The North Island era: Birth of naval aviation

Portraits of the military aviators

Curtiss photographer John H. Whitney realized that it would be important to have formal pictures of the Army and Navy pilots. Curtiss reluctantly agreed, but did not like the time it took. His expression in the group picture reflects this. In addition to group shots, Whitney photographed all four students sitting in their training plane. We have the photos of U.S. Army pilots Lt. Beck and Lt. Kelly, but we do not have the photos Whitney took of Army Lt. Walker and U.S. Navy Lt. Ellyson.

The military's first student pilots with their instructor. (left to right) Lt. John C. Walker, Jr., U.S. Army; Lt. Paul M. Beck, U.S. Army; Curtiss; Lt. Theodore G. Ellyson, U.S. Navy; Lt. George E. M. Kelly, U.S. Army. A larger picture is available (33k).		U.S. Army Lt. Paul M. Beck poses in the training plane. A larger picture is available (43k).		U.S. Army Lt. George E. M. Kelly poses in the training plane. A larger picture is available (43k).

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