100^th Anniversary of Naval Aviation

Subject: FW: 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAVAL AVIATION

FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
TO NAVADMIN
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 179/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00/JUN// SUBJ/100TH ANNIVERSARY OF
NAVAL AVIATION//
RMKS/1. 2011 IS THE YEAR IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF
THE NAVY WILL RECOGNIZE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAVAL AVIATION.
2. ON 8 MAY 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. AFTER 97 YEARS, NAVAL AVIATION HAS GROWN FROM A TACTICAL
AFTERTHOUGHT AND SUPPORT CAPABILITY TO A PRIMARY INSTRUMENT OF OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY. FROM THE CURTISS A-1 TRIAD, TO THE F/A-18 SUPER
HORNET, FROM THE USS LANGLEY (CV 1) TO THE USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76),
NAVAL AVIATION HAS SCORED AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN PEACE
AND WAR. THE FIRST CROSSING OF THE ATLANTIC BY AIR, VICTORY AT THE
BATTLE OF MIDWAY, AND THE FIRST AMERICAN IN SPACE, TO NAME A FEW, PUT
NAVAL AVIATION AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR NATIONAL DESTINY.
3. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT DURING THE CENTENNIAL YEAR OF NAVAL AVIATION,
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, COAST GUARD PERSONNEL, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, AND
FRIENDS AND ALLIES OVERSEAS BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE
HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF NAVAL AVIATION AND BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH ITS
RICH AND COLORFUL HERITAGE.
4. COMMANDER, NAVAL AIR FORCES WILL BE THE EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR PLANNING
AND EXECUTING ALL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAVAL
AVIATION. COMMANDER, NAVAL AIR FORCES WILL FORMALLY ESTABLISH A
CENTENNIAL OF NAVAL AVIATION TASK FORCE WITH REPRESENTATION FROM THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH NAVAL AVIATION TO SYNCHRONIZE ACTIVITIES
THROUGHOUT CALENDAR YEAR 2011. COMMANDER, NAVAL AIR FORCES WILL:
A. DESIGNATE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTENNIAL OF NAVAL AVIATION
TASK FORCE.
B. ESTABLISH MEMBERSHIP FOR THE CENTENNIAL OF NAVAL AVIATION TASK
FORCE.
C. PROVIDE PLANNING AND EXECUTION UPDATES TO NAVY LEADERSHIP.
D. FORWARD FOR APPROVAL, EVENTS THAT REQUIRE INTERAGENCY ENGAGEMENT AND
COORDINATION.
5. THE CENTENNIAL OF NAVAL AVIATION AFFORDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REAFFIRM
TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT THEIR COUNTRY'S SECURITY IS ASSURED BY A
STRONG NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. IT WILL HONOR OUR LEGACY
AND RECOGNIZE THE ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS OF NAVAL AVIATION TO OUR
COUNTRY'S SAFETY, SECURITY, AND PROSPERITY.
6. RELEASED BY ADMIRAL G. ROUGHEAD, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.//