Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-19
TOWERS IS NAMED
NAVY FLYING AID
Commander of NC Trans.
atlantic Fight Becomes As
sistant Chief of Bureau.

Comdr. John H. Towers, pioneer naval
aviator, now In charge of the plans
section Of the Bureau Of Naval Aero
nautics. was ordered yesterday by the
Navy Department to assume the post OF
assistant chief Of the bureau that d.
reefs the widespread flying activities OF
the Navy. He Is the oldest naval aviator
In point of service now living.
Comdr. Towers has had his share OF
thrills in the air, narrowly escaping
death when his flying companion was
killed in 1912. and having been one OF
the first men to span the Atlantic Ocean
in a seaplane, when he commanded the
famous NC flight in May. 1919. He was
one of the group Of the first three naval
officers selected to undertake flight
training and learned to fly under the
instruction of Glenn H. Curtiss. In
August, 1911, he qualified as an aviator
and in September of that year was
ordered to Annapolis where an aviation
camp was established and the instruc-
ton Of further officers was begun.
Later Comdr. Towers joined the Cur
tiss Camp at San Diego Calf. and dur
ing that time acted as test pilot for Mr..
Curtiss and aided in the development
of airplanes and seaplanes. He returned
to Annapolis in May, 1912, and was
placed in charge Of the naval aviation
camp. He established world record
for endurance in seaplane and an
American record for endurance IN any
6 hours 10 minutes.
Commander at Vera Cruz.
During the Mexican disturbance In
the Summer Of 1914 Comdr. Towers was
shifted from the aviation camp at Pen
sacola, Fla, where he was executive
officer, and placed In command of the
aviation unit established on shore at
Vera Cruz
The world War dissipated plans for
q transatlantic fight sponsored by
Rodnan Wanamaker. in which Comdr.
Towers was picked as one Of the pilots,
and instead he was attached to the
American embassy at London while on
duty as aviation observer in Europe. In
the Autumn Of 1916 he was ordered to
Washington and assigned to duty in
charge Of naval aviation and continued
in that post during American participa-
ton in the war.
In February, 1928, Comdr. Towers was
ordered to duty as assistant attache for
aviation to the embassies at London,
Paris, Rome and Berlin, and the lega-
ton at The Hague. and continued on
this duty until September, 1925, when
he returned to the United States and
was ordered almost Immediately as
member of the court of inquiry on the
Shenandoah disaster. He then pro-
ceeded to the West Coast for duty as
executive officer Of the U. S. S. Langley
and In January, 1927. was placed in
command Of that vessel, which duty he
continued until August, 1928, when he
was ordered to the Bureau of Aero
nauticS.
Born In Rome, Ca, January 80, 1885,
Comdr. Towers graduated from the
Naval Academy In 1906 and did duty
aboard the U. S. S. Kentucky and
u. s. s. Michigan before requesting
aviation duty.
Read Goes to Saratoga.
As assistant chief OF the Bureau Of
Aeronautics, he will relieve Capt Ernest
j. King, who will command aviation ac-
Invites at Hampton Roads, Va. Comdr
Albert c. Read, another famous figure
in the NC flight, as skipper Of the
NC-4, which successfully completed the