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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 -- Picture Data

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

 

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20 December 2002