"Grant" Mahony was born on 30 September 1918 in Bridal Veil, Oregon.

After graduating from the University of Oregon in 1939, he joined the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet on 17 June 1939, with Primary flight training at a Civilian Elementary Flying School; Basic flight training at Randolph Field; and graduating Advanced flight training at Kelly Field, Texas with Class 40-A on 23 March 1940.

The 12 April 1940 U.S. Census had him residing at Magisterial District 5 near Goodman AAF on the Fort Knox Army Post in Hardin County, Kentucky as an Air Corps Reserve 2nd Lt.

Sent to the Philippine Islands in November 1940, Lieutenant Mahony was assigned to the 3rd Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, Far East Air Force (FEAF) stationed at Iba Airfield. During the Japanese attack on 8 December 1941 (Battle of the Philippines), he scored his first victory when he shot down a zero over Iba Airfield on the island of Luzon.

Evacuated (escaped) to Australia on 8 December 1941, Mahony led a squadron of 12 Curtiss P-40E Warhawk fighters to form the 17th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional) at Brisbane, Australia. Promoted to captain on February 4, 1942.

Stationed at Karachi, Pakistan from March to November 1942; Mahony was sent to China in November to be commander of the 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group at Kunming Airfield in Yunnan Province.

In June 1943 he returned to the United States, and on 16 November was assigned to the 5318th Provisional Air Unit, which would become the1st Air Commando Group equipped with North American Aviation P-51A Mustang.

Promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 March 1944, he scored his fifth victory on 17 April.

Returning to the States again in June 1944, Mahony was next sent to the Pacific Theater as deputy commander of the 8th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force, flying Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft. He was killed in action on 3 January 1945 while piloting a P-38 Lightning, he was shot down while straffing a Japanese floatplane.

Grant Mahony