Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 1385:  Eugene Ely lands his Curtiss pusher airplane on USS Pennsylvania, 18 Jan. 1911

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

Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- 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 honor of hosting the landing was assigned to the Pacific Fleet's armored 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 weather-driven 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 takeoff. Then the Elys, 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 takeoff. Captain Pond sent a favorable report to the Navy Department, Eugene Ely added luster 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.

This page features selected views related to aviator Eugene Ely's 18 January 1911 flight to USS Pennsylvania, plus links to comprehensive pictorial coverage of this event.

For complete pictorial presentations related to Ely's flight to USS Pennsylvania, see:

  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Preparations and Spectators;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Landing on the Ship;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Immediately after the Landing;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Ceremonies aboard Ship After the Landing;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Ely with his Plane on board the Ship;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- The Return Flight; and
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- After the Flights.


    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 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 Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 1385

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely lands his Curtiss pusher biplane on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82737

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane nears the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911. The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 635 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77608

    First airplane landing on a warship, 18 January 1911


    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane lands aboard USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), during the morning of 18 January 1911. 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.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77580

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Poses with Captain Charles F. Pond, USN, Commanding Officer of USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), shortly after Ely had landed his airplane on board the ship, in San Francisco Bay, California, 18 January 1911.
    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.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77588

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Stands by his Curtiss pusher biplane, just before taking off from USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January 1911.
    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.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77579

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Seated in his Curtiss pusher biplane, just before taking off from USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January 1911. 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.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 610 x 675 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77499

    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane


    Taking off from USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4) to return to land, 18 January 1911. Earlier in the day Ely landed on the ship's deck, the first time an airplane had landed on a warship.
    The ship was then at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77565

    Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane


    Flying off aircraft platform on USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), 18 January 1911. 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.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 77567

    Aviator Eugene B. Ely


    Is congratulated by U.S. Army personnel and civilians at San Francisco, California, after his return flight from USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser # 4), 18 January 1911. 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.

    Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     

    For complete pictorial presentations related to Ely's flight to USS Pennsylvania, see:

  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Preparations and Spectators;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Landing on the Ship;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Immediately after the Landing;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Ceremonies aboard Ship After the Landing;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- Ely with his Plane on board the Ship;
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- The Return Flight; and
  • Eugene Ely's Flight to USS Pennsylvania, 18 January 1911 -- After the Flights.


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


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 22 December 2002
    Text completed 6 January 2003