On 10 March 1919 Lt Cdr McDonnell flew a British - built Sopwith Camel off an overhauled gun turret on the USS Texas .
On 10 March 1919 Lt Cdr McDonnell thus became the first man to fly an airplane off a battleship .
On 10 March 1919 Lt Cdr McDonnell flew a British - built Sopwith Camel off an overhauled gun turret on the USS Texas and thus became the first man to fly an airplane off a battleship .