Dec. 23, 1910 First naval officer designated for flight training, Lt. Theodore G. Ellyson, is ordered to report to the Glenn H. Curtiss Aviation Camp at North Island. He reaches there the next month.
Jan. 26, 1911 Curtiss makes the first successful “hydroaeroplane” flight.
May 8, 1911 Navy orders its first airplane. This decision marks the official birth of U.S. naval aviation.
May 22, 1912 The Marine Corps’ first pilot, 1st Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham, reports to the Naval Academy for “duty in connection with aviation” and later does flight instruction. Recognized as the official start of Marine aviation.
April 1, 1916 The Coast Guard’s first aviator, Lt. Elmer Stone, is assigned to naval aviation school in Pensacola, Fla.
SOURCES: Naval History and Heritage Command; Coast Guard Aviation Association
CORONADO It was January 1911, and what’s now North Island Naval Air Station was still separated from the mainland by water. The first naval aviator reported to San Diego to learn how to fly.
Nearly a century later, the Navy is planning a marathon celebration of its flight roots starting in January. The Naval Air Forces command, with headquarters at North Island, has formed a centennial task force, activated a reserve captain to coordinate the events and dedicated five service members to the effort.
“Some young, enterprising people 100 years ago thought it was important enough to buy an airplane and experiment with it out here,” said Capt. Rich Dann, executive director of the task force. “It paid big dividends.”
Read the entire Union Tribune article and see an amazing photo here:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/may/12/plans-for-navy-aviation-centennial-begin-to-take/
