Lieutenant Colonel Scanlon was a member of the 6002nd Tactical Support Wing. On 21 September 1950, he was the pilot of a F-51D Mustang fighter from the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. While on a combat mission, his aircraft crashed about one mile northwest of Mukpang-ni, Korea.

Scanlon was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.