A recipient of the Navy Cross for his antisubmarine service in World War I, Ellyson died in 1928 when his aircraft crashed over the Chesapeake Bay.

While at an Aero Club show on 28 January 1911 near the flight school, Ellyson took off in a Curtiss "grass cutter" plane to become the first Naval aviator.

Later that month, he participated in experiments demonstrating the potential use of floatplanes from ships, when the aircraft was hoisted on board USS Pennsylvania and subsequently lowered to the water for its return flight to North Island.

LT Ellyson became first aviator in history to qualify as a pilot according to Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) standards in a flight over water.

Ellyson was awarded the Navy Cross for distinguished service in World War I for his development of successful tactics for the submarine chaser squadron.

Upon his return to the United States, he assisted in fitting out the destroyer USS J. Fred Talbott at William Cramp and Sons, and served on that vessel as commanding officer from the time of her commissioning in June 1919 until July 1920.

On 20 July 1925, he assumed command of Torpedo Squadron 1 and from March to June 1926 was executive officer of USS Wright, a seaplane tender.

On 23 June 1926, he was ordered to duty in connection with the fitting out of USS Lexington, the Navy's second aircraft carrier, and was on board when she was placed in commission.

Commander Ellyson was killed on 27 February 1928, his 43rd birthday, in the crash of a Loening OL-7 [3] aircraft in the lower Chesapeake Bay while on a night flight from Norfolk, Virginia, to Annapolis, Maryland.

The vessel was launched on 25 July 1941 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Kearny, New Jersey, and sponsored by the commander's daughter, Miss Gordon Ellyson.