Fleet Week History

A lil Fleet Week history

culled from the Fleet Week website

This will be a big year for Naval Aviation as it celebrates its 100th year.  It all began shortly before 11 a.m. on the morning of 18 January 1911 when Eugene B. Ely took off from Tanforan racetrack in San Bruno, California in his Curtiss pusher biplane, and, in full view of thousands of spectators ashore, on ships and at the city piers, and in a flock of small craft gathered around, landed his bi-plane on the USS Pennsylvania that was anchored off the San Francisco waterfront.  His biplane 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.  This was the first landing of an airplane aboard a US Navy ship.

From its humble beginning in 1911, the Navy's flight program has grown to become a guardian of freedom for America and its allies.  The U.S. Naval Aviation program includes three branches of the military: the Navy, the Marine and the Coast Guard.

Hear 'em roar!