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U.S. Naval and U.S. Marine Corps Airplanes and Aviation History

In May of 1911, Captain Washington Irving Chambers, United States Navy, officer in charge of aviation, prepared the requisition for the Navy’s first aircraft to be purchased from aviator and inventor Glenn H. Curtiss. From then, until today, Naval aviation has played a significant role in the defense of our country, in peace and war.

Naval aviation today is comprised of more than 100,000 officers and sailors assigned to 11 aircraft carriers, 10 carrier air wings, 25 naval air stations, and 168 fleet, Reserve, and training squadrons.

We fondly remember the years we spent in the United States Navy. We salute all other veterans, both past and present for their service to our country.

For those interested in planes of the past, there are indeed lots of military DVDs, and aviation books. But we find that the best way to understand aviation history is to see it up close and personal ... to see the planes, touch them, sense their size and purpose.

Many fine museums around the country offer a first-hand glance at the history of Navy aviation. The National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, is a world-class facility, and highly recommended.

Also, the Naval Station Wildwood Aviation Museum at the Cape May Airport in New Jersey is well repsected, and their collection of aircraft, other aviation exhibits, special events and educational opportunities are recommended.

Other Navy aircraft collections at Patuxent, Alameda, Tillamook and other sites offer excellent glimpses into past Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard operations.

Shown below is but a brief sampling of the aircraft on display around the country, enabling us to remember and appreciate the planes and sailors of the past. We'll be adding more Navy and Marine aircraft photos soon.

Photographs of Naval and Marine Corps Aircraft

Centennial of Naval Aviation: 1911 - 2011

North American Aviation T-2C Buckeye B/N 157050 in Tucson, Arizona

North American Aviation T-2 Buckeye B/N 157034 at HAMM in Tyler

North American Aviation T-2 Buckeye Bureau Number 157034

Tail section view of the North American Aviation T-2 Buckeye B/N 157034

C-131A of the United States Coast Guard, restored by the staff of the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum

T-28C Trojan, Pueblo Weisbrod

U.S. Navy Lockheed P2V-7 Nepture, BuNo 148360, Tillamook

U.S. Navy F-14A Tomcat at Tillamook

U.S. Marine Corps A-6E Intruder, BuNo 154131 at Aviators Memorial Park in Grand Junction

Grumman F11F of the Blue Angels, BuNo 141796, Aviators Memorial Park, Grand Junction Regional Airport (Walker Field) in Colorado

Whidbey Island - City of Oak Harbor Naval Air Station aircraft display, A-6 Intruder and EA-6B Prowler (May 2013)

United States Marines Corps AD-5 Skyraider in Tyler, Texas

FG-1D Corsair, 530, of the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, at the Cedar Creek Air Show in Tyler, Texas

North American PBJ-1J "Devil Dog" patrol bomber, a B-25 variant for the Marine Corps Part of the Devil Dog Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), located in Georgetown, TX

North American PBJ-1J "Devil Dog" before a performance at the Thunder Over Cedar Creek Lake Air Show

North American PBJ-1J "Devil Dog" patrol bomber, showing Commemorative Air Force logo

U.S. Marine Corps. PBJ-1J "Devil Dog" patrol bomber - front gun armament

U.S. Navy F-4 Phantom from the USS Coral Sea, 152986 at the Wedell-Williams Aviation Museum, Patterson, Louisiana (photo by the author)

U.S. Navy McDonnell-Douglas YF-4J Phantom, 151497, at Pima Air in Tucson, AZ

Grumman F-11A Tiger, 141824, in markings of the Blue Angels, at the Pima Air Museum

Blue Angels logo on the Grumman F-11A Tiger, 141824

U.S. Navy Martin PBM-5A Mariner, 122071, in Tucson, AZ

Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat, 80410, VMF-312, of the U.S. Marines Corps, at the Pima Air Museum

Nose view, Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat, 80410, VMF-312, of the U.S. Marines Corps

Sikorsky S-43 Baby Clipper, 1059, 2-M J-4, in Tucson, AZ

Grumman S2F-1 Tracker, 136468, of the U.S. Navy, Tucson, AZ

U.S. Navy Convair T-29B Flying Classroom, 517906, in Tucson, AZ

United States Navy C-131F Samaritan, 141017, Guantanamo Bay, in Tucson, AZ

United States Marine Corps Douglas C-117D Super Gooneybird, 50826, Tucson, AZ

U.S. Navy North American T-28C Trojan, 140481, in Tucson, AZ

TA-4J Skyhawk, 154291, U.S. Navy, at HAMM, Tyler, TX

TA-4J Skyhawk, U.S. Navy, 154291

North American FJ-4 Fury of the U.S. Marine Corps, 139516, at HAMM in Texas

A-7 Corsair II of the U.S Navy, at Heritage Park in Albuquerque, NM

Historic Images of Naval Aircraft

Curtiss SB2C-1 Dive Bomber