the military attaché. He was promoted to brigadier general in the wartime Army of the United States on 1 October 1940. World War II Scanlon was assigned to Headquarters, United States Army Air Forces as an Assistant Chief of the Air Staff from July 1941 to March 1942. He was then sent to Australia as commanding general, Air Command No. 2, based at Townsville, Queensland. As such he was in charge of the air forces in New Guinea during the Kokoda Track campaign. When Major General George Kenney took over as commander, Allied Forces in the South West Pacific Area from Lieutenant General George Brett in August 1942, he formed an unfavourable impression. He later recalled: Kenney replaced Scanlon with Brigadier General Ennis Whitehead. Scanlon returned to the United States in September 1942, and became the commanding general of the 38th Flying Training Wing at Roswell Army Air Field in New Mexico, and then the 36th Flying Training Wing at Santa Ana Army Air Base in California. In August 1944, he became president of the Army Air Forces Evaluation Board in Hawaii. He reverted to his temporary rank of colonel on 10 April 1946, and retired with the rank of brigadier general on 21 February 1948. Later life After retiring from the United States Air Force, Scanlon became the director of export and vice president of Republic Aviation, a position he held until his retirement in 1957. He was a member of the Army and Navy Club, Metropolitan Club, and the Burning Tree Club. He was a member of the Early Birds of Aviation and the Order of Daedalians. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Polish Order of Polonia Restituta and the Italian Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. Scanlon died from heart failure at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., on 26 January 1980. Notes References 1889 births 1980 deaths United States Army Air Service pilots of World War I United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Cornell University alumni Members of the Early Birds of Aviation Military personnel from Pennsylvania People from Scranton, Pennsylvania Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Silver Star United States Air Force generals United