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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
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.
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.
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 22 December 2002
Text completed 6 January 2003