Charles Bond (pilot)

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Charles Rankin Bond, Jr.
Charles Bond (photo from Museum of Flight)
Born(1915-04-22)April 22, 1915
Dallas, Texas
DiedAugust 18, 2009(2009-08-18) (aged 94)
Dallas, Texas
AllegianceUnited States
China
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Corps
Republic of China Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
Years of service1932–1968
RankMajor general
Commands heldTwelfth Air Force
28th Air Division
25th Air Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
  • Burma Campaign
  • China-Burma-India Theater
Army Commendation Medal
Order of the Cloud and Banner with Cravat (China)
Distinguished Flying Cross
(United Kingdom)
The Flying Tigers insignia painted on the side of their planes was designed by The Walt Disney Company.[1]

Charles Rankin Bond, Jr. (April 22, 1915 – August 18, 2009) was an American pilot and

13th Air Force in the Philippines. He retired from the United States Air Force in 1968 as commander of the Twelfth Air Force
. In 1984, Bond's diary of his service with the Flying Tigers was published and became a bestseller.

Early years

Bond was born in

West Point preparatory program hoping to be selected to attend the United States Military Academy.[3] After failing to secure an appointment to the Military Academy, he returned home and worked for his father in the painting business.[3]

In 1938, Bond learned of a program through which high school graduates could take an examination in lieu of college for acceptance as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps. He passed the exam and reported to Randolph Field for pilot training.[4] He received his commission as a pilot in January 1939.[4][5] In February 1939, he was assigned to the Second Bomb Group at Langley, Virginia, where he served under Curtis LeMay.[6] In March 1941, he was assigned to the newly formed U.S. Army Air Corps Ferrying Command in Long Beach, California.[7]

World War II

Upon learning in June 1941 about the formation of the

North Africa, the group painted a shark mouth on the nose of their planes.[10] Bond was the first to paint his Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.[11] Bond was credited with shooting down nine and a half Japanese aircraft,[12] including three during a single 1942 mission. Bond was also shot down twice during his Flying Tigers service: in May 1942, he was shot down over Baoshan, China, and he parachuted into a cemetery after his plane and clothing caught fire. He was hospitalized, but returned to combat and was shot down again in June 1942; he suffered head injuries but returned to combat within a week.[5]

The Flying Tigers received $500 for each Japanese plane they shot down, and Bond used the money to help his parents buy a house.[5] He was awarded China's Order of the Cloud and Banner, fifth grade, and Seven Star Wing Medal for his service in the Flying Tigers.[13]

Bond returned to the United States in 1942 and was honored by the

Stalingrad after the famous battle for that city.[14]

Post-war military service

In 1949, Bond received a Bachelor of Science degree in management engineering from Texas A&M University.[13] He worked briefly worked as a commercial pilot, but rejoined the Army Air Forces after a few months of civilian work.[5] In the post-war years, Bond had assignments with the Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics and as chief of the Air Division of the U.S. Military Mission in Moscow.

In 1957, Brigadier General Bond assumed command of the 25th Air Division (Defense) with headquarters at

McChord Air Force Base.[15]
In 1959, Brigadier General Bond assumed command of the 28th Air Division (Defense) with headquarters at
Hamilton Air Force Base.[16]

At the time of his retirement, Bond was commander of the Twelfth Air Force (insignia pictured).

During the Vietnam War, he served as deputy commanding officer of the 2nd Air Division in Vietnam and the 13th Air Force in the Philippines.

Lyndon Johnson presented a Minuteman flag to Bond in ceremonies at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas. Bond accepted the flag on behalf of the entire Twelfth Air Force.[17]

In addition to the Chinese decorations, Bond was awarded the

Army Commendation Medal, the Purple Heart, the British Distinguished Flying Cross, and several other service and campaign medals during his military career.[13]

Later years

After retiring from the military in 1968,[18] Bond worked as a consultant for Texas Instruments for ten years.[12] He also worked for a skylight manufacturing company before retiring in 1983.

In 1984, Bond co-authored A Flying Tiger's Diary with Terry H. Anderson, a historian at Texas A&M University.[19] The bestselling book was based on a diary in which Bond made entries at the end of each day in 1941 and 1942 while serving with the Flying Tigers.[20]

Bond died at an assisted-living facility in Dallas from the effects of dementia.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Rossi, J.R. "History: The Flying Tigers – American Volunteer Group – Chinese Air Force".
  2. ISBN 978-0-89096-408-8
    . flying tiger's diary.
  3. ^ a b c Bond and Anderson, p. 13
  4. ^ a b Bond and Anderson, p. 14
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Joe Holley (2009-09-09). "Charles R. Bond Jr. dies at 94; retired Air Force general, former Flying Tiger". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Bond and Anderson, p. 15
  7. ^ Bond and Anderson, p. 16
  8. ^ Bond and Anderson, pp. 19–21
  9. ^ Bond and Anderson, pp. 30–37
  10. ^ Rossi, Dick (1980s). "A Flying Tigers Story". The Flying Tigers – American Volunteer Group – Chinese Air Force.
  11. ^ Rossi, J. R. "Bond biography". The Flying Tigers – American Volunteer Group – Chinese Air Force.
  12. ^ a b c Joe Simnacher. "Charles R. Bond Jr.: Pilot with famed WWII Flying Tigers". The Dallas Morning News.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ a b c d "Major General Charles R. Bond, Jr.: AVG Flying Tigers Ace". Cavanaugh Flight Museum. Archived from the original on 2009-02-12.
  14. ^ "Retired Aggie generals recall war days for A&M". Galveston Daily News. 1981-10-17.
  15. ^ "TAKES COMMAND MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. 1957-09-09.
  16. ^ Armed Forces Directory Service: Guide to HAMILTON Air Force Base 1960
  17. ^ "Bonded Tribune". The Argus. California. 1968-01-12.
  18. ^ "To Command 12th Air Force: Coolidge General Gets New Job". The Mexia Daily News. 1968-07-29.
  19. ^ "Charles R. Bond, Jr., 1915–2009". Texas A&M University Press. 2009-08-20.
  20. ^ Bond and Anderson, A Flying Tiger's Diary, p. xii
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