US Naval Air Training Center - Yearbook (Corpus Christi, TX)

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+1 'll sk -K -K 41 41 REAR AIHIRAL CII NLE Nlil NN, ll N Clll il MNT N. il. I. T. ll. - .il. T. C. Rear Admiral Charles P. Mason, USN, assumed his duties as Commandant of the Naval Air Training Center on July 15, l943, following a distinguished career in Naval Aviation. After graduation from the Naval Academy in l9l2, he reported for flight training at Pensacola, Florida, Winning his wings in l9l7, he was designated Naval Aviator No. 52. Admiral Mason has had a prominent part in the development of Naval Aviation. During the years following the World War, he organized the first Seaplane Patrol Squadron in the Pacific, led the first long-distance squadron flight ever attempted by the Navy, and conducted the Navy's first test of a carrier's functions in fleet maneuvers. Admiral Mason has served on the USS Langley, USS Saratoga, and USS Yorktown. The Navy Cross was presented to him for outstanding service as skipper of the ill-fated USS l-lornet at the time of her gallant fight against over- whelming odds off Santa Cruz. l-le was later commander of a taslc force of converted carriers in the South Pacific Area, and subsequently was made commander Air Solomon lslands. He remained in command of the Air Force in Guadalcanal Area for two months psi

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1 l llll ccrtmeml on -:A -u 'Flal-n -wiv. ri 01 ldql .snsqqoiqi in ec l in ,Q of 'Pl' Ol A6t0. are duriii fat, vim? and the - -1 .My-.--.. -..e.,.s.,.7m -X,-v--Q-33937, , 31 it ' ie aiifbi ' -A Mc, ..q 0 'ff 7 I K4 5 ' 2' iff,-V 'ff' . ati... eji- ,:'lf.s.'? .A .MQ tx 1 . , 4 , yxzfzvq, :,:?:1,..k ,4 k 'f Y35-'L axi-ae! 1. :Q ,iff -- 'sit iw . Tiff?-1 fi. '-Eff f, H .L Y 1-ffsilflfl f , ' 'Q 'fix W- - . 'Hg' 1, V ,IM -,, . f'3fl5 : 'gf' it l A 1 J ig.sE'E.., ,git 1 5, , ,s f f , A H '.. 1.37-.Q ' ,, A. , 1 N , t .,,Q-'x,,v,:...- mn, ..,, E k 1 4, . v ,, .- .. iijwiaxx- s-fr? '-,',' .' fi c.,r.w '- , 'I . pg--1 Y , 11'Al1 llllillllilli llllllllllE ll. lllfllllllf, 'Ui' 11111 ll llll il1llllL illlt Tltilllllll llllllllillll Rear Admiral Murray graduated from the Naval Academy in 1911. Following graduation, he spent three years with the Fleet before reporting for flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida in 1914, Winning his wings in 1915, he was designated Naval Aviator No. 22. Rear Admiral Murray's impressive record includes service cis Aeronautical tvtaterial Inspector, first Commanding Cf. ficer of the Naval Air Station, Anacostia, D. C., service at San Diego Naval Air Station, Sauadran Cjgmmgndef with the Pacific and Asiatic Fleets, Senior Naval Aviator at Naval Academy, Assistant Aide to ft-,Q Qommonder in Chief, Battle Farce, in the Bureau of Aeronautics, Executive Officer of the USS Wright and Naval Attache in London, Paris, Berlin and the Hague. ln March 1941 he became Commanding Officer of the USS Enterprise, which ship was later cited by the President af the United States for its courageous efforts in the Pacific. Rear Admiral Murray was awarded the Navy Cross on May 29, 19-42 tor his Courage and resaarqefalnegs in saving his ship from serious damage while under heavy bombardment in enemy waters. The Distinguished Service Medal was presented to him on Moy 1, 1943, by Rear Admiral John S. tv'icCain, Chief at the Bureau of Aeronautics. He also holds the Vera Cruz Campaign Medal and the 1Norld Wcir Victory lvleclal with Bronze Star. Page 27

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'k ir ir UAPTAI . 0. 11101101ll1111LL,l1l1 CHIEF 0F TAFF Captain E. O. McDonnell reported to the Naval Air Training Center to assume duties as Chief of Staff in June 1943, following one of the most spectacular careers in the annals of Naval history. Captain McDonnell was graduated from the Naval Academy in 1912 and later received his flight training at Pensacola, Florida. He was designated as Naval Aviator No. 18. . ' Captain McDonnell's impressive record includes service on board battleships USS New Jersey, Montana and Florida, thefirst Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia, commanded an aviation unit aboard the battleship Texas, Air Officer of Eastern Sea Frontier Command. , Q In April 1914, while acting as occupational signal officer of the landing at Vera Cruz, he was cited for extra- ordinary heroism under fire and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, he holds the Navy Cross and other awards for campaigns in Europe, South America and the Far East. . . 9.211 f . ' , . 'V Q ,V E I it f. b - . yi CVS., E VA l , ' ,,,., 1 , . I - I I,l.lEl1i'fgll3 It E A yy by if M If M , . A 3 , . . ' ffl 4, ' 11,5 I ' Q f to V . ' r - I V A f,, ' .X , I X Page'29 'ir ir