Elmer Fowler Stone

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Elmer Fowler Stone (22 January 1887 - 20 May 1936) was a United States aviator and a Commander in the United States Coast Guard.

Fowler was born in Livingstone, New York and grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. He joined the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service in 1910.

In early 1915, with the encouragement of their commanding officer, Stone and Normal B. Hall approached the Curtiss Flying School in Newport News, VA, about using aircraft in air-sea rescue operations, and participated in experimental flights in a Curtiss F flying boat. In 1916 he was trained in aircraft use at the United States Navy flight facility in Pensacola, Florida, and also studied aeronautical engineering at the Curtiss factory. On 1917-04-10, Stone was appointed as Coast Guard Aviator No. 1 and Naval Aviation No. 38.

In May of 1919 first lieutenant Elmer F. Stone was a pilot of the NC-4, the first aircraft to make a transatlantic flight. After the historic flight, he was awarded the British Air Force Cross by the government of England (1919-06-09), and received a promotion to the temporary rank of captain on 25 September 1919. He was awarded the Navy Cross for "distinguished service in making the first successful trans-Atlantic flight" on 1920-11-11.

He continued to promote aviation in the U.S. Coast Guard during the 1920s, as well as developing the shipboard catapult systems and landing deck arresting gear aboard the Navy carriers Lexington and Saratoga. He collaborated with the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company on development of airborne "motor lifeboats" for the explicit purpose of lifesaving missions, and in this is one of the pioneers of modern air-sea rescue. He also commanded destroyers used in the enforcement of Prohibition. On 1934-12-20, he broke the World Seaplane Speed Record, 191 miles per hour over a 3 kilometer test course.

He passed away on 1936-05-20 of a coronary thrombosis, while inspecting a new aircraft.

On 1983-05-12 he was inducted into the United States Naval Aviation Hall of Honor.