Charlie Bond, 1915-2009

Shantih (peace) to Charlie Bond of the American Volunteer Group, who died yesterday after what seems to have been a period of failing health. He was credited with seven air-to-air victories during his months with the Flying Tigers, making him the seventh-ranking among the nineteen AVG aces. After his AVG tour--which included two weeks' extra service during the transition to the 23rd Fighter Group--he became a career officer, retiring from the Air Force with the rank of major general. In 1984, he published his memoirs as A Flying Tiger's Diary. It was one of the first-hand accounts that I relied on while writing my history of the Flying Tigers, though I am sorry to say that he didn't care for the result.

Blue skies, General! -- Dan Ford