Towers, John

Towers, John (Henry) (1885–1955) naval aviator; born in Rome, Ga. A 1906 Naval Academy graduate, in 1911 he became the third naval officer to qualify as a pilot. In May 1919, forced down off the Azores while attempting a transatlantic flight in the seaplane NC-3, Towers rigged a sail and made port after a two-day voyage. After commanding the carriers Langley and Saratoga, he became chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics in 1939. He served in senior staff positions during World War II; this naval aviation pioneer finally saw sea duty in 1945 as commander of the Second Carrier Task Force. He commanded the Pacific Fleet before retiring from the service in 1947. He served as a vice-president of Pan American World Airways from 1949 to 1953.