Willoughby Bay in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

First Flight Ship to Shore

Photographed by Kevin W., July 18, 2010

1. First Flight Ship to Shore Marker

Inscription. On 14 November, 1910, Eugene Ely in a Curtiss built "Hudson Flyer," utilizing a specially constructed platform with an uptilt at the end, took off from the cruiser Birmingham anchored off Fort Monroe and landed at Willoughby Spit, 2½ miles distant, thus completing the first flight from ship to shore and the first flight to utilize the "Ski Jump" deck. This was the birth of Naval aviation.

Erected 1982 by the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society. (Marker Number KV-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 14, 1910.

Location. 36° 57.474′ N, 76° 15.979′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Willoughby Bay. It can be reached from the intersection of 4th View Street and O'Connor Crescent. At the visitor center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Norfolk VA 23503, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in

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Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: USS Intrepid (CV-11) (approx. 0.4 miles away); Susan Constant Shrine (approx. 0.4 miles away); Flagship Sarah Constant (approx. 0.4 miles away); Operation Torch, 1942 (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Landing of Wool and Surrender of Norfolk (approx. half a mile away); OceanView Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Naval Air Station Norfolk (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norfolk.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Landing of Wool and Surrender of Norfolk

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 13, 2026

2. First Flight Ship to Shore Marker

The building and space around the marker has been repurposed as the Welcome Center for the HRBT Expansion Project. It is accessible during open house events (one Saturday each month, dates published via the hrbtexpansion.vdot.virginia.gov website)

(was approx. half a mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Kevin W., July 18, 2010

3. First Flight Ship to Shore Marker

USS Birmingham with Ely's Plane & Launch Ramp image. Click for full size.

Photographed by US Navy Photographer, November 1910

4. USS Birmingham with Ely's Plane & Launch Ramp

Public Domain US Navy photograph, Naval Historical & Heritage Command Catalog # NH 77551

Eugene Ely flying from USS Birmingham off Fort Monroe image. Click for full size.

Photographed by US Navy Photographer, November 14, 1910

5. Eugene Ely flying from USS Birmingham off Fort Monroe

Public Domain US Navy photograph, Naval Historical & Heritage Command Catalog # NH 77563

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2010, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,493 times since then and 57 times this year. Last updated on November 8, 2025, by Caleb Kemplin of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on July 21, 2010, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 2. submitted on July 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on July 21, 2010, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on July 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.