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

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Clllllllil llllll F. lllllllllllli, UN... SllPllRllllTlllllll NT 0F illllil'l'Ill THAI ING Commander F. Bruner assumed duties as Superintendent of Aviation Training in December 1943. Since graduating from flight training at Pensacola, Florida in l929, Commander Bruner has had an active part in Naval Aviation. l-le was graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in i927 and served the usual tours of sea duty until selected for flight training. His service record includes duty with a Utility Squadron, original VF-3 Squadron on board the USS Lex- ington, with Pacific Battle Fleet, USS Langley. After a tour of duty as an instructor at Pensacola, he was ordered to a Patrol Squadron in the Caribbean, with further assignments to the North Atlantic, Hawaiian Area and the Aleutians. l-le was presented the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in battling Jap sub marines. Page 30 if ir

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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

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UAPTAI II. T. IIWEII, ll II COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE NAVAL AIR STATION Captain Owen reported aboard in February I943 and served as Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station. He received his flight training at Pensacola, Florida and won his wings in December, IQI7. Since then he has seen aviation duty afloat and ashore. I-Ie was co-pilot in the first naval aircraft to make a Transcontinental flight and conducted the first mass parachute jumps from high altitudes while at Anacostia, D. C. Captain Owen served as Commandant of the Naval Operating Base, Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Argentia, Newfoundland. On December 7, I94I, he was in command of USS Curtis at Pearl Harbor when that ship sank a Jap submarine. After duty- at Pearl Harbor, he was ordered to duty as Commanding Officer of Patrol Wing 5 at Norfolk, Virginia. ir 'A' ir CIIMIIIII II It Ii. It. SIG Eli EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE NAVAL AIR STATION Commander R. B. Signer, Executive Officer of the Naval Air Station, arrived here following tours of varied surface and aviation duty in the fleet. Commander Signer entered the U. S. Naval Academy in I9I6 and was graduated in the Class of I92O. I-Ie was later ordered to Pensacola, Florida for flight training and won his wings in I924. After several years of duty with a VO Squadron aboard the USS Mississippi and USS New Mexico, he returned. to Pensacola in I926 as a Flight Instructor. ' Other tours of duty were aboard the USS Saratoga and December 7, T941 found him Executive Officer and Air Officer of the USS Tangier in the South Pacific Area. Page SI