Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-28

Although at the age Of 45. which Is
regarded as little too advanced for
active flying. Comdr. Rodgers possess
ed a. keen interest in the airplane and
used 1t whenever he could get away
from his duties as assistant chief OF
the Bureau of Aeronautics. He loved
to fly and this keen desire brought
about his recent transfer from desk
duty" in Washington to active field
work with a special squadron of new
long dista nee planes. and perhaps was
the direct cause which led to his death
yesterday In Philadelphia.
Comdr. Rodgers is known to have
been keenly disappointed over tn"
promotion given him by Secretary
Wilbur following his rescue from the
Pacific aboard the PN-9 No. |. to the
detail of assistant chief of the bl-
reau. His predecessor in that Offic"
had been a captain Frequently he
applied for transfer with aviation
units at sea, and finally the depart
ment yielded to his request.
Was Picturesque Character.
Comdr. Rodgers was picturesque
chalact and possessed keen sense
of humor, which won him great popu-
larity. Only Thursday he was seen
in the midst of a. group or onicers AT
luncheon in the Navy Department
cafeteria. and loud laughter burst
forth as he drolled out stories in his
ininitable style.
On his return to Washington from
the Pacific he was asked to TESTIFY
before the Presidents Aircraft Board
and he probably was the least serious
of all the witnesses that stood before
that tribunal. Then he was called
into the dignified Mitchell court.mar'
tial to refute the statements or the
accused that the Hawaiian flight was
the work of "bungling amateurs ana
that the task was undertaken In big,
NUMBERING good-for- nothing Hyine
boats" without preparation.
The Judge advocate sought to BRING
ont the sterling qualities of Comdr.
Rodgers ancestors. did they not DO
this and did they not do that! ne
was asked and it was evident that the
witness was plainly embarra sseo.
Finally, in confirming some herolc
deed of the past accomplished by
RODGERS" the witness. without
smile decla red: Il also understand he
was a. pirate
At anoth0 point in the examination
to detail his flying experience and IN
referring to long-distance flight in
the Hawaiian Islands, he said 1t was
made in an F-5-L. "a big, numbering.
good. fornothing flying boat, at the
same time smiling broadly in the dl-
rection Of Col. Mitchell.
Was Navy Air Pioneer.
,,o,,dr Rodgers goes down in his
tory as one of the pioneers OF naval
Walton. He entered the Naval
Academy in 1899 after he had served
during the Spanish War In CUBAN
waters as a member Of the L. s. S.
Columbia.
His. first tour Of duty at sea fol-
lowing his graduation from the
academy began In 1908. He was
commissioned a lieutenant in 1908.
Aviation soon attracted the young
officer. son of Rear Admiral .lohn
Aueustus Rodgers, retired. and he
became the second airman IN the
Navy, qualifying as an aviator at tne
Wright Training School. DAYTON
Ohio. He already had conducted ex-
periments with man-lifting kites fol-
use in the fleet for sporting pur-
noses and later he won the Hearst
prize as the first to fly across the
United States. making the flight In
an airplane purchased jointly with a
cousin. G. p. Rodgers.
After tour of. aviation duty AT
the Naval Academy. Rodgers be-
came a leading figure in establishing
the air station at San Diego In 1871
He then resumed duty at the
AGA denny. returning soon afterward
to the general service.
He was promoted to lieutenant
comma nder in 1915 while serving
with the submarine sQuadrons. re-
ceiving the temporary rank of com
mander in 1918. At the close of that
wear he was placed in command OF
division 10 of the submarine forces
with the United states Atlantic fleet
Cleaning up the allied and German
mines strewn in the North Sea was
| his next assignment. and in June
1919, he served with the mine-sweep
ing detachment. In December Of
that year he was executive Officer
of the L. s. s. Nevada. and the fol
lowing November he received tn.
permanent rank ofscOmmander
Was Sent to Hawaii.
After a tour Of recruiting duty
Baltimore. Comdr. Rodgers. in July
1922. re.entered aviation. being glver
command of the Naval Air Station a
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 1t was while
he was later commander OF the I. $.
Wright. tender with the aircraf
souadrons of the scouting fleet. tina
! Rodgers was selected to command the
non stop flight from the West Coas
to Hawaii.
The day after the rescue of Rodgers
and his crew on that epochai f1igh
the aviator was appointed assistant
chief of the Bureau Of Aeronautics, 6
post he did not desire. but which HI
took only at the urging OF Navy offl
Gals.
Was HOnOred by the \. p.
Recently Rodgers was relieved o
! this assignment and given command
of new experimental lOng-dista nee
scouting squadron. with a base at SaT
Diego. but while on duty as assistan
air chief he made fight from Wash
ington to Cuba and return. He als'
had been presented with gold watci
| by the Associated Press in apprecia
| ton Of the dispatch written after hi
rescue on the Hawaiian flight.
Samuel Joseph Schulz. aviation ma
chinist's mate. first class. had been a
the Naval Air Station. Anacostia
| since May of this year. His hom'
| is in Philadelphia, where his wife re
sides Schultz came to the station
| here from the L. $. S. Wright, Comdr
Rodgers old command. He is % year
old. Schultz completed six years II