The Birth of Naval Aviation stated here in San Diego on North Island May 8th, 1911. The introduction of this new technology was represented by the Curtiss Aircraft, the first aircraft to depart from and land on a naval ship. The USS Birmingham was rigged with a sloping platform to facilitate the experimental flights from a ship at sea.
The Navy expanded its training at Pensacola, Florida at its new flying school there. Naval aviation although still very new, played an important role in World War I in detecting German U-boats. The British meanwhile made steady gains in the British Air Force. Aviation activity would continue on both coasts of the US but because San Diego had it's North Island Naval Station on the Pacific, it would become the Navy carrier arm for all naval aviation.
Today on a pier I set up my camera in an attempt to capture at least the flavor of this most historic event. Fighting the direct sunlight,I was determined to bring it home. There was a center stage and the flight parade would be called from this stage and broadcast by KOGO radio. Everyone seems to have this broadcast turned to high volume on this particular pier and you could feel tension build. As the broadcast begin, they played the National Anthem and at that very moment out of seemingly nowhere, we experienced a flyover by the Blue Angels. I was so mesmerized at the site, I almost didn't get the photo. The cheering and the sounds gave me goose flesh and with one eye focused in the viewfinder, I pushed the shutter and I had my first shot.
Many more posts will follow this historic event celebrating 100 years of Naval Aviation here today in San Diego. Including 2 videos documenting this amazing and thrilling history. I hope you will come back over and over to see and feel the excitement of today that I will endeavor to create and share with you!
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