Elmer Stone

Elmer Stone Elmer Fowler Stone was a United States Navy officer and pioneer naval aviator credited with commanding the first transatlantic flight attempt by United States Navy aircraft and contributing to early naval aviation development. Born in Wisconsin, he served during World War I and in interwar aviation operations, becoming notable for participation in airship and seaplane operations linked to transoceanic aviation advances. Stone's career intersected with prominent aviators, naval officers, and institutions shaping United States maritime air power in the early 20th century.

Early life and education

Stone was born in North Freedom, Wisconsin and attended regional schools before enlisting in the United States Navy; his formative years connected him indirectly with midwestern networks of Naval Academy Preparatory School candidates and recruiting activities linked to expansion of United States sea power. He trained at Naval Training Station Great Lakes and served on surface ships tied to Pacific and Atlantic squadrons, creating pathways to assignments with the Bureau of Aeronautics and nascent naval air stations such as Naval Air Station Pensacola and Curtiss Flying School training programs. Influences on his early development included technological advances pioneered by figures associated with Wright brothers, Glenn Curtiss, and experimental programs at Langley Research Center and National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

Naval career and pioneering aviation

Stone's naval career began on surface vessels before he transitioned to aviation as the United States Navy expanded its air arm. He trained as a naval aviator at Naval Air Station Pensacola and served in roles that connected him to operations involving Curtiss HS flying boat types and collaborations with United States Army Air Service units. Stone worked with contemporaries from institutions such as the Bureau of Aeronautics, Naval Aircraft Factory, and officers from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, engaging with developments in seaplane tenders, lighter-than-air craft like USS Los Angeles (ZR-3), and carriers influenced by USS Langley (CV-1), USS Lexington (CV-2), and USS Saratoga (CV-3). His service overlapped with figures such as John Rodgers (aviator), Albert C. Read, and Kenneth Whiting, reflecting interconnections among early naval aviators, Navy Department officials, and policymakers in Washington, D.C..

Notable flights and achievements

Stone took part in high-profile operations including attempts to establish transoceanic flight capabilities between the United States and Europe and within the Caribbean Sea and Panama Canal Zone. He commanded flights involving flying boats built by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company and engaged in missions coordinated with the United States Coast Guard and the U.S. Post Office Department experimental airmail initiatives. Stone participated in the historic attempt by the Navy to cross the Atlantic Ocean in flying boats, operating alongside crews from Navy Day ceremonies and transatlantic efforts that intersected with flights by Alcock and Brown, Charles Lindbergh, and expeditions organized by the International Commission for Air Navigation. His actions were recognized by awards like the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and citations issued under authority of the Secretary of the Navy and wartime commands such as Commander, Scouting Force and United States Fleet leadership.

Later career and retirement

After his prominent flights, Stone continued to serve in roles focusing on aviation logistics, training, and experimentation, including postings at Naval Air Station Norfolk, Naval Air Station San Diego, and involvement with the Naval Air Materiel Center and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. He worked on the development of seaplane bases and techniques linking Panama Canal Zone defense planning to maritime aviation, coordinating with units like the Scouting Fleet and institutions such as Naval War College and Naval Research Laboratory. Stone's career concluded with continued service at Washington Navy Yard and related Navy Department activities before his retirement and death in Washington, D.C..

Personal life and legacy

Stone's personal associations connected him to families and veteran communities in Wisconsin and Maryland, and his legacy is preserved through mentions in histories of United States Naval Aviation, museums such as the National Air and Space Museum, and archival collections at the Naval History and Heritage Command. Commemorations of his role in pioneering flights appear in unit histories of Naval Air Station Pensacola, scholarly works referencing early transatlantic aviation, and lists of recipients maintained by the Department of the Navy. Stone's contributions informed policies and practices later enacted by leaders at Bureau of Aeronautics and institutionalized by training establishments including the Naval Academy, influencing subsequent generations of aviators and the evolution of United States maritime air capabilities.

Category:1887 births Category:1936 deaths Category:United States Navy officers Category:American aviators