Airshow Ceremony Celebrates 100 Years of Naval Aviation

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Steve Johnson, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- The Navy commemorated 100 years of naval aviation May 8 with a special ceremony at the N'Awlins Centennial of Naval Aviation Air Show May 7-8 in New Orleans.

Dignitaries who attended the event included Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Rex McMillian, Navy Rear Adm. Earl Gay, and Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry.

Capt. Tom Luscher, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Belle Chase, served as master of ceremonies. He was presented with a Centennial of Naval Aviation plaque to commemorate the milestone.

Three officers from the local area --Marine Capt. Lisa Zeeb, Navy Cmdr. Michael Dodick, and Coast Guard Lt. Joe Coffman -- were given the honors of cutting the large birthday cake celebrating 100 years of naval aviation with a ceremonial sword.

Luscher expressed pride that his command was selected to host the Centennial of Naval Aviation celebration.

"We were a bit shocked that the Navy would pick our Joint Reserve base, tucked away in southeast Louisiana, for such an airshow," said Luscher. "This community loves Naval aviation and their aviators, so we are just tickled pink that we were chosen for this honor."

Navy Band New Orleans performed military music at the ceremony, which was held along the flight line at the announcers stand, allowing visitors an up-close and personal involvement with the ceremony.

Following the cake-cutting event, the Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team put on their aerial demonstration. Later, Blue Angels pilots and crew signed autographs for airshow attendees.

Attendance to the three-day airshow exceeded 108,000, according to base officials.

The official beginning of Naval Aviation is recorded as May 8, 1911, when the first officer in charge of aviation, Captain Washington I. Chambers, issued requisitions for two Curtiss biplanes.

According to the Naval History & Heritage Command, civilian airplane builder Glenn Curtiss and civilian pilot Eugene Ely convinced the Navy in 1910 that aviation was ready for sea duty. On November 14, Ely flew a Curtiss biplane from a specially built platform on the cruiser Birmingham. He topped this feat on January 18, 1911, by landing a Curtiss pusher aboard the armored cruiser Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay and flying the airplane back to shore.

For vintage photographs and detailed stories of Naval Aviation history, visit www.history.navy.mil.