The sun., 1919-05-18
eetv,d nj, FIRST promotion to Lieutenant,

ceived his first promotion to Lieutenant.
junior grade.
II did not take the young ofiicer long
to ny, for in September he was back at
Annapolis to conduct aeronautical ex-
periments at the Engineering Expert
ment station. In December Of the same
year he was ordered to the frst naval
aviation camp on North Island. San
Diego. Cal, where he acted as command
ing officer. Six months later. In May
1912 he was called back to Annapolis
for further duty and experiments in
naval aviation. In October he estab-
lished a record for the longest over
water flight without a stop. covering
3g3 miles In SIX hours and ten minutes
Early the next year he sailed for
Guantanamo. Cuba, where he estab-
llshed and commanded the naval avia-
ton station there. He was again called
to Annapolis for aviation work there.
Commander Towers was in charge OF
the seaplane operations at Vera Crus
when the United States landed q force
at that port during the difficulties with
Mexico with him at that time was
Lieut. Commander Pat BeIinger. now
commanding the NC-1. Lieut. Com
mander Beilinger was the first American
aviator to fly over the lines OF an
enemy He came back with a number of
bullet holes In the wings of his machine.
In this first plan TO cross the Atlantic
Commander Towers and Col. Porte were
allies, but in the present flight they are
rivals. for Col Porte has at Newfound-
land a big Handley Page Tying boat
which Is one OF the contestants for the
London Daily Mol prize. While Com
mander Towers was studying the pos
sihility Of the trip being made in the
America and Col. Porte was conducting
experiments at Hammondsport the war
began and the flight was dropped, Col.
Porte returning to England.
Before the war had progressed a
month Commander Towers followed Col
Porte across the ocean to take the posi-
ton of assistant TO the American naval
attache in London. On this duty he
had an opportunity to observe naval
aerial warfare and was of great service
in keeping the American navy up to date
/ in the air
In October, 1915. he returned to this
country. He served on the Army and
Navy Board on the selection OF sites for
air stations. which began operations a
month before the United States entered
the world war Later he was placed in
charge Of the Naval Reserve Flying
Corps. the organization from which most
OF the naval aviators were taken. on
July 1. 1917, he was made Lieutenant
Commander and precisely one year later.
In recognition of his services in building
up the air service of the navy, he was
made a coomander.
The transatlantic flight project on
cially came into being on February 8
Of this year. when the Navy Depart
nent decided to utilize the NC aerial
cruiser fleet then building for an at
tempted fight across the ocean. To
Commander Towers wide authority was
given for the great task. his orders be-
ing TO take charge Of the development
of material and personnel for proposed
transatlantic flight
His present title Is Commander OF
NC Seaplane Division One" The sea-
planes are regularly commissioned ships
of the United States Navy and Com
mander Towers has the same status as
| that of o commander OF division o.
| seagoing ships Of the navy.