The first successful shipboard aircraft takeoff occurred on November 14, 1910, when Eugene Burton Ely piloted a Curtiss Pusher from a temporary wooden platform installed over the bow of the USS Birmingham. This dangerous experiment marked the beginning of naval aviation, effectively transforming a light cruiser into a makeshift aircraft carrier despite the plane dipping into the harbor waters.
Early Career and Aviation Entry
Born in Williamsburg, Iowa, in 1886, Ely initially pursued interests in automotive mechanics. He worked as a chauffeur for a Catholic priest, setting speed records between Iowa City and Davenport. After moving to San Francisco in 1906, he gained experience in auto racing. By 1910, while working as a salesman for E. Henry Wemme in Portland, Oregon, he acquired a wrecked Glenn Curtiss biplane. He repaired the machine himself, taught himself to fly, and soon secured a pilot’s license from the Aero Club of America in October 1910.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Pioneering Naval Flight
Ely caught the attention of Captain Washington Irving Chambers, who was evaluating aviation for the United States Navy. Following the successful takeoff from the USS Birmingham, Ely achieved another milestone on January 18, 1911. He landed his aircraft on a platform constructed aboard the armored cruiser USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay. This maneuver utilized an early tailhook system developed by Hugh Robinson, proving that ship-to-shore flight was physically possible.
Fatal Accident and Legacy
Ely continued performing in aviation exhibitions throughout 1911, despite warnings from officials to avoid unnecessary risks. During an event in Macon, Georgia, on October 19, 1911, he entered a dive from which his aircraft failed to recover. He died from a broken neck shortly after the crash. Posthumously, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1933 and inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1965.
Fast facts
- Born: 1886, Williamsburg, Iowa
- Died: 1911, Macon, Georgia
- Occupation: Aircraft pilot
- Pilot license: Aero Club of America #17
- USS Birmingham takeoff: November 14, 1910
- USS Pennsylvania landing: January 18, 1911
- National Aviation Hall of Fame induction: 1965
- Distinguished Flying Cross awarded: 1933
Questions readers ask
Did Eugene Ely graduate from Iowa State University?
The registrar of Iowa State University reported there is no record of him attending or graduating from the institution.
What caused the death of Eugene Ely?
He died from a broken neck after his aircraft crashed during an exhibition flight in Macon, Georgia, in 1911.
Achievements
- National Aviation Hall of Fame — 1965
- Educated at Iowa State University
- Worked as aircraft pilot
.jpg)
