John P. Condon

He distinguished himself successively during World War II and Korea and completed his career as commanding general, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in October 1962.

Condon was subsequently assigned to the marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Pennsylvania and took part in the patrol cruises off the coast of California.

He was detached in June 1936 and sent to San Diego, where he joined 6th Marine Regiment as Machine Gun Platoon leader, Company H, 2nd Battalion.

The squadron was transferred to Hawaii shortly before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in late 1941 and was attached to the Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) under Condon's friend and former colleague from Quantico, now Colonel William O. Brice.

Condon and Pugh were called up by Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher, in command of Aircraft Solomons (AirSols), who briefed them about the message and ordered them to analyse and prepare a plan to intercept Yamamoto's flight.

[7][1][2][8][3][4] 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.

[1][2][3][4] Condon returned with MAG-31 to the United States in July 1946 and was ordered to Washington, D.C., where he served in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air (Military Requirements).

He was subsequently sent to Washington, D.C., and attached to the Office of the Secretary of Defense under George Marshall as a member of the Weapons Systems Evaluation Group.

[1][2][3][4] By the end of May 1952, during the ongoing Korean War, Condon was ordered to the Far East and assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 33 at Pohang in Korea.

Other members of the group were Thomas J. Coolley, August Larson Joseph N. Renner, Carson A. Roberts, Samuel R. Shaw, George R. E. Shell, Eustace R. Smoak, William J.

[7][1][2][3][4] Following his return to the US, Condon received a new assignment as commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Iwakuni Air Base, Japan.

[1][2][12][3][4] Condon retired at his own request on October 1, 1962, after 28 years of Marine Corps service and accepted a job with the North American Aviation as program manager.

Following the merger with Rockwell International in 1967, he assumed the capacity of executive of the division of that company and held additional duty as president of the National Alliance of Businessmen.

He was buried with full military honors at United States Naval Academy Cemetery together with his wife Jane and infant son, John.

Condon during flight training in January 1937 at the Pensacola, Florida, Naval Air Station
Condon (seated center) talking with staff officers of Fighter Command, Aircraft Solomons on Guadalcanal in early 1943
Condon's new two-star insiginia are pinned on by, from left, Marine Corps BGen Thomas F. Riley and assistant wing commander BGen Roy L. Kline