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Show DODGERS GIVEN HIGHNAVY POST IS APPOINTED ASSISTANT AERONAUTIC AERO-NAUTIC CHIEF; TO REPORT AT WASH I NGGTON Capable And Courageous Flier Is Promoted Following Many Days Spent On High Seas In Disabled Dis-abled Seaplane Washington Commander John Rodgers, rescued after nine days afloat in the mid-Pacific in his plane, PN-9 No. 1, was appointed assistant chief of the navy's bureau of aeronautics. aero-nautics. He will report to Washington as soon as possible to assume his new post. Secretary Wilbur decided upon the .appointment when he learned of the rescue of the PN-9 No. 1 and its crew. Commander Rodgers will retain for the time being, at least, his present rank and pay, although he succeeds a captain, A. W. Johnson who has asked for sea duty. Commander Rodgers will be assistant as-sistant to Rear Admiral Moffett, chief of the aeronautics bureau. The new assistant chief was among the first naval officers to receive aviation av-iation training, having taken instruction instruc-tion from the Wright brothers in Dayton, O., in March, 1911. In August Au-gust of that year when the pioneer officers in naval aviation were assembled assem-bled into the first naval aviation detachment de-tachment he was senior officer in the group. It was while on this duty that he made the first flight across land by a naval officer. He flew a Wright machine from Annapolis to Baltimore Balti-more and back. In the fall' and winter of 1911 he co-operated with his cousin, C. P. Rodgers, in making the first cross continent flight in this country. With other pioneer aviators of the navy he established the first naval aviation station at San Diego in January, 1912, and his experiments with seaplane floats there are credited with having 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 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 PN-9 No. 1. |