Charles P. Mason

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.

Naval career
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.

On the on set of World War II, he was present at Peal 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 the USS Hornet (CV-8). 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. Promoted to Rear Admiral he was appointed Commander, Aircraft, Solomon Islands in February 1943 before been evacuated soon after with severe malaria and pneumonia. Thereafter he was the Commander of the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. 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.

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.

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