By William F. Trimble
From Baird Maritime:
Naval aviation has just celebrated its centenary. Both Brits and Americans claim to have invented it.
It is probably fairest to say that America inspired the concept of naval use of aircraft. The British, it seems, introduced the idea of aircraft carriers.
Whatever, naval aviation, in its various forms, is a very important factor in most modern naval activities.
Soon after the Wright brothers first flew, senior figures in the US Navy saw the value of aviation. They were fortunate infinding and encouraging inventor and mechanic Glenn Curtiss. They developed asymbiotic relationship with him.
In twenty years Curtiss, with the active encouragement of some visionary naval officers, notably Captain Washington Chambers, made enormous advances. Their benefits were most clearly felt in World War Two but have continued to contribute ever since.
A fascinating and very thorough history.
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