Naval Aviation

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Naval Aviation

Throughout the history of Naval Aviation, one can see a growing force. As new technology and innovations arose and advanced, Naval Aviation improved as well. In times of war and peace, through training and dedication, naval aviators improved their abilities and tactics to produce the fighting force it is today. If by chance, the “revolt of the admirals” had failed, the United States Military would not be what it is today and the Navy could not have the liberty of enjoying the Mahanian concept of commanding the sea.

As new technology and innovations arose in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the military potentials for Naval Aviation were not so evident. Interest grew in 1898 during the inventions of the flying machine and the aircraft from Wilbur and Orville Wright, although naval officials did not recognize the military potentials the airplane possessed. However, in 1912, LT T.G. Ellyson, the first naval aviator, flew an aircraft successfully catapulted off a barge in the Potomac River. This began the evolution of Naval Aviation and in the years to come, the face of naval warfare would change drastically.

Official interest began in 1898 when the Navy assigned officers to sit in on an interservice board to investigate the military possibilities of Samuel P. Langley’s flying machine. During the years ahead, naval observers attended air shows and the public demonstrations of the Wright Brothers. By 1909, naval officers were excited about the possibilities of the aircraft to be used as a scout and urged the purchase of the aircraft.

Progress in the years from 1898-1916 were marked by an endurance record of six hours in the air, the first successful catapult launch, exercises with the fleet at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and combat sorties consisting of scouting at Veracruz, Mexico. These activities of the new aviators furthered the importance of Naval Aviation. By 1914, Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, announced that the United States had reached a point “where aircraft must form a large part of our naval forces for offensive and defensive operations” (Grossnick, 1).

Although the pioneers of 1898-1916 brought to reality Naval Aviation, it was much too small and poorly equipped to wage war. In April 1917, the call for war came. However, the navy only had 48 aviators and students available with 54 airc...

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...he changing times and technology. New strategies and tactics changed with the world to do its job: to serve the United States during peace and war.

Naval Aviation indeed serves the Navy and the United states remarkably. Without this magnificent evolution and the endurance of its aviators and officials promoting this promising future, it is virtually certain that the United States and its Navy would not be prepared for the wars and conflicts that the United States have been and will be involved with. The future of the Navy lies not only with budget cuts and with the changing world, but also with the improvements in naval aviation and the ability to project its power from sea to wherever the conflict exists. Without a state of the art aviation force, the Navy will not sustain its command of the sea and the United States will be a substandard world power.

1. Barlow, Jeffrey G. Revolt of the Admirals. Brasseys. Washington. 1998.

2. Grossnick, Roy. United States Naval Aviation, 1910-1995. Naval Historical

Center, Department of the Navy, Washington, D.C.

3. Wildenberg, Thomas. Destined for Glory. Naval Institute Press. Annapolis,

MD. 1998.

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