William Billingsley

This article is about the American aviator. For the English artist, see William Billingsley (artist).

William Devotie Billingsley
File:William d billingsley guantanamo 1913.jpg William Devotie Billingsley (24 April 1887 - 20 June 1913) was an early aviator in the United States Navy.
Born	(1887-04-24)April 24, 1887 Winona, Mississippi
Died	Chesapeake Bay
Place of burial	United States Naval Academy Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1905-1913
Rank	Ensign

Biography

Born in Winona, Mississippi, William Billingsley graduated from the Naval Academy in 1909. On December 2, 1912, he reported for duty at the Aviation Camp, Annapolis, MD and was assigned to the Navy-Wright B-2 for instruction.

Billingsley, designated as Naval Aviator No. 9, was the first naval aviator killed in an airplane crash. On June 20, 1913, while piloting the B-2 at 1,600 feet over water near Annapolis, Maryland, he was thrown from the plane and fell to his death. Admiral John Henry Towers, also unseated in the turbulence, was nearly killed in the same accident as he clung to the plane and fell with it into the water.

Namesake

The Clemson-class destroyer USS Billingsley (DD-293) was named in his honor.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

See also

• List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (pre-1925)