Flight of the Silver Eagle

Writing an autobiography is in itself a remarkable feat, but for Commander Joseph C. Engel, USN (Ret.) to write about his distinguished Naval career and to have it published as a first time author at the age of ninety-four, is truly amazing. He is a unique Navy veteran of our time, recognized as such in the annals of Naval Aviation History. He is a Silver Eagle, Roster Number 171.

In 1916, the United States Navy began formal training for enlisted personnel in Pensacola, Florida, assigning eight Navy petty officers and two Marine sergeants to become the first recognized enlisted aircraft pilots to graduate as Navy aviators. Records show enlisted men flew as early as 1912, but the 1916 class was the first to receive the Navy’s formal flight training. To qualify for training, the enlisted applicant had to be a Petty Officer (NCO) rate with an assignment in an aviation specialty.

The first enlisted pilots, designated Naval Aviation Pilots (NAPs), graduated in 1920, and were authorized to wear the Navy Aviator Wings of gold. Although accurate records were never kept before 1916, the government estimated that over 5000 Navy, Marine and Coast Guard enlisted personnel were awarded the title of ‘Naval Aviation Pilot.’ These are the aviators called ‘Silver Eagles,’ so named because of the silver eagle on the Navy Petty Officer uniform collar insignia, worn by the enlisted pilots when they flew.

In 1947, the Congress of the United States discontinued the flight-training program for enlisted personnel, but many of these flying veterans of the World War II era, went on as commissioned officers to serve with merit in Korea, Viet Nam and other areas of Naval service. The Silver Eagle legend will live forever in Navy history