USS Langley

The USS Langley served as a place for the US Navy to experiment with tactics and techniques as they learned to incorporate the airplane into naval operations.  The Langley first served in the Atlantic before moving to the Pacific, allowing numerous early naval aviators to practice landing and takeoffs on the deck.  The Langley is seen here underway off San Diego, California, 1928, with Vought VE-7 aircraft on the flight deck.  (US Naval History and Heritage Command, NH 81279)