P. V. H. Weems
Encyclopedia
Philip Van Horn Weems was a United States Navy
officer, inventor of navigational instruments and methods, including the Weems Plotter and the Second Setting Watch, and author of navigational textbooks.
He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis in 1908. At the Academy, he excelled at various sports, and was an All-American center on the Navy football team. (Later, he was selected for the 1920 U.S. Olympic wrestling team; however, there is no record of him actually competing at the Games.) He graduated in the class of 1912 and was commissioned an ensign. He specialized in navigation and taught at the Academy. In 1915, he married Margaret Thackray.
In 1927, Weems was assigned to the Aircraft Squadron Battle Fleet, before being assigned to the tanker USS Cuyama
as its executive officer from 1928 to 1930. He retired for the first time in 1933 with the rank of lieutenant commander. Weems returned to active service in 1942, serving in World War II
as a convoy commander, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star. He was promoted to captain in 1945 and retired the following year.
With the dawn of the space age, he was called upon to teach space navigation at the Naval Academy from 1961 to 1962.
The Weems had two sons and a daughter, Margaret. Both sons predeceased him. Major Philip van Horn Weems, Jr. was killed in the southwest Pacific in 1943, while Lieutenant Commander George Thackray "Bee" Weems died while testing an airplane. Philip Van Horn Weems died on June 2, 1979, at the age of ninety.
for a month in 1928. Fred Noonan
, Amelia Earhart
's navigator, considered him his mentor. After his first retirement, Weems wrote several books; Air Navigation (1931) was particularly well received, and was awarded a gold medal by the Aero Club of France. In 1935, he patented the Mark II Plotter. Another invention was the Second Setting Watch. According to the Institute of Navigation
, however, "his proudest achievement" was the Star Altitude Curves, which simplified finding one's position; it was adopted by the Army Air Corps prior to World War II.
, an honor given for contributions to navigation, astronomy or natural philosophy. It has been awarded only 33 times to 40 people since it was established in 1786. In 1960, Weems received a gold medal from the American Institute of Navigation
. The institute also created an annual award named after him. In 1968, the National Geographic Society
awarded him the John Oliver la Gorce Medal. Mount Weems
in Antarctica is named in his honor.
His papers are held by the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
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...
officer, inventor of navigational instruments and methods, including the Weems Plotter and the Second Setting Watch, and author of navigational textbooks.
Biography
Weems was born in Tennessee, the son of Joseph Burch and May Elizabeth Rye Weems. When he was a child, he and his six brothers and one sister were orphaned.He received an appointment to the United States 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...
at Annapolis in 1908. At the Academy, he excelled at various sports, and was an All-American center on the Navy football team. (Later, he was selected for the 1920 U.S. Olympic wrestling team; however, there is no record of him actually competing at the Games.) He graduated in the class of 1912 and was commissioned an ensign. He specialized in navigation and taught at the Academy. In 1915, he married Margaret Thackray.
In 1927, Weems was assigned to the Aircraft Squadron Battle Fleet, before being assigned to the tanker USS Cuyama
USS Cuyama (AO-3)
USS Cuyama was a tanker of the United States Navy launched 17 June 1916 by Mare Island Navy Yard; sponsored by Miss M. Offley; and commissioned 2 April 1917, Lieutenant I. B. Smith, USNRF, in command....
as its executive officer from 1928 to 1930. He retired for the first time in 1933 with the rank of lieutenant commander. Weems returned to active service in 1942, serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a convoy commander, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star. He was promoted to captain in 1945 and retired the following year.
With the dawn of the space age, he was called upon to teach space navigation at the Naval Academy from 1961 to 1962.
The Weems had two sons and a daughter, Margaret. Both sons predeceased him. Major Philip van Horn Weems, Jr. was killed in the southwest Pacific in 1943, while Lieutenant Commander George Thackray "Bee" Weems died while testing an airplane. Philip Van Horn Weems died on June 2, 1979, at the age of ninety.
Navigational contributions
Weems and his wife established the Weems School of Navigation in 1927. After Charles Lindburgh completed his celebrated solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, the Navy assigned Weems to teach him celestial navigationCelestial navigation
Celestial navigation, also known as astronavigation, is a position fixing technique that has evolved over several thousand years to help sailors cross oceans without having to rely on estimated calculations, or dead reckoning, to know their position...
for a month in 1928. Fred Noonan
Fred Noonan
Frederick Joseph "Fred" Noonan was an American flight navigator, sea captain and aviation pioneer who first charted many commercial airline routes across the Pacific Ocean during the 1930s...
, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
's navigator, considered him his mentor. After his first retirement, Weems wrote several books; Air Navigation (1931) was particularly well received, and was awarded a gold medal by the Aero Club of France. In 1935, he patented the Mark II Plotter. Another invention was the Second Setting Watch. According to the Institute of Navigation
Institute of Navigation
The Institute of Navigation is a non-profit professional organization for the advancement of the art and science of navigation. It was founded in 1945 and serves communities interested in navigation and positioning on land, air, sea and space. It is a worldwide organization with members in over...
, however, "his proudest achievement" was the Star Altitude Curves, which simplified finding one's position; it was adopted by the Army Air Corps prior to World War II.
Honors
In 1953, Weems was awarded the Magellanic PremiumMagellanic Premium
The Magellanic Premium, also known as the Magellanic Gold Medal and Magellanic Prize is awarded for major contributions in the field of navigation , astronomy, or natural philosophy....
, an honor given for contributions to navigation, astronomy or natural philosophy. It has been awarded only 33 times to 40 people since it was established in 1786. In 1960, Weems received a gold medal from the American Institute of Navigation
Institute of Navigation
The Institute of Navigation is a non-profit professional organization for the advancement of the art and science of navigation. It was founded in 1945 and serves communities interested in navigation and positioning on land, air, sea and space. It is a worldwide organization with members in over...
. The institute also created an annual award named after him. In 1968, the National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
awarded him the John Oliver la Gorce Medal. Mount Weems
Mount Weems
Mount Weems is a prominent mountain, 2,210 m, located 8 nautical miles north of Mount Ulmer near the north end of the Sentinel Range in the Ellsworth Mountains. Discovered by Lincoln Ellsworth on his trans-Antarctic flight of November 23, 1935. Named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names ...
in Antarctica is named in his honor.
His papers are held by the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
External links
- Life magazine photograph, April 1, 1955