Edward McMahon

Ed McMahon was born in Detroit, MI, but grew up in Lowell, MA. At the age of 15, he worked as a bingo caller in Maine and put himself through college as a pitchman for vegetable slicers on the Atlantic boardwalk.

Ed studied at Boston College from 1940 to 1941. At the time, test pilots were required to have two years of college, and even after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the requirement remained unchanged. Determined to become a pilot, Ed stayed in school to meet the qualifications.

In 1944, Ed was commissioned into the Marine Corps and earned his pilot’s wings. His training began in Dallas and continued in Pensacola. He completed his carrier landing qualifications and was designated a Naval Aviator. He later became an instructor and test pilot for F4U Corsair aircraft at Lee Field in Green Cove Springs, FL.

Ed had orders to deploy to the Pacific Fleet in 1945, but the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan ended the war before he was deployed. He remained stateside until he was discharged. He continued serving in the Marine Corps Reserve and was later called up to serve in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War, eventually retiring as a Colonel. In recognition of his support for the National Guard and Reserve, the State Commission later named him a Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard—an honorary award.

Using the GI Bill, Ed earned his degree and graduated in 1949. He appeared in a few motion pictures and television shows but is best known as Johnny Carson’s sidekick on The Tonight Show.

(Courtesy of WWII Uncovered.)