USS/CSS Fanny

This past Wednesday, I noted that the first balloon ascension from a self-propelled warship took place on August 3, 1861. In effect, making the USS Fanny, the first aircraft carrier. (Several times earlier, balloons were launched from a barge, but that had to be towed.)

I looked up the Fanny and found that it was classified as either a gunboat, a supply ship and that it was operated by the US Quartermaster Corps.

Balloonist John LaMountain made several ascensions from it.

Later in the war, the Fanny was captured by Confederates and became the CSS Fanny and part of the North Carolina Mosquito Fleet before it was burned to prevent capture February 10, 1862.

Not Exactly an Impressive Name for a Warship. --Old B-R'er