Charles Rumney Samson
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Air Commodore Charles Rumney Samson, was a British naval aviation pioneer. He was one of the first four officers selected for pilot training by the Royal Navy and was the first person to fly an aircraft from a moving ship. He also commanded the first British armoured vehicles used in combat. Transferring to the Royal Air Force on its creation in 1918, Samson held command of several groups in the immediate post-war period and the 1920s.
Samson's historic takeoff from HMS Hibernia, 9 May 1912.
"The new "War Ship" Commander Samson's hydroplane", Short S.41 at Southsea, c.1913.
Samson with other pioneer officers of the Royal Flying Corps
Naval aviation
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Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases.
An F/A-18C Hornet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk
Mayfly was built in 1908 and was the first aircraft to be used in a naval capacity.
Japanese Maurice Farman seaplane from Wakamiya