U.S. Coast Guard Aviation History
OFFICIAL U.S. COAST GUARD PHOTOGRAPH: Rel. No. 09-28-43 (01)
The original caption stated:
"U.S. COAST GUARD'S FIRST AVIATION GROUP: The Class of 1916 became the first Coast Guard Aviators. They are shown at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla., with their crewmen at the time of graduation. Of the 18 pictured, nine remained in the U.S. Coast Guard, three became Rear Admirals, one a Vice Admiral, while another won the [sic**] Congressional-Medal for a historical contribution to aviation.
(Left to right):
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C.T. Thrun, Master at Arms, later a warrant officer who was killed while flying at Cape May, N.J., in January, 1935;
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J. F. Powers, Oiler First Class, who later left the service;
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George Ott, Ship's Writer, who later left the service;
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C. Griffin, Master at Arms, who later left the service;
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John Wicks, Surfman;
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Third Lieut. Robert Donohue, who became Rear Admiral, was Chief, Air-Sea Rescue Officer, Chief, Personnel Officer, at Headquarters, retired June 1, 1946, died April 4, 1964;
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Second Lieut. C. E. Sugden, who retired a Captain on August 1, 1946;
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Second Lieut. E. A. Coffin, who retired a Rear Admiral on April 1, 1950;
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First Lieut. S. V. Parker, who retired as Vice Admiral Sept. 1, 1947;
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Second Lieut. P. B. Eaton, who became Rear Admiral, and and [sic] Assistant Engineer-in-Chief at Headquarters, retired August 31, 1946, died May 18, 1958;
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*Third Lieut. E. F. Stone, designated Coast Guard Aviator No. 1 who in 1919 made history as pilot of the Navy Seaplane NC4 that made the first trans-Atlantic crossing, was a Commander when he died May 20, 1936.
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Ora Young, Surfman, who later left the service;
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W. R. Malew, Coxswain, who later left the service;
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J. Meyers, Surfman, who later left the service;
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J. Medusky, Asst. Master at Arms, who later left the service;
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W. S. Anderson, Surfman, who retired as a Lieut. Commander, November 1, 1946;
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L. M. Melka, Signal Quartermaster, later became a Lieutenant; deceased.
*Stone received the Congressional Medal [**] May 23, 1930 for extraordinary achievement in making the first successful trans-Atlantic flight.
5/08/64"