USS Langley. Wikipedia photo.

A hundred years ago today, October 17, 1922, marked the first time that an aircraft took off from a U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Langley (CV-1).  While aircraft had previously taken off from ships, this was the first time that a ship specifically designed for that purpose had been used.  The ship had previously been a collier in World War 1, and had been newly converted.  That first plane was piloted by Lt. Virgil C. Griffin.

The ship had served as a collier in World War I, and was converted to a seaplane tender prior to World War II, in which she also served.  The ship was damaged in 1942 and scuttled.