Cruiser # 4)

    Crewmen atop the ship's after smokestack, on the boat cranes and on the boat deck during the morning of 18 January 1911, watching for the arrival of Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss biplane. Shortly afterwards, Ely made history's first airplane landing on Pennsylvania, which was anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.
    Another armored cruiser (probably USS California, flagship of the Pacific Fleet's Second Squadron) and a ferryboat are in the background.
    Photographed by R.J. Waters & Co.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 625 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77524

    USS Pennsylvania
    (Armored Cruiser # 4)

    Scene on the ship's deck, looking aft from amidships on the starboard side during the morning of 18 January 1911. Crewmen are watching for the arrival of Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss biplane, which soon would land on board, the first airplane landing on a warship. Pennsylvania was anchored in San Francisco Bay, California, at the time.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 91KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77513

    Mrs. Mabel Ely


    On board USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911, awaiting the arrival overhead of her husband, the aviator Eugene B. Ely, in his Curtiss biplane. He landed on board shortly afterwards, the first airplane landing on a warship.
    Pennsylvania was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.
    Note Mrs. Ely's camera.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77597

    USS Pennsylvania
    (Armored Cruiser # 4)

    Ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Charles F. Pond, (front row, left center), with some of the guests and dignitaries on board to observe Eugene Ely land his Curtiss pusher biplane on the ship, during the morning of 18 January 1911. They are standing at the forward end of the temporary landing platform built over the ship's stern. The canvas safety barriers in front and behind them were intended to catch the plane and pilot in case he overshot the landing zone.
    Mrs. Mabel Ely, wife of the aviator, is near the right end of the group, wearing a light colored coat.
    Pennsylvania was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77522

    USS Pennsylvania
    (Armored Cruiser # 4)

    View from the ship, looking out over San Francisco Bay, California, during the morning of 18 January 1911, while awaiting the arrival of Eugene Ely's Curtiss biplane. Ely would soon alight on the ship's after deck, making the World's first airplane landing on a warship.
    Another armored cruiser (probably USS California, flagship of the Pacific Fleet's Second Squadron) is in the right background.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 86KB; 600 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77569

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Crewmembers of merchant sailing ships at San Francisco, California, watching during the morning of 18 January 1911, as aviator Eugene Ely landed his Curtiss pusher biplane on board USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), which was anchored off the city.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 500 pixels

     


    For a historical overview of Ely's historic flight to USS Pennsylvania, and links to comprehensive pictorial coverage on other aspects of the event, see:

  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Narrative and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 27 December 2002
    New image added 3 December 2008