Show RODGERS RO CE E RS GIVEN GIVE N HIGH NAVY POST IS APPOINTED ASSISTANT AERONAUTIC AERONAUTIC AERO AERO- AERONAUTIC CHIEF TO REPORT AT Capable And Courageous Flier Is Promoted Following Many Days Spent On High Seas In Disabled Dis Dis- Dis Seaplane Washington Commander John Johr I Rodgers rescued after nine days afloat in the Pacific mid-Pacific in his plane 9 No 1 was appointed assistant chief of the navys navy's bure bureau of or aero aero- He will vill report t to Washington a as asso so soon n as possible to assume his nc new post Secretary Wilbur decided upon the appointment when he learned of the rescue of the 9 No 1 arid its crew Commander Rodgers hodgers will retain for forthe forthe the time being at least his present rank and pay although he succeeds a captain A A. A W. W Johnson who has I asked for sea duty I Commander Rodgers will be assistant as as- st t to Rear Admiral chief i ne I. I v. v u vuu u The new assistant chief was among the first naval officers to receive aviation aviation aviation av av- av- av training having taken instruction instruction instruction tion from the Wright brothers in n Dayton 0 in March 1911 In August August Au Au- August gust of that year when the pioneer officers in naval aviation were assembled assembled assembled assem assem- bled into the first naval aviation detachment detachment detachment de de- de- de he was senior officer in the group It was while on this duty that he made the first flight across land by bya a naval officer He flew a Wright machine from Annapolis to Baltimore Baltimore Baltimore Balti Balti- more and back In the fall and winter of 1911 he operated co-operated with his cousin C. C P. P Rodgers in making the first cross continent flight in this country With other pioneer aviators of the navy he I established the first naval aviation station at San Diego in January 1912 and his experiments with seaplane I floats there are credited with having I done much toward carrying aviation out to sea with the fleet He began a tour of regular naval duty in August 1912 but returned to the aviation branch in July 1922 taking command of the naval air station at Pearl Harbor Hawaii He took command of the aircraft tender tender tender ten ten- der Wright with the scouting fleet after completion of the joint army and navy maneuvers around Hawaii last spring It was while on that duty that he was selected to command the 9 No 1 |