John P. Condon
John Pomeroy Condon | |
---|---|
Marine Aircraft Group 33 VMA-311 | |
Battles/wars | Nicaraguan Campaign World War II Korean War |
Awards | Legion of Merit (4) Distinguished Flying Cross |
John Pomeroy Condon (December 20, 1911 – December 26, 1996) was a highly decorated aviator in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. He distinguished himself successively during World War II and Korea and completed his career as commanding general, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in October 1962.
During World War II, he was instrumental in the planning of Operation Vengeance, the American military operation to kill Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto of the Imperial Japanese Navy on April 18, 1943.[1][2][3][4]
Early career
John P. Condon was born on December 20, 1911, in
While at the academy, Condon was active in lacrosse and was awarded "N" for excellence in that sport. He also captained the Navy Lacrosse team in his senior year. Many of his classmates became general officers later including Henry W. Buse Jr., Victor H. Krulak, Harold O. Deakin, Ralph K. Rottet, Frank C. Tharin, Gordon Chung-Hoon, Henry G. Sanchez, Samuel R. Shaw and John E. Weber.[6][1][2][3]
Condon graduated with a
Service with ground unit was not what Condon expected and he requested flight training. His request was granted and he was ordered to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, in October 1936. During his instruction there, he met Jane Anson, a member of a prominent Pensacola family, whom he married a few months later. He was promoted to first lieutenant on May 31, 1937.[1][2][3]
Condon earned his wings and was designated
World War II
In June 1941, Condon was transferred to the newly activated Marine Fighting Squadron 121 (
The MAG-12 was transferred to Nouméa in New Caledonia in December 1942 and then to Efate in the New Hebrides and conducted air operations during the Solomon Islands campaign. Condon served in this capacity until February 1943, when he was transferred to the staff of Fighter Commander, Aircraft Solomons (AirSols) under Colonel Edward L. Pugh.[1][2][3][4]
In early April 1943, U.S. Naval Intelligence intercepted a Japanese message that the senior Japanese admiral,
Condon then participated in the Bougainville campaign in November and December 1943 and subsequently supervised the construction of the Piva strips and directed the operations of Allied aircraft which rose from the new airfield to strike Rabaul. For his service on Bougainville, Condon received his second Legion of Merit.[7][1][2][9][3][4]
In January 1944, he was ordered back to the United States and joined the Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 45 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, as its executive officer. Condon was later transferred to Marine Aircraft Support Group 48 and served again as its executive officer during the training and qualifying marine squadrons for service on board escort carriers.[1][2][3][4]
He returned to Pacific theater in May 1945 and joined the
Korea and later career
Condon returned with MAG-31 to the United States in July 1946 and was ordered to
In July 1949, Condon was promoted to
By the end of May 1952, during the ongoing
Condon then returned to the United States and was assigned to the Special Board to examine the structure of Marine Corps Aviation. He was there for a few months before he was ordered to the
In mid-1956, Condon was detached from the group and appointed chief of staff, Marine Corps Education Center at Quantico. He remained there for two years, before he was transferred to the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, and assumed duty as chief of staff, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing under Major General John C. Munn.[1][2][3][4]
Condon was selected for the rank of brigadier general in April 1958 and ordered to Paris, France, for duty as deputy director for operations, J-3 Division, Headquarters, United States European Command under General Lauris Norstad. He served in this capacity until April 1961 and was praised by his superior for "a high degree of leadership, professional skill and enthusiasm". Condon received a fourth Legion of Merit for his service in Paris.[7][1][2][3][4]
Following his return to the US, Condon received a new assignment as commanding general,
Retirement
Condon retired at his own request on October 1, 1962, after 28 years of Marine Corps service and accepted a job with the
He retired from Rockwell in 1976 and settled in
Condon died of an aneurysm and lymphoma at his home in Alexandria, Virginia on December 26, 1996, aged 85. He was buried with full military honors at United States Naval Academy Cemetery together with his wife Jane and infant son, John. They have another four daughters: Aline, Mary, Jan and Catherine.[1][2][3][4]
Decorations
Major General Condon's personal decorations include:[7][2]
Naval Aviator Badge | |||||||||||||
1st Row |
Combat "V"
|
Distinguished Flying Cross | Navy Unit Commendation | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd Row |
American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp |
American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
with four 3/16 inch service stars | ||||||||||
3rd Row |
World War II Victory Medal
|
Navy Occupation Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal with one service star | ||||||||||
4th Row |
Korean Service Medal with two 3/16 inch service stars |
United Nations Korea Medal
|
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
|
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Benis M. Frank (Winter 1996–1997). "An Eagle is Downed: Major General John P. Condon" (PDF). Fortitudine. 26 (3). Marines Corps Historical Center. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "John P. Condon Papers". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "John P. Condon - Historical Pictorials". The City of Hancock. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s J.Y. Smith. "GEN. JOHN CONDON DIES AT 85". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- ^ "Maj Gen John Pomeroy Condon (LL4F-5V8)". Family Search. Retrieved February 18, 2022.[unreliable source?]
- ^ "Lucky Bag – USNA Class of 1934". United States Naval Academy. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "John P. Condon". The Wall of Valor Project. Sightline Media Group.
- ^ "Miramar Airmen Get Decorations". Marine Corps Chevron. February 26, 1944. p. 8. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
- ^ "Citations". Marine Corps Chevron. November 18, 1944. p. 11. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "A History of Marine Attack Squadron 311" (PDF). U.S. Marine Corps University. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ISBN 0-203-34155-4. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- Ginther Jr., James A. (1999). KEITH BARR McCUTCHEON: INTEGRATING AVIATION INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, 1937–1971. Texas Tech University. p. 81. - ^ "Amphib ships are vital segment". Coronado Eagle and Journal. Vol. 49, no. 13. March 29, 1962. p. 2. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.