Seward daily gateway., 1925-09-12

l became interested Tn aVlat1On through experimenting with manlifting kites for spOtting purposes. In 1911 he went to the Wright aviation school at Dayton, Ohio, and was the second na- val officer to become an aviator
 During the world war he was on duty with submarines and mine forces in the North Sea. He was awarded Distinguished Service Medal He assisted c. P. Rodgers in the trans continental flight than won first prize Leaving aviation for a time Commander Rodgers became eXecu- tive officer of the U. s. s. Nevada. La ter he returned to aeronautics as com manding officer of the naval air sta tion at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He then was appointed master of the U s. s. Wright, flagship of the aircraft squadron of the scouting fleet. He held this post when he was designated flight commander of the San Francis co-Honolulu nonstop project.
 The first John Rodgers to figure in naval history served as an officer in 1776. He was known as ''the bold bald eagle of the seas" Since, there has been a continuous line of John Rodgers in the navy, but the present flight commander has no sons to car ry on the line.
 Lieut.. B. J. ConneIl
 Lieutenant Byron James Cornell, second in command, was born at Eli zabeth, Pa, August 12, 1894 He was graduated from Pennsylvania State tCollege in 1918, with the degree of bachelor of science in civil engineer ing. He immediately entered the na- val aviation service and after ground course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he began flying at the naval base in San Diego, Cal
 Later he was appointed flight squad ron commander at Coco Solo, Canal Zone
 In 1922 Lieutenant Cornell was se- lected by the navy department to take a postgraduate course in aeronautical engineering and in 1924 received the degree master of science from Massa- chusetts Tech. He put in the last year with scouting plane squadron No. 1 as pilot and engineer officer. He took part in the recent fleet maneu- vers in the Hawaiian islands. His home is at Pittsburg.
 Skiles R. Pope
 Chief Machinists Mate Skiles R. Pope, alternate pilot. He was born at Jackson, Tenn, October 13, 1894 He enlisted in the navy in 1913 and saw service in Mexico on the U. s. S. New Hampshire. During the World War he served overseas on the Ari zona. He entered the naval air ser vice in 1919 and in 1922 qualified as a pilot at Pensacola, Fla. His residence is Jackson, Tenn.
 Radio Operator Stantz 7 Chief Radio Operator Gilbert Otis Stantz. He was born June 4, 1899, al Coal City, Ind He enlisted in the navy in 1917 as an apprentice seaman , later taking up radio work He serv ed overseas from 1917 to 1919 and in the latter year entered the naval avia } tiDn service. He took part in the bombing of German warships in tests off the Virginia Capes. For a time he taught radio in the naval aviation : ground school at Pensacola, Fla. and then was sent to sea again. His home is at Terre Haute, Ind.
 } Wm. M. BowIin Avia5on Machinist's Mate, first els ! William M. Bowlin. He was born al l Roachdale, Ind, March 19, 1899 He ? enlisted in the navy in 1918, entering the aviation service the same year He received his preliminary training } at Great Lakes Naval Station, and Ia . ter qualified as pilot at Pensacola 7 Fla. He was called from sea service to duty on the Hawaiian flight flag plane.