James C. Condon

James Condon enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard on September 21, 1952, and received an honorable discharge on December 7, 1953. Condon then enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Air Force for Navigator training on October 5, 1954, graduating with a commission as a Second Lieutenant at Ellington AFB, Texas, on December 14, 1955. After completing B-47 Stratojet Combat Crew Training he served as a Navigator Bombardier with the 66th Bomb Squadron at Lake Charles AFB (later redesignated Chennault AFB), Louisiana, from June 1956 to March 1960, and then with the 506th Bomb Squadron, also at Chennault AFB, from March to June 1960. Captain Condon next completed B-52 Stratofortress Combat Crew Training before serving with the 336th Bomb Squadron (later redesignated the 824th Bomb Squadron) at Turner AFB, Georgia, from October 1960 to February 1967. His next assignment was as a B-52 Radar-Navigator with the 524th Bomb Squadron at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, from February 1967 to November 1968, followed by service on the staff of the 379th Bomb Wing at Wurtsmith from November 1968 to March 1970. Major Condon deployed to Southeast Asia in March 1970, and flew combat missions with the 4258th Strategic Wing (later redesignated the 307th Strategic Wing) at U-Tapao Airfield, Thailand, from March 1970 to April 1971. He served with the 486th and then the Second Bomb Squadron at March AFB, California, from April 1971 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War while deployed to Southeast Asia on December 28, 1972.