Host to the FIRST FLIGHT DECK

1. At Anchor in 1909 Host to the FIRST FLIGHT DECK

2. Birmingham: A city in north central Alabama. It is the seat of government for Jefferson County. The first Birmingham (Scout Cruiser No. 2) was laid down on 14 August 1905 at Quincy, Mass., by the Fore River Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 29 May 1907; sponsored by Miss Mar Campbell; and commissioned at the Boston Navy Yard on 11 April 1908, Comdr. Burns T. Walling in command. After 15 years of service Birmingham arrived back at Philadelphia. She was placed out of commission there on 1 December 1923. Chester-class cruiser: Displacement: 3,750 long tons Length:423.1 ft Beam:47.1 ft Draft:16.9 ft Speed: 28.2 mph; Complement:359 officers and enlisted Armament: 2 - 5 inch/51 cal guns, 6 - 3 in 50 cal guns, 2 - 21 in torpedo tubes After only 25 years of existance, on 21 January 1930, Birmingham’s name was struck from the Navy list being in the reserve at Philadelphia. She was sold to the Boston Iron & Metal Co. for scrapping on 13 May 1930. From: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b6/birmingham-i.htm

3. Genesis of the flat-deck carrier "An airplane-carrying vessel is indispensable. These vessels will be constructed on a plan very different from what is currently used. First of all the deck will be cleared of all obstacles. It will be flat, as wide as possible without jeopardizing the nautical lines of the hull, and it will look like a landing field."Clément Ader, "L'Aviation Militaire", 1909. As heavier-than-air aircraft developed in the early 20th century various navies began to take an interest in their potential use as scouts for their big gun warships. In 1909 the French inventor Clément Ader published in his book "L'Aviation Militaire" the description of a ship to operate airplanes at sea, with a flat flight deck, an island superstructure, deck elevators and a hangar bay. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Anynobody/Aircraft_carrier

4. A floating crane lifts Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane from the Norfolk Navy Yard pier, Virginia, in preparation for placing it on board USS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser # 2), shortly before the flight. Birmingham is partially visible at left, behind the crane.

5. A floating crane lifts Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane onto USS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser # 2), at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, shortly before the flight. A floating crane places Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane on board USS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser # 2). Photographed at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, shortly before the flight.

6. Photograph taken at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, shortly before the flight. The floating crane that had lifted the airplane onto the ship is visible at the extreme left. Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane rests on the flying-off platform built over the foredeck of USS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser # 2).

7. USS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser # 2) steams downriver from the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, with Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane on board, at about midday on 14 November 1910.Ely and his plane made their historic flight later that afternoon. Using a 2007 topo map, an attempt to display where USS Birmingham may have been when the flight took place. Notice there were NO big highways, tunnels or airport in 1910

8. Sailors and civilians crowd around Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher airplane on board USS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser # 2). Photographed at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, shortly before the flight. Note the light emergency floats under the plane's lower wings and Ely's flying attire, including rubber inner tubes worn around his shoulders as a life preserver. The hooks on the bottom of the plane's undercarriage were used to catch lines placed across the ship's landing platform in order to bring the aircraft to a stop.

9. Eugene B. Ely flies his Curtiss pusher airplane off the deck of USS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser # 2), in Hampton Roads, Virginia, during the afternoon of 14 November 1910. USS Roe (Destroyer # 24) is visible beyond Birmingham's bow, acting as plane guard. Note that Birmingham's anchor may be in the process of being hoisted. A number of experimental flights were made to test the concept. Eugene Ely was the first pilot to launch from a stationary ship. He took off from a structure fixed over the forecastle of the US armored cruiser USS Birmingham and landed nearby on Willoughby Spit after some five minutes in the air. Photographs from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1910s/ev-1910/ely-birm.htm

10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Burton_Ely In October, Ely and Curtiss met Captain Washington Chambers, USN, who had been appointed by George von Lengerke Meyer, the Secretary of the Navy, to investigate military uses for aviation within the Navy. This led to two experiments. On November 14, 1910, Ely took off in a Curtiss pusher from a temporary platform erected over the bow of the light cruiser USS Birmingham The aeroplane plunged downward as soon as it cleared the 83-foot platform runway; and the aircraft wheels dipped into the water before rising Ely's goggles were covered with spray, and the aviator promptly landed on a beach rather than circling the harbor and landing at the Norfolk Navy Yard as planned following this flight, Ely was made a lieutenant in the California National Guard to qualify for a $500 prize offered to the first reservist to make such a flight Two months later, on January 18, 1911, Ely landed his Curtiss pusher airplane on a platform on the armored cruiser USS Pennsylvania anchored in San Francisco Bay, using the first ever tailhook system, designed and built by circus performer & aviator Hugh Robinson Ely told a reporter: "It was easy enough. I think the trick could be successfully turned nine times out of ten."

11. USS Pennsylvania (ACR 4) At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, being fitted with a temporary wooden deck in preparation for Eugene Ely's airplane landing attempt. The landing deck, 120 feet long and 30 feet wide, was inclined slightly to help slow the plane as it landed, and had a thirty-degree ramp at its after end. USS Pennsylvania (ACR 4) At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in January 1911, after she had been fitted with a temporary wooden deck in preparation for Eugene Ely's airplane landing attempt. Ely landed his Curtiss pusher biplane on board the ship on 18 JAN, the first airplane landing on a warship. The landing deck, 120 feet long and 30 feet wide, was inclined slightly to help slow the plane as it landed, and had a thirty-degree ramp at its after end.

12. First airplane landing on a warship, 18 JAN 1911 - Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane nears the landing platform on USS Pennsylvania (ACR 4) The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. Using a 2007 topo map, an attempt to display where USS Pennsylvania may have been when the flight took place. Notice there was NO big highways or International Airport in 1910

13. First airplane landing on a warship, 18 JAN 1911 - Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane lands aboard USS Pennsylvania (ACR 4), during the morning of 18 JAN 1911. The ship was then anchored in San Francisco Bay, California. The plane has now caught the first lines of the arresting gear, and sandbags at the ends of the lines are being pulled along the landing platform as the plane moves forward. Eugene B. Elybecame the first pilot to land on a stationary ship. He took off from the Tanforan racetrack and landed on a similar temporary structure on the aft of USS Pennsylvania anchored at the San Francisco waterfront — the improvised braking system of sandbags and ropes led directly to the arrestor hook and wires described above. His aircraft was then turned around and he was able to take off again.

14. Ship board Congradulations were in order Aviator Eugene B. Ely poses with Captain Charles F. Pond, USN, Commanding Officer of USS Pennsylvania (ACR 4), shortly after Ely had landed his airplane on board the ship, in San Francisco Bay, California, 18 January 1911. Ely's wife, Mabel, is standing beside him, second from the left. The woman at right is probably Captain Pond's wife. Ely, whose landing was the first ever made on a warship, is wearing a leather helmet and goggles. Rubber inner tubes are wrapped around his shoulders to provide floatation in case he landed in the water. Photographed by R.J. Waters & Co.

15. Aviator Eugene B. Ely Stands by his Curtiss pusher biplane, just before taking off from USS Pennsylvania (ACR 4) to return to land, 18 JAN 1911. - Earlier in the day he landed on the ship's deck, the first time an airplane had alighted on a warship. Pennsylvania was then at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California. Note Ely's flying attire, including rubber inner tubes worn around his shoulders as a life preserver. Eugene B. Ely's Curtiss pusher biplane Taking off from USS Pennsylvania (ACR 4) to return to land, 18 JAN 1911. Earlier in the day Ely landed on the ship's deck, the first time an airplane had landed on a warship. The ship was then at anchor in San Francisco Bay, California. Photograph from the Eugene B. Ely scrapbooks.

16. There he encountered a Curtiss airplane, rebuilt the primitive machine, and taught himself to fly. Within a few months he had begun making exhibition flights, discovering that to be a financially rewarding use of his talents. Ely and his plane put on shows at Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, in June 1910 and met pioneer aviation entrepreneur Glenn Curtiss in the latter city. Quickly recognizing Ely's abilities, Curtiss took him on as a member of his commercial flying team. Ely travelled extensively through the eastern United States and he made contact with Captain Washington I. Chambers, the officer responsible for the Navy's embryonic aviation activities. This meeting resulted in Ely's performance of two pioneering acts of flying, the first shipboard aircraft takeoff and landing. Eugene B. Ely, Aviator, (1886-1911) Eugene B. Ely was born in Davenport, Iowa, on 21 October 1886. In 1904, following graduation from Iowa State University, he moved to San Francisco, California, where he was active in the then-young automobile business as a salesman, chauffeur, mechanic and racing car driver. Ely married Mabel Hall, of Corte Madera, California, in 1907. She was to play a active role in his subsequent aviation career, acting as manager and publicist. That phase of Ely's life began early in 1910, after he had relocated to Portland, Oregon, to continue his automotive work. The first of these events took place on 14 November 1910, in Hampton Roads, Virginia, when Ely took off from a temporary platform erected over the bow of the scout cruiser Birmingham. Two months later, on 18 January 1911, while performing at San Francisco, California, Ely landed his plane on the armored cruiser Pennsylvania, and after a brief visit on board, flew back to shore. Remaining in the western U.S. he joined the California National Guard, conducted some of the first military aviation flights. In July Ely returned to the eastern part of the Nation. On 19 October 1911, while flying at Macon, Georgia, his plane crashed and Ely was killed. In 1933 Eugene B. Ely's historic achievements were posthumously recognized by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

17. USS Birmingham (CS-2) In the Middle West Chamber, Gatun Locks, during the passage of the Pacific Fleet through the Panama Canal, 24 July 1919. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of Admiral William V. Pratt. http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/002/04002.htm USS Birmingham (CS-2) At Seattle, Washington, in September 1919 The takeoff platform was gone.