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.
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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.
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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.
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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 |
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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.
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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.
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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 |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 |
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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 |
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