Richard C. Saufley

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Saufley born on 1 September 1884 at Stanford, Ky., was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in June 1908 and was commissioned Ensign in June 1910. Service in "Kansas" (BB-21), "Biddle" (TB-26), and "Terry" (DD-25) preceded his return to the Naval Academy for training in aviation in 1913. On 6 June of that year, he was promoted to Lieutenant (j.g.) and designated Naval Aviator No. 14. During the Mexican campaign of 1914, he was attached to "Mississippi" (BB-23) and "North Carolina" (ACR-12). In 1915 and 1916, his assignments were concerned with the technological development of naval aviation. Concentrating on hydro-airplane development, he set altitude and endurance records and was attempting to better his own record when he died in a plane crash at Pensacola, Florida on 9 June 1916.

NAS Pensacola's Saufley Field, and the destroyer USS "Saufley" (DD-465) were named in his honor.

External links

* [http://history.navy.mil/danfs/s6/saufley.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Saufley"]
* [http://www.usssaufleydd465.com/text/filson/filson.htm "The Filson Historical Quarterly" biography]