Charles P. Mason

Charles Perry Mason
Born (1891-01-12)January 12, 1891
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Died 13 September 1971(1971-09-13) (aged 80)
Pensacola, Florida
Place of burial St. John’s Cemetery, Pennsylvania
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1912–1946
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands held USS Hornet (CV-8)
Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Battles/wars World War I,
World War II
Awards Navy Cross
Other work Mayor of Pensacola

Charles Perry Mason (January 12, 1891 – August 13, 1971) was an American Vice Admiral of the United States Navy and an early naval aviator. He was the Mayor of Pensacola from 1947 to 1957 and again from 1963 to 1965.

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1912 and became a naval aviator in 1917. In 1918, Lieutenant Mason was deployed to Europe flying first American-built aircraft to be assembled in France during World War I. In 1923, Lieutenant Commander Mason, took command of VS Squadron 3, a special service squadron assigned to develop long-distance scouting planes. In 1940, Captain Mason became the first commanding officer of the newly commissioned Naval Air Station Jacksonville.[1]

Mason was present at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on it on December 7, 1941. In April 1942 he was appointed Commander, Patrol Wing 1 and in July he took command of USS Hornet. During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, he earned the Navy Cross for his defense of the ship before its destruction in that battle.[2][3] Promoted to Rear Admiral he was appointed Commander, Aircraft, Solomon Islands in February 1943 before been evacuated soon after with severe malaria and pneumonia.[4] Thereafter he was the Commander of the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.[5] Vice Admiral Mason retired from active duty in April 1946 having served in the Navy for 38 years.

Later life

First settling in Jacksonville, after retirement he soon returned to Pensacola, where he became Mayor of Pensacola in 1947 and served till 1957 and again from 1963 to 1965.[6]

Mason married Ralphine Fisher in Pensacola in 1917. While he was deployed in the Pacific War his only son C. P. Mason II who was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and a naval aviator was killed in an airplane crash in Nevada. He and his wife raised their grandson C. P. Mason III after his daughter in law was killed in a car crash. C. P. Mason III graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and became a naval aviator.[7]

Admiral Mason died August 13, 1971 and is buried at St. John's Cemetery, Pensacola. Admiral Mason Park in Pensacola is named after him.

References

  1. ↑ Earlyaviators.com
  2. ↑ Campbell 2011, pp. 91–92.
  3. ↑ Hornet (CV-8) vii.
  4. ↑ Mason, Charles Perry
  5. ↑ CHARLES PERRY MASON
  6. ↑ St. John's Cemetery - Pensacola's Heritage
  7. ↑ Mason, C. P., III | UWF University Archives and West Florida History Center
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