Gen Charles J. Bondley

Gen Charles J. Bondley Jr

West Point Cadet uniform worn by Charles J. Bondley Jr of Belle Center

Air Force Officer dress uniform worn by Gen Charles J. Bondley Jr

Col Charles J. Bondley Jr. receiving a Bronze Star Medal

Charles J. Bondley, Jr., was born in Big Springs, Ohio on September 10, 1910, to Dr. Charles J. and Dora Titus Bondley. Dr. Bondley had a medical office in Big Springs for eighteen years and then moved his practice to Belle Center where he continued to practice for another twenty years.

Charles Jr. graduated from Belle Center High School in 1928 and went on to attend Millard’s Military Academy in Washington, D.C. In 1930, he received an appointment to West Point Military Academy from which he graduated in 1934. Bondley, commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry, was assigned with the 10th Infantry at Fort Thomas, Ky. He later served as aide-de-camp to the commanding general of the Pacific Sector, Canal Zone, until June 12, 1936, when he transferred to the Coast Artillery Corps. He was promoted to first Lieutenant in June 1937.

Bondley entered pilot training in October 1937, and graduated a year later from the Primary and Advanced Flying School at Randolph and Kelly Field, Texas, and transferred to the Air Corps. The next year, he became executive officer of Losey Field, Puerto Rico. Bondley was promoted to major in 1940.

In January of 1942, the Army appointed Bondley Commander of the 25th Air Depot Group placing him over 6,000 civilians and servicemen and promoting him to lieutenant colonel. While serving in Puerto Rico he flew anti-submarine patrols. Within a few months, Bondley was promoted to colonel, becoming the youngest Ohioan to achieve that rank in the Army Air Corps.

In July 1943, Bondley became chief of Air Supply for the 12th Air Force Service Command, in North Africa and Italy. In January 1944, he was appointed deputy commander of the Pacific Ocean Air Service Command at Oakland, Calif. He entered the Army and Navy Staff College in November 1944 and graduated the following April.

Col. Bondley spent the last months of World War II, and the following few years, in Japan as part of the Far East Air Forces and became its Chief of Staff in 1947. That same year, Bondley was transferred to the newly organized U.S. Air Force.

Bondley was promoted to brigadier general in December 1950. He became the Vice-Commander of the Far Eastern Air Force Bomber Command in Japan during the Korean War before being transferred back to the United States.

Bondley achieved the rank of Major General in October 1956. General Bondley earned many decorations during his military career including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, and he was rated a command pilot.

General Charles J. Bondley died in 1973 at the age of sixty-three. He is buried in the West Point cemetery.