Location

Naval Aviation launched in early 1911, when Lt. Eugene Ely landed his plane on the deck of the armored cruiser USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay. This moment went down in history as the first successful shipboard landing of an aircraft. Naval aircraft are used as a means for projecting power, hitting targets and moving supplies to critical areas around the world – without the need for a ground base. A collection from more than 20 artists, “The Art of Naval Aviation” will feature works of art on loan from the U.S. Navy’s Art Collection, the Coast Guard Art Program and the Navy Memorial’s collection. The exhibit will include paintings, prints, posters, and sculptures created by artists including noted aviation artists Ted Wilbur and his son Morgan Wilbur; the legendary "old master of the air" Robert G. “RG” Smith; World War II combat artists Griffith Bailey Coale, Dwight Sheppler, Joseph Hirsch, and Robert Benn; and Coast Guard artist George Schoenberger. Artwork on view will include Coale’s iconic Battle of Midway painting “Dive Bombing Japanese Carriers,” the original artwork for one of John Falter’s famous World War II recruiting posters and RG Smith’s Vietnam War painting “USS Enterprise on Yankee Station.”

The exhibit will be on display at the U.S. Navy Memorial from April 2011 thru March 2012. It will be accompanied by numerous public events throughout the year, including films, artist gallery talks, book signings, children’s activities, and ceremonies for active duty personnel and their families. An online exhibit of the art will be available at www.navymemorial.org and a collection of naval aviation-related films will be housed on a special channel of Navy TV (www.navytv.org).