About the Centennial

With LT Theodore G. Ellyson, destined to become Naval Aviator Number 1 observing, Glenn H. Curtiss makes the first successful hydroaeroplane flight in San Diego, demonstrating the application of airplanes for naval purposes.
With LT Theodore G. Ellyson, destined to become Naval Aviator Number 1 observing, Glenn H. Curtiss makes the first successful hydroaeroplane flight in San Diego, demonstrating the application of airplanes for naval purposes.

The Centennial of Naval Aviation is a historic milestone. From its humble beginning in 1911, the Navy's flight program has grown to become a guardian of freedom for America and its allies. It has succeeded because of the hard work and dedication of men and women who are willing to continually challenge themselves and, if necessary, sacrifice their lives for their country. Many have done so. We honor their memory by celebrating 2011, the Centennial year. The U.S. Naval Aviation program includes three branches of the military: the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. All aviators receive the same rigorous training and meet the same high standards.

Mankind's fascination with the possibilities of flight predates Leonardo da Vinci's whimsical drawings of flying machines in the 1400s. Retired Navy Commander Paul Siverly, an aviator who served from 1952 to 1972, got the urge to fly while he was still a boy. "I was raised on a small farm southern Illinois, with very little hope of ever leaving the farm," he recalled. "I had never touched an airplane. I used to lie in the meadows and watch the B-17s being flown across the country. I thought, 'Man I would like to do something like that someday,' never thinking I would have the opportunity."

By the time Siverly began his flight training, naval airpower had become recognized as an essential part of the nation's military arsenal. Aircraft carriers played a major role during World War II, after the Japanese destroyed numerous U.S. ships in their attack on Pearl Harbor.

February 20, 1962 - LTCOL John H. Glenn, Jr., USMC, becomes the first American to orbit the earth.
February 20, 1962 - LTCOL John H. Glenn, Jr., USMC, becomes the first American to orbit the earth.

"We would not have been able to beat the Japanese in the war in the Pacific had it not been for Naval Aviation," said Karl Zingheim, historian at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. "Our battleships were sunk. All we had were the aircraft carriers."

In the years that followed World War II, Naval Aviation became even more relevant, as presidents began sending carriers to political hotspots around the globe. Carriers remain important to U.S. foreign policy because of their ability to quickly bring airpower to nearly every spot on the planet.

"There is a saying in the Navy," said Hill Goodspeed, historian at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. "When there is a crisis in the world, the first question the president asks is, 'Where is the nearest aircraft carrier?'"

Naval Aviation offers some of the most advanced flight training in the world. Naval Aviators are recognized for their high degree of skill. Retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General Harry Blot recalls vividly the pride and the rush of adrenaline that he felt when he first took control of a powerful jet aircraft in the early 1960s. "It is a glamorous life," he said. "It is one where you really feel like you are doing something for your country."

Glamour and excitement are part of it, but there is much more to Naval Aviation than romance and adventure. Young pilots are exposed to highly diverse aircraft. It's no accident that many flying milestones were accomplished by aviators. The first American in space, the first American to orbit the Earth, and the first person to walk on the moon all were Naval Aviators.

A Grumman F6F-3 “Hellcat” fighter makes condensation rings as it awaits the take-off flag aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10), 20 November 1943. The plane is from Fighting Squadron Five (VF-5).Yorktown was then hitting targets in the Marshall Islands to cover the landings in the Gilberts.
A Grumman F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighter makes condensation rings as it awaits the take-off flag aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10), 20 November 1943. The plane is from Fighting Squadron Five (VF-5).Yorktown was then hitting targets in the Marshall Islands to cover the landings in the Gilberts.

Over the last century, aviators repeatedly have earned their nation's gratitude for service in war and peace. Commemorating this anniversary underscores our commitment to supporting airpower in the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard during the century ahead. As the aviation community recalls its history, we rededicate ourselves to maintaining a well-trained and fully equipped Naval Aviation program for America.

Modern aviation consists of aircraft performing missions in support of America's interests worldwide. To do its job, the military relies on the talent and commitment of thousands of active and reserve personnel, civilian workers and private contractors. The continued strength of Naval Aviation depends on them, their families and the support of the public.

In return for their service, those who serve in support of Naval Aviation receive an opportunity to engage in careers of constant challenge and learning. Many men and women go on to become leaders in government, business and industry, after their active military days have ended. The presence of these good citizens strengthens our communities. Supporting Naval Aviation is an investment in America's future.