Holden C. Richardson

Holden Chester Richardson
Holden C. Richardson, 1938
Born	(1878-12-07)December 7, 1878 Shamokin, Pennsylvania
Died	September 2, 1960(1960-09-02) (aged 81) Bethesda, Maryland
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1901-1929, 1934-46
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Navy Cross

Holden Chester Richardson (December 7, 1878 – September 2, 1960), was a decorated Officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Captain. He is most noted as pioneer in United States Naval Aviation.

Biography

He was born on December 7, 1878 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania.^[1]

Richardson learned to fly from Glenn Curtiss in 1913 and he was designated Naval Aviator number 13. He was the Navy’s first engineering test pilot and helped develop the first Navy-built seaplane, pontoons and hulls that overcame water suction, and a catapult to launch aircraft.

On October 4, 1918, Richardson performed the crucial test flight of the NC-1 flying boat from Jamaica Bay. He then took the plane, with a full crew, for a shakedown flight to the Washington Navy Yard for inspection by Navy leadership. Four days later, the Armistice ended World War I and the military’s need for flying boats abruptly ended.

While Chief Engineer of the Naval Aircraft Factory, Richardson developed a rotatable catapult enabling aircraft to operate from capital ships. In 1925 he led efforts to develop carrier aircraft and patrol planes. He was the first secretary of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

He died on September 2, 1960 in Bethesda, Maryland, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.^[2][3]

Legacy

Richardson was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1978 and in the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor in 1981. Richardson Field near Shamokin, Pennsylvania was named in his honor.

References

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