EUGENE ELY'S FLIGHT TO USS PENNSYLVANIA, 18 JANUARY 1911

Transcription

1 Narrative and Special Image Selection Soon after Eugene B. Ely's historic airplane flight from USS Birmingham Captain Washington I. Chambers, the Navy's aviation officer, proposed that Ely try landing his plane on board ship. The aviator, always searching for new ways to generate publicity for his aerial exhibitions, enthusiastically accepted the proposition, offering to make the attempt in January 1911 at San Francisco, California. where he would be participating in an air meet. The honour of hosting the landing was assigned to the Pacific Fleet's armoured cruiser Pennsylvania, and the Mare Island Navy Yard constructed a temporary wooden platform over her after deck and gun turret. Ely and others devised a method of stopping the plane within the platform's 120 by 30 foot dimensions: a series of ropes, with sandbags at each end, would be stretched across the temporary deck and held above it by boards laid along its length. Hooks were attached to the airplane's landing gear to catch the ropes, and the weight of the sandbags would bring the machine to a rapid halt. In case of an overrun, or a swerve off the platform's edge, Pennsylvania's crew rigged canvas awnings in front and to the sides to catch plane and pilot. This arrangement was a clever one, worked well, and in general pointed the way to the arresting gear and safety barrier system that is employed on the Navy's aircraft carriers to this day. Shortly before 11 AM on the morning of 18 January 1911, after the usual weatherdriven delays, Ely took off from Tanforan racetrack. Pennsylvania was anchored off the San Francisco waterfront, in full view of thousands of spectators ashore, on ships at the city piers, and in a flock of small craft gathered around the cruiser. The little Curtiss pusher biplane came into view, flew around ship to check arrangements and set up the landing course, and then came in toward Pennsylvania's stern. Ely was prepared to handle the existing tailwind, but apparently did not expect the updraft that struck his lightly-loaded plane just as it reached the platform. Fortunately, he responded quickly, dove and snagged the arresting gear about halfway up its length. The Curtiss pulled ropes and sandbags to a smooth stop before reaching any of the safety barriers. Ely's wife greeted him with and enthusiastic "Oh, boy! I knew you could do it". Pennsylvania's Commanding Officer, Captain Charles F. Pond, took the pilot and important guests below for a celebratory lunch. While they dined, the landing platform was cleared and the plane turned around in preparation for take-off. Then the Ely s, Pond and the others posed for photographs. The pilot then remounted his machine and, about an hour after the World's first shipboard airplane landing, made history's second successful take-off. Captain Pond sent a favourable report to the Navy Department, Eugene Ely added lustre to his reputation as a smart and innovative aviator, and the Navy began the slow process of bringing "flying machines" into its force structure. For the next decade, however, the British Royal Navy would take the lead in the further development of aircraft-carrying warships. 1 P a g e

2 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. 2 P a g e

3 Eugene B. Ely Seated in his Curtiss pusher airplane, probably during the San Francisco aviation meet in January During this meet on 18 January, Ely flew out to USS Pennsylvania and made the first airplane landing on a warship. Sign in the centre background reads "Tetrazinni Day". 3 P a g e

4 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 (Armoured 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 4 P a g e

5 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Eugene B. Ely lands his Curtiss pusher biplane on USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. 5 P a g e

6 USS Pennsylvania (Armoured 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. 6 P a g e

7 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 armoured 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. 7 P a g e

8 USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4) Scene on the ship's deck, looking aft from amidships on the starboard side during the morning of 18 January 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. 8 P a g e

9 Mrs. Mabel Ely On board USS Pennsylvania (Armoured 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. 9 P a g e

10 USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4) Ship's commanding Officer, Captain Charles F. Pond, (front row, left centre), 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 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 coloured coat. Pennsylvania was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. 10 P a g e

11 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane nears the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. 11 P a g e

12 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane lands aboard USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. The plane has now caught the first lines of the arresting gear, and sandbags at the ends of the lines are being pulled along the landing platform as the plane moves forward. 12 P a g e

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14 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane at rest on board USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), immediately after it landed during the morning of 18 January The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. Ely (with rubber inner tubes around his shoulders, and wearing a leather helmet) has dismounted from the plane and is talking with a man standing in front of the plane. Note the sand bags attached to lines behind the plane, used to stop it after it reached the deck. 14 P a g e

15 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Eugene B. Ely (with rubber inner tubes around his shoulders) walks away from his Curtiss pusher biplane, just after his successful landing on USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. Note the sand bag and line arresting gear behind the plane, and the canvas barriers rigged on the landing platform in front of it. 15 P a g e

16 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane on board USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), just after his successful landing during the morning of 18 January The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. Ely is in the lower left, wearing rubber inner tubes around his shoulders. Note the photographer working from the ship's after searchlight platform, in the foreground. Sailors are beginning to remove the sandbag and line arresting gear. 16 P a g e

17 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane on board USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), just after his successful landing. Crewmen and guests are crowding around the plane, while other Sailors are removing the sandbag and line arresting gear behind it. Ely and his wife, Mabel, are in the centre, standing just in front of the plane's right wing. She is reported to have greeted him by exclaiming "Oh, boy! I knew you could do it." 17 P a g e

18 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane on board USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), shortly after it landed during the morning of 18 January The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. The officer in the lower left is Lieutenant John Rodgers, who would become an airplane pilot a few months later, the second Naval Aviator. 18 P a g e

19 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Ship's crewmen and guests looking over Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane, shortly after his successful landing on USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4). Some of the Sailors are removing the sandbag and line arresting gear behind the plane 19 P a g e

20 First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911 Crewmen and guests look over Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane on USS Pennsylvania's aircraft platform, soon after it landed on board. Note the Sailor using a camera, in left centre. The awnings at the platform's edge were rigged as a safety precaution, to prevent the plane from going over the side if it went off the platform while landing. 20 P a g e

21 Aviator Eugene B. Ely Poses with Captain Charles F. Pond, USN, Commanding Officer of USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), and shortly after Ely had landed his airplane on board the ship, in San Francisco Bay, California, 18 January Ely's wife, Mabel, is standing beside him, second from the left. The woman at right is probably Captain Pond's wife. Ely, whose landing was the first ever made on a warship, is wearing a leather helmet and goggles. Rubber inner tubes are wrapped around his shoulders to provide floatation in case he landed in the water. Photographed by R.J. Waters & Co. 21 P a g e

22 Aviator Eugene B. Ely Stands by his Curtiss pusher biplane, just before taking off from USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January Earlier in the day he landed on the ship's deck, the first time an airplane had alighted on a warship. Pennsylvania was then at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California. Note the light emergency floats under the plane's lower wings and Ely's flying attire, including rubber inner tubes worn around his shoulders as a life preserver. The hooks on the bottom of the plane's undercarriage were used to catch lines placed across the ship's landing platform in order to bring the aircraft to a stop. 22 P a g e

23 Aviator Eugene B. Ely Seated in his Curtiss pusher biplane, while preparing to take off from USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January The ship was then at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California. Photographed by Weidner. 23 P a g e

24 Aviator Eugene B. Ely In his Curtiss pusher biplane, ready to take off from USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January The ship was then at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California. 24 P a g e

25 Aviator Eugene B. Ely Seated in his Curtiss pusher biplane, just before taking off from USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January Earlier in the day he landed on the ship's deck, the first time an airplane had landed on a warship. Note Ely's flying attire, including a leather helmet and rubber inner tubes worn around his shoulders as a life preserver 25 P a g e

26 Flying off aircraft platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), 18 January Earlier in the day Ely had landed on the ship's deck, the first time an airplane alighted on a warship's deck. Pennsylvania was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. 26 P a g e

27 Aviator Eugene B. Ely Is congratulated by U.S. Army personnel and civilians at San Francisco, California, after his return flight from USS Pennsylvania (Armoured Cruiser # 4), 18 January Earlier in the day Ely had landed on the ship, the first time an airplane alighted on a warship's deck. Ely is wearing a Pennsylvania cap ribbon around his left arm. 27 P a g e