Godfrey Chevalier
Encyclopedia
Lt. Cdr. Godfrey DeCourcelles Chevalier, USN (7 March 1889 – 14 November 1922) was a pioneering naval aviator
of the United States Navy
of World War I
and the early 1920s.
Born in Providence, R.I.
, 7 March 1889, Chevalier graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
in June 1910. He was appointed a Naval Air Pilot 7 November 1915 and a Naval Aviator 7 November 1918.
On 8 May 1913, Ensign Chevalier was the passenger in a long-distance flight of 169 miles, flown in a Curtiss flying boat piloted by Lt. John H. Towers
, Naval Aviator No. 3, from the Washington Navy Yard
down the Potomac River
and then up the Chesapeake Bay
to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
. The flight took three hours and five minutes.
In 1916 he participated in the installation of the first real catapult
used in the Navy and piloted the first plane to be launched by catapult, from USS North Carolina
(ACR-12). In November 1917 he commanded the first naval air station in France
, at Dunkerque, and for World War I service was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
.
In 1922 he was attached to Langley
(CV-1), the first U.S. aircraft carrier, in connection with fitting her out. On 26 October 1922 Lieutenant Commander Chevalier flew Aeromarine 39-B, No. 606, which made the first landing on Langleys deck.
This distinguished pioneer of naval aviation died at the Norfolk Naval Hospital
14 November 1922 as a result of injuries sustained in an airplane crash on 12 November at Lochaven, Virginia, near Norfolk.
s have been named USS Chevalier
in his honor, as was the landplane flying field at NAS Pensacola (Chevalier Field
).
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the early 1920s.
Born in Providence, R.I.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, 7 March 1889, Chevalier graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in June 1910. He was appointed a Naval Air Pilot 7 November 1915 and a Naval Aviator 7 November 1918.
On 8 May 1913, Ensign Chevalier was the passenger in a long-distance flight of 169 miles, flown in a Curtiss flying boat piloted by Lt. John H. Towers
John H. Towers
John Henry Towers was a United States Navy admiral and pioneer Naval aviator. He made important contributions to the technical and organizational development of Naval Aviation from its very beginnings, eventually serving as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics...
, Naval Aviator No. 3, from the Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
down the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
and then up the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. The flight took three hours and five minutes.
In 1916 he participated in the installation of the first real catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
used in the Navy and piloted the first plane to be launched by catapult, from USS North Carolina
USS North Carolina (ACR-12)
USS North Carolina was a Tennessee-class armored cruiser of the United States Navy and the second Navy ship so named. She was also known as "Armored Cruiser No...
(ACR-12). In November 1917 he commanded the first naval air station in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, at Dunkerque, and for World War I service was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
.
In 1922 he was attached to Langley
USS Langley (CV-1)
USS Langley was the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, converted in 1920 from the collier USS Jupiter , and also the U.S. Navy's first electrically propelled ship...
(CV-1), the first U.S. aircraft carrier, in connection with fitting her out. On 26 October 1922 Lieutenant Commander Chevalier flew Aeromarine 39-B, No. 606, which made the first landing on Langleys deck.
This distinguished pioneer of naval aviation died at the Norfolk Naval Hospital
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
14 November 1922 as a result of injuries sustained in an airplane crash on 12 November at Lochaven, Virginia, near Norfolk.
Namesake
Two US Navy destroyerDestroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s have been named USS Chevalier
USS Chevalier
Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Chevalier, in honor of the Lieutenant Commander Godfrey Chevalier, a pioneer of naval aviation.* The , was a Fletcher-class destroyer, launched in 1942 and sunk in 1943....
in his honor, as was the landplane flying field at NAS Pensacola (Chevalier Field
Chevalier Field
Chevalier Field was the original non-seaplane aircraft landing area at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Established originally in 1922 as Station Field, it was located on the northeast side of the Navy base, on the western edge of Pensacola Bay and south of Bayou Grande...
).