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Charles Perry Mason

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{{Infobox Biography| subject_name =Charles Perry Mason| image_name =CPMason 1940.jpg| image_size =225px| image_caption =| date_of_birth =[[January 12]], [[1891]]| place_of_birth =Harrisburg, Pennsylvania| date_of_death =[[August 13]], [[1971]]| place_of_death =Pensacola| occupation =Naval officer, politician| religion =| spouse =[[Ralphine Fisher Mason|Ralphine Fisher]]| parents =| children =| signature =Cpmason-sig.PNG| signaturesize =160px}}'''C. P. Charles Perry Mason''' served two non-consecutive terms as [[mayor of Pensacola]], from 1947 to 1957 and again from 1963 to 1965. Mason was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on [[January 12]], [[1891]]. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in [[1912]] and entered flight training in Pensacola in May [[1916]]. Mason graduated in [[1917]], becoming the Navy's 52nd aviator. In the same year, Mason married Ralphine Fisher in Pensacola. Before long, however, Mason was ordered to Europe, as America had become involved in World War I. On [[June 13]], [[1918]], then-Lieutenant Mason piloted the first American-built aircraft to be assembled in France, at [[Wikipedia:Pauillac|Pauillac]]. In [[1923]], Mason, then a Lieutenant Commander, took command of VS Squadron 3, a special service squadron assigned to develop long-distance scouting planes. In [[1940]], Mason became the first commanding officer of the newly-commissioned [[Wikipedia:Naval Air Station Jacksonville|Naval Air Station Jacksonville]].<ref>[http://www.earlyaviators.com/emason.htm Earlyaviators.com]</ref> Mason would later serve in World War II, also, at one point commanding the [[Wikipedia:USS Hornet (CV-8)|USS ''Hornet'']], and earning the [[Wikipedia:Navy Cross|Navy Cross]] for his defense of the ship before its destruction in the [[Wikipedia:Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands|Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands]]. Mason served in the Navy for 38 years, eventually attaining the rank of Vice Admiral. He retired from active duty in April [[1946]], first settling in Jacksonville, but soon returned to Pensacola, where he became Mayor of Pensacola in [[1947]].<ref>[http://www.stjohnshistoriccemetery.com/pensacolas_heritages/naval_heritage.htm#c_p_mason St. John's Cemetary - Pensacola's Heritage]</ref> Mason died [[August 13]], [[1971]] and is buried at [[St. John’s Cemetery]]. Admiral Mason is the namesake of [[Admiral Mason Park]]. ==Other images==<gallery>Image:MasonFiesta1954.jpg|Presenting a key to the city to "de Luna" in the Fiesta of Five Flags celebration, [[1954]]Image:CPMason-Burns.jpg|Mason, left, greets gubernatorial candidate Haydon Burns at the Pensacola airport, March [[1964]]</gallery> ==References==<references/>
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{{Bio-stub}}[[Category:Mayors of the City of Pensacola|Mason, Charles P.]] [[Category:People buried in St. John's Cemetery|Mason, Charles P.]]