Charles John Bondley Jr., was worn in Big Springs, Ohio, in 1910. After graduating from high school at Belle Center, Ohio he entered the U.S. Military Academy, graduating June 12, 1934. Commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry, General Bondley 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.
Entering pilot training in October 1937, General Bondley graduated a year later from the Primary and Advanced Flying School at Randolph and Kelly Field, Texas, and transferred to the Air Corps. He then became adjutant of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron at Langley Field, Va., and in February 1940 was appointed adjutant of the 36th Pursuit Group there. A year later he became executive officer of Losey Field, Puerto Rico, and in February 1942 assumed command of the Puerto Rican Air Depot at San Juan. While serving in Puerto Rico he flew anti-submarine patrols.
General Bondley, in July 1943, became chief of Air Supply for the 12th Air Force Service Command, with which he served until December 1943 in North Africa and Italy. In January he was appointed deputy commander of the Pacific Ocean Air Service Command at Oakland, Calif. Entering the Army and Navy Staff College in November 1944, the general graduated the following April.
Named intelligence officer for the Army Ground Forces at Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands in April 1945, four months later General Bondley became assistant chief of staff for supply for the Fifth Air Force at Okinawa, later moving with it to Japan. He was appointed commander of the 38th Bomb Group in Japan in July 1946; chief of the Plans and Requirements Section of the Far East Air Forces at Tokyo from January 1947 to February 1948; and in April 1948 was named assistant chief of staff for materiel for the 15th Air Force at March Air Force Base, Calif., becoming chief of staff in May 1950.
Going overseas in July 1950, General Bondley was appointed chief of staff of the Far Eastern Air Force Command which operated from Japan and Okinawa. On March 25, 1951, he resumed his duties as chief of staff for the 15th Air Force at March Air Force Base, Calif., and in April 1951 assumed command of the 57th Air Division at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.
Joining Strategic Air Command in November 1952, General Bondley became director of materiel, with station at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
Reporting to Air Force Headquarters, Washington, D.C., July 13, 1956, the general assumed duties as director of supply and services in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Materiel. Relieved from this office Aug. 23, 1960, he was assigned director of the Logistics Division, J-4, U.S. European Command.
His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal and the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters. He is rated a command pilot.
He was promoted to first Lieutenant (permanent) June 12, 1937; to captain (temporary) Sept. 9, 1940; to major (temporary) July 22, 1940; to lieutenant colonel (temporary) Jan. 23, 1942; to colonel (temporary) Oct. 10, 1942; to captain (permanent) June 12, 1944; to lieutenant colonel (permanent) July 1, 1948; to colonel (permanent) Oct. 19, 1949; to brigadier general (temporary) Dec. 22, 1950; to brigadier general (permanent) Oct. 24, 1956; to major general (temporary) Oct. 24, 1956.
(Up to date as of August 1962)