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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.

United States Marines AD-5 Skyraider on display in Tyler, Texas

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.

 

Navy and Marine Aircraft Featured on this Website

E-2 Hawkeye

P-3 Orion

P-8 Poseidon

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

PBY Catalina

LTV A-7 Corsair II

Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet

Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning

Lockheed C-2 Greyhound

T-2 Buckeye Trainer of the U.S. Navy

Photographs of Naval and Marine Corps Aircraft

Centennial of Naval Aviation: 1911 - 2011
Naval Aviation Centennial - 1911 to 2011
North American Aviation T-2 Buckeye Bureau Number 157034
North American Aviation T-2 Buckeye B/N 157034

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

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

Consolidated OA-10 Catalina 433879 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio
Consolidated OA-10 Catalina 433879 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio

U.S. Navy P-3C Orion 294 in flight (US Navy photo)
U.S. Navy P-3C Orion 294 in flight
C-131A of the United States Coast Guard, restored by the staff of the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
C-131A of the United States Coast Guard
T-28C Trojan, Pueblo Weisbrod
T-28C Trojan
U.S. Navy Lockheed P2V-7 Nepture, BuNo 148360, Tillamook
U.S. Navy Lockheed P2V-7 Nepture, BuNo 148360
U.S. Navy F-14A Tomcat at Tillamook
U.S. Navy F-14A Tomcat
U.S. Navy Poseidon P-8s on the flight line (Boeing Photo)
U.S. Navy Poseidon P-8s on the flight line
U.S. Navy E-2D Hawkeye during carrier landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln (US Navy photo)
U.S. Navy E-2D Hawkeye during carrier landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln
F/A-18E Super Hornet landing on carrier (US Navy Photo)
F/A-18E Super Hornet landing on carrier
Grumman F11F of the Blue Angels, BuNo 141796,
Aviators Memorial Park, Grand Junction Regional Airport (Walker Field) in Colorado
Grumman F11F of the Blue Angels, BuNo 141796, Aviators Memorial Park at Grand Junction Regional Airport in Colorado
U.S. Navy C-2 Greyhound 40 during replenishment operations (US Navy Photo)
U.S. Navy C-2 Greyhound 40 during replenishment operations
F-35B Lightning landing on carrier (US Navy Photo)
F-35B Lightning landing on carrier
Whidbey Island - City of Oak Harbor
Naval Air Station aircraft display, A-6 Intruder and EA-6B Prowler
Whidbey Island Naval Air Station aircraft display, A-6 Intruder and EA-6B Prowler (May 2013)


F4U Corsair, 5/N 124724, Registration F-AZEG flying over Melun, France (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)
F4U Corsair, 5/N 124724, Registration F-AZEG flying over Melun, France
AD-4N Skyraider, Registration F-AZDP, 24143, of the USS Saratoa, seen here in Luxeui, France (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)
AD-4N Skyraider, Registration F-AZDP, 24143, of the USS Saratoa, seen here in Luxeui, France
F8F Grumman Bearcat, G-RUMM, flying over Melun, France (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)
F8F Grumman Bearcat, G-RUMM, flying over Melun, France
TBM 3R Avenger, HB-RDG, 53319, over Roanne, France (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)
TBM 3R Avenger, HB-RDG, 53319, over Roanne, France
United States Marines Corps AD-5 Skyraider in Tyler, Texas
United States Marines AD-5 Skyraider on display 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
FG-1D Corsair, 92468, 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" patrol bomber, a B-25 variant for the Marine Corps
North American PBJ-1J "Devil Dog" before a performance at the Thunder Over Cedar Creek Lake Air Show
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
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. 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 F-4 Phantom from the USS Coral Sea, 152986
U.S. Navy McDonnell-Douglas YF-4J Phantom, 151497, at Pima Air in Tucson, AZ
U.S. Navy McDonnell-Douglas YF-4J Phantom, 151497
Grumman F-11A Tiger, 141824, in markings of the Blue Angels, at the Pima Air Museum
Grumman F-11A Tiger, 141824, in markings of the Blue Angels
Blue Angels logo on the Grumman F-11A Tiger, 141824
Blue Angels logo on the Grumman F-11A Tiger, 141824
U.S. Navy Martin PBM-5A Mariner, 122071, in Tucson, AZ
U.S. Navy Martin PBM-5A Mariner, 122071
Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat, 80410, VMF-312, of the U.S. Marines Corps, at the Pima Air Museum
Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat, 80410, VMF-312, of the U.S. Marines
Nose view, Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat, 80410, VMF-312, of the U.S. Marines Corps
Nose view, Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat, 80410, VMF-312, of the U.S. Marines
Sikorsky S-43 Baby Clipper, 1059, 2-M J-4, in Tucson, AZ
Sikorsky S-43 Baby Clipper, 1059, 2-M J-4
Grumman S2F-1 Tracker, 136468, of the U.S. Navy, Tucson, AZ
Grumman S2F-1 Tracker, 136468, of the U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy Convair T-29B Flying Classroom, 517906, in Tucson, AZ
U.S. Navy Convair T-29B Flying Classroom, 517906
United States Navy C-131F Samaritan, 141017, Guantanamo Bay, in Tucson, AZ
United States Navy C-131F Samaritan, 141017
United States Marine Corps Douglas C-117D Super Gooneybird, 50826, Tucson, AZ
United States Marines Douglas C-117D Super Gooneybird, 50826
U.S. Navy North American T-28C Trojan, 140481, in Tucson, AZ
U.S. Navy North American T-28C Trojan, 140481


TA-4J Skyhawk, 154291, U.S. Navy, at HAMM, Tyler, TX
TA-4J Skyhawk, 154291, U.S. Navy
TA-4J Skyhawk, U.S. Navy, 154291
TA-4J Skyhawk, 154291, U.S. Navy
SNJ-4 Texan of the US Navy, BU 51360, at the March Field Air Museum in California (Staff Photo)
SNJ-4 Texan of the US Navy, BU 51360, at the March Field Air Museum in California
North American FJ-4 Fury of the U.S. Marine Corps, 139516, at HAMM in Texas
North American FJ-4 Fury of the U.S. Marine Corps, 139516
PB4Y-2 Privateer 59-819 at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona
PB4Y-2 Privateer 59-819 at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona
A-7 Corsair II of the U.S Navy, at Heritage Park in Albuquerque, NM
A-7 Corsair II of the U.S Navy, at Heritage Park, Albuquerque

National Navy Aviation Museum

A visit to the museum located at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, is highly recommended. It features a massive collection of aircraft, a giant screen theater, flight simulators, Blue Angels tributes and many more exhibits. Admission and parking is free.

Since the Museum is located at NAS Pensacola, security measures are in effect. Please contact the museum prior to your visit to learn of current visit information.

Additional information can be obtained at the website of the National Navy Aviation Museum.

Exterior view of the National Navy Aviation Museum in Pensacola
Exterior view of the National Navy Aviation Museum in Pensacola
Interior views of the National Navy Aviation Museum in Pensacola
National Navy Aviation Museum in Pensacola National Navy Aviation Museum in Pensacola

U.S. Navy P-3C Orions in Storage at AMARG

U.S. Navy P-3C Orion BU 158206 in storage at AMARG
U.S. Navy P-3C Orion BU 158206 arriving at AMARG from Whidbey Island, WA, October 1, 2013 (Photo by 309th AMARG)
U.S. Navy P-3C Orion BU 158206 in storage at AMARG
U.S. Navy P-3C Orion BU 161412 at the AMARG facility at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona (Photo by 309th AMARG)