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Theodore G. 'Spuds' Ellyson (1885-1928), Glenn Curtiss' first seaplane pupil, became the first United States Naval Aviator. Ellyson flew the first night flight by a naval seaplane (the Curtiss A-1) and the first successful catapult launch from an anchored barge. Commander Ellyson made many significant contributions in naval aviation before his death in 1928, in an airplane crash off Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Identifier

NASM.XXXX.0615

Creator

Ellyson, Theodore Gordon, 1885-1928

Date

1911-1914

Provenance

No donor information, unknown, unknown, XXXX-0615, unknown

Extent

0.23 Cubic feet ((1 slim legal document box))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of copies of letters written between Ellyson and others concerning then-Lieutenant Ellyson's aviation experiments of 1911-1914. Many of the letters are directed to Captain Washington I. Chambers and include monthly progress reports and travel and expense statements.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Topics

Aeronautics -- Records

Seaplanes

Aeronautics

Aeronautics, Military

Curtiss A-1 (AH-1) Type

Naval aviation

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence