In 1928, Edsel Ford donated a Ford Tri-Motor airplane to Commander Richard E. Byrd, polar explorer and naval aviator, which would be used to attempt the first flight over the South Pole. Ford had previously assisted Byrd with an aircraft for his flight over the North Pole in 1927. Byrd would name the Ford Tri-Motor [...]
On 28 November 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Premier Joseph Stalin and Prime Minister Winston Churchill met for a series of talks at the Soviet Embassy in Tehran, Iran. The Tehran Conference was held to plan final strategy in the war against Hitler’s Germany and its allies, and the primary discussion centered on opening a [...]
On 17 November 1924, USS Langley (CV-1) reported for duty with the United States Navy’s Battle Fleet after two years in experimental status, thus becoming the Navy’s first operational aircraft carrier. Head of the Bureau of Naval Aeronautics was Rear Admiral William Adger Moffett who had pushed for the development of the Navy’s new air [...]
Notice the two catapult tracks on the flight deck of USS Enterprise. On 15 November 1934, the Bureau of Naval Aeronautics established plans to install hydraulic, flush-deck catapults on the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and USS Enterprise (CV-6). The Type H, Mark I catapult was manufactured by the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was [...]
Today marks the 236th birthday of our amazing Marine Corps, Happy Birthday Marines! Our videos today will celebrate their heritage and service to the nation and as tomorrow is Veterans Day, our last video is a tribute to all veterans from 1775 to 2011. Thanks for your selfless sacrifice to our nation… 2011 Veterans Day [...]
The Navy transferred two of its MATS (Military Air Transport Service) squadrons to assist in Operation Vittle on 09 November 1948. The Navy played a vital role in the Berlin Airlift, Operation Vittles, with the transfer of the two VR squadrons. VR-6 was attached to the 513th Troop Carrier Group and VR-8 was attached to [...]
Sixty-five years ago today, the Navy adopted a letter identification system for marking all Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, including those belonging to the Naval Air Training Command and the Naval Air Reserve. In Carrier Air Wing tail codes, the first letter denotes which fleet the Air Wing deploys from; A for Atlantic Fleet [...]
Veterans Day Weekend events begin Friday, 11 November, with a patriotic concert by the Charleston Community Band in Hangar Bay III onboard the famous USS Yorktown (CV-10). Charleston Community Band performs on Carolina Day at White Point Gardens. They will perform from 2 to 3 pm. Listen to them perform “Armed Forces Salute” here… Run [...]
Rear Admiral William Adger Moffett, The Father of Naval Aviation Today is the birthday of the naval officer who was able to foresee a powerful air arm of the United States Navy. William Adger Moffett was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on 31 October 1869. He was the son of Confederate Captain George Hall Moffett, [...]
Welcome to Video Thursday! This week on the eve of Halloween and the kickoff of USS Yorktown Ghost Ship tour our theme is ghost ships, enjoy the videos and stories below! …and come on out to our ghost ship this weekend! Here’s a look at the most famous ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman! Here’s a [...]
