- Charles Bond (pilot)
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Charles Rankin Bond, Jr. 
Charles Bond (photo from Museum of Flight)Born April 22, 1915
Dallas, TexasDied August 18, 2009 (age 94)
Dallas, TexasAllegiance Republic of China
United States of AmericaService/branch United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air ForcesYears of service 1932–1968 Rank Major General Battles/wars Awards Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
The Flying Tigers insignia painted on tne 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 U.S. Air Force officer. He served with the Flying Tigers in Burma and China during World War II. He was shot down twice and was credited with shooting down nine-and-a-half Japanese airplanes. He later served in the Soviet Union as an aide and personal pilot to Averill Harriman. He rose to the level of Brigadier General and, during the Vietnam War, he was the deputy commanding officer of the 2nd Air Division in Vietnam and the 13th Air Force in the Philippines. He retired from the U.S. 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 best-seller.
Contents
Biography
Early years
Bond was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Charles R. Bond, Sr., and Magnolia Turner Bond. His father operated a small business painting and hanging wallpaper.[2] Bond was an honor student in high school and a participant in the Reserve Officer Training Corps.[3] He joined the Texas National Guard while in high school. His family could not afford to send him to college. In 1935 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and enrolled in a West Point preparatory program hoping to be selected to attend the U.S. 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 U.S. 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 E. 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 American Volunteer Group under the command of Claire Chennault, Bond immediately volunteered and departed in September 1941 to serve in the Pacific.[8] After stops in Hawaii, Java, and Singapore, he arrived in Burma on November 12, 1941.[9] The unit, based in Burma and China, was tasked with protecting supply routes between China and Burma and with supplying Chinese forces fighting the Japanese.[5] The group was credited with shooting down 299 Japanese aircraft. It became known as the "Flying Tigers".[1] After seeing a picture of an RAF plane in North Africa the group painted a shark mouth on the nose of their planes.[10] Bond was the first to paint his P-40.[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 Paoshan, 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] In addition to the Chinese decorations, Bond was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart and several other service and campaign medals.[13]
Bond returned to the United States in 1942 and was honored by the Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of the most outstanding young men in Texas.[13] In October 1942 he rejoined the Army Air Corps. During the latter part of the war, Bond served as an aide and the personal pilot for Averell Harriman, the American ambassador to the Soviet Union during the war. In that position Bond met Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and many Russian officials. Bond was forced to make an emergency landing at 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]
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.[5] In 1967 and 1968 he was commander of the 12th Air Force in Waco, Texas.[12] In January 1968 President 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 12th Air Force.[16] Bond retired from the military in 1968.[17]
Later years
After retiring from the military, 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, historian at Texas A&M University.[18] The best-selling book was based on a handwritten diary in which Bond made entries at the end of each day in 1941 and 1942 while serving with the Flying Tigers.[19]
Bond died at an assisted-living facility in Dallas from the effects of dementia.[5]
References
- ^ a b Rossi, J.R.. "History: The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force". http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.net/tiger1.htm.
- ^ Terry H. Anderson and Charles R. Bond (1984). A Flying Tiger's Diary, p. 12. Texas A&M University. ISBN 9780890964088. http://books.google.com/books?id=voeOKZ8FdI0C&dq=%22flying+tiger's+diary%22&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=egcNvMIVcU&sig=0HmK3RY2-QVC-R9l3Og7tnK4Wc4&hl=en&ei=yVuoSqaLHIj-tQOYkdX6BA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false.
- ^ a b c Bond and Anderson, p. 13
- ^ a b Bond and Anderson, p. 14
- ^ 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. http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-charles-bond7-2009sep07,0,7271174.story.
- ^ Bond and Anderson, p. 15
- ^ Bond and Anderson, p. 16
- ^ Bond and Anderson, pp. 19-21
- ^ Bond and Anderson, pp. 30-37
- ^ Rossi, Dick (1980s). "A Flying Tigers Story". The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force. http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.net/tiger2.htm.
- ^ Rossi, J.R.. "Bond biography". The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force. http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.net/bio-Bond.htm.
- ^ a b c Joe Simnacher. "Charles R. Bond Jr.: Pilot with famed WWII Flying Tigers". The Dallas Morning News. http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/DN-bondob_25met.ART.State.Edition1.4ba326a.html.
- ^ a b c d "Major General Charles R. Bond, Jr.: AVG Flying Tigers Ace". Cavanaugh Flight Museum. http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/Bond.htm.
- ^ "Retired Aggie generals recall war days for A&M". Galveston Daily News. 1981-10-17.
- ^ "TAKES COMMAND MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. 1957-09-09.
- ^ "Bonded Tribune". The Argus (CA). 1968-01-12.
- ^ "To Command 12th Air Force: Coolidge General Gets New Job". The Mexia Daily News. 1968-07-29.
- ^ "Charles R. Bond, Jr., 1915-2009". Texas A&M University Press. 2009-08-20. http://tamupress.blogspot.com/2009/08/charles-r-bond-jr-1915-2009.html.
- ^ Bond and Anderson, "A Flying Tiger's Diary," p. xii
Categories:- 1915 births
- 2009 deaths
- American World War II flying aces
- People from Dallas, Texas
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Purple Heart medal
- Recipients of the Order of the Cloud and Banner
- Recipients of the Army Commendation Medal
- Republic of China Air Force personnel
- Texas A&M University alumni
- United States Air Force generals
- United States Army Air Forces officers
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
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