Harnessing the Sky

Vice Adm. Frederick "Trap" Trapnell, the U.S. Navy's aviation pioneer and "The godfather of current aviation".

After World War II, Trap returned as commander of the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, to lead the Navy through the challenges of transitioning to jets. Trap was not only the first U.S. Navy pilot to fly a jet, but is also recognized for defining the operating requirements for carrier-based jet propelled aircraft.

He had flown 6,272 hours during 5,012 flights in 162 airplane types. After a heart attack, he retired in September 1952 with the rank of vice admiral. A year after his death in 1975, the airfield at NAS Pax River Maryland was officially named Trapnell Field.