Civil War Aircraft Carrier— The USS George Washington Parke Custis In 1861 the US Navy purchas

Civil War Aircraft Carrier— The USS George Washington Parke Custis In 1861 the US Navy purchased the George Washington Parke Custis, a coal barge which was built around the mid 1850’s.  The Navy intended to use the barge as a platform from which to launch balloons. Balloons were first used inthe  Civil War for observing enemy troops movements and positions. A wooden platform was built over the barge, and in the lower decks devices were installed which could produce hydrogen gas (used to make the balloons float) from coal and steam.  The first flight occurred on the 11th of November, 1861, where a balloon observed Confederate troop movements along the Virginia coast.  Throughout the war the USS George Washington Parke Custis was used as a platform from which Confederate forces and fortifications could be observed along the coast, providing valuable intelligence for the Union Army.  It was also used to keep and eye out for Confederate blockade runners.  It is unknown when the USS George Washington Parke Custis was decommissioned. -- source link

More pics about