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Charles Perry Mason (January 12, 1891 – August 15, 1971) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice admiral. An early naval aviator, he distinguished himself as Commanding officer of aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8), which was sunk during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in late October 1942. Mason was subsequently promoted to Rear admiral and served successively as Commander, Aircraft, Solomons and Chief of the Naval Air Intermediate Training Command at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.He retired from the Navy following the War and served as Deputy State Director of Florida Civil Defense, before he was appointed the Mayor of Pensacola, the office which he held two times from 1947 to 1957 and again from 1963 to 1965.