Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr. (August 1, 1920 – January 7, 1945) was an American
United States Army major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
who was killed in action while serving as a member of the
United States Army Air Forces during World War II and posthumously awarded the
Medal of Honor. He was one of the most decorated American
fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and ...
s and the second highest scoring American
ace of the war.
McGuire was memorialized by the renaming of Fort Dix Army Air Force Base in
Burlington County, New Jersey
Burlington County is a county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The county is the largest by area in New Jersey. Its county seat is Mount Holly. , to
McGuire Air Force Base
McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, approximately south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is under the j ...
in 1948.
Early years
McGuire was born in
Ridgewood, New Jersey, on August 1, 1920. He and his mother moved to
Sebring, Florida
Sebring ( ) is a city in the south-central Florida and is the county seat of Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District. As of t ...
in the late 1920s and McGuire graduated from Sebring High School in 1938. He enrolled at the
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...
to study aeronautical engineering, where he played in the marching band, was a sergeant major in the ROTC cadet corps, and became a member of
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi (), commonly known as Beta, is a North American social fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of North America's oldest fraternities, as of 2022 it consists of 144 active chapters in the Unite ...
fraternity. He left after his third year to enter the
U.S. Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program on July 12, 1941.
United States Army Air Forces

McGuire would become one of the top scoring combat pilots in U.S. Air Force history.
Civilian contractor
Charles Lindbergh bunked with him for a time and flew as his wingman on several missions. Visitors recalled McGuire ordering Lindbergh around, telling him to run errands as though he were a servant. With a total of 38 enemy planes destroyed to his credit in World War II, McGuire was only two victories behind Major
Richard Bong.
World War II
McGuire reported to the flying school in
Corsicana, Texas, as an aviation
cadet
A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in ...
.
He received further training in
San Antonio, and was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on February 2, 1942. He was assigned to the 313th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field, Michigan from February to May and the 56th Pursuit Squadron at Paine Field, Texas.
Combat missions

McGuire's first combat assignment was in June 1942, flying patrols over the
Aleutian Islands in a
Bell P-39 Airacobra while assigned to the
54th Fighter Group
The 54th Fighter Group is an active unit of the United States Air Force stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico and assigned to the 49th Wing of Air Education and Training Command. The group was reactivated in March 2014.
The group was ...
until October, before returning to Harding Field, Louisiana.
While scoring no aerial victories in the Aleutians, McGuire was able to hone his skills as a
pilot. In December 1942, he married Marilynn "Pudgy" Giesler shortly before he was transferred to Hamilton Field, California.
In February 1943, he reported to Orange County Airport, California for transition training in the
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive twi ...
.
In March 1943, McGuire was sent to the Southwest Pacific as a member of the
9th Fighter Squadron 009 may refer to:
* OO9, gauge model railways
* O09, FAA identifier for Round Valley Airport
* 0O9, FAA identifier for Ward Field, see List of airports in California
* British secret agent 009, see 00 Agent
* BA 009, see British Airways Flight 9
* ...
,
49th Fighter Group
The 49th Fighter Group was a fighter aircraft unit of the Fifth Air Force that was located in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II.
Activation and training
The group was constituted as 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 194 ...
,
Fifth Air Force,
based in
New Guinea. Two months later, the Fifth Air Force created an entire
group of P-38s, the
475th Fighter Group 475th may refer to:
*475th Air Base Wing, inactive United States Air Force unit
* 475th Bombardment Squadron, inactive United States Air Force unit
* 475th Fighter Group, World War II predecessor of 53d Weapons Evaluation Group
* 475th Test Squadro ...
in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
at the behest of
Lieutenant General George Kenney, the commanding officer of the Fifth Air Force. In mid-July, McGuire was transferred to the 431st Fighter Squadron,
475th Fighter Group 475th may refer to:
*475th Air Base Wing, inactive United States Air Force unit
* 475th Bombardment Squadron, inactive United States Air Force unit
* 475th Fighter Group, World War II predecessor of 53d Weapons Evaluation Group
* 475th Test Squadro ...
.
On August 18, 1943, Lieutenant McGuire was part of a group flying top cover for bombers striking at
Wewak,
New Guinea. Nearing their target, the fighters were attacked by Japanese aircraft. During the battle, McGuire shot down two
Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscars" and one
Kawasaki Ki-61
The Kawasaki Ki-61 ''Hien'' (飛燕, "flying swallow") is a Japanese World War II fighter aircraft. Used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, it was designated the "Army Type 3 Fighter" (三式戦闘機). Allied intelligence initially b ...
"Tony." On the following day, near the same location, he downed two more Oscars. This established him as an ace in two days.
In September, he was promoted to first lieutenant.
McGuire's career nearly came to an end on October 17, 1943, when he scrambled from Dubodura, New Guinea to intercept approaching Japanese bombers being escorted by
Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters over
Oro Bay
Oro Bay is a bay in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, located southeast of Buna, Papua New Guinea, Buna. The bay is located within the larger Dyke Ackland Bay. A port is operated by PNG Ports Corporation Limited with limited wharf facilities, loca ...
, New Guinea. During the ensuing dogfight, McGuire observed at least seven Zeros attacking a lone P-38 that was trailing smoke. McGuire dove into the enemy fighters and quickly shot down three. The remaining four Zeros were able to attack McGuire and severely damage his aircraft. With his controls out, McGuire decided to bail out but as he exited the aircraft, his parachute harness snagged on something in the cockpit. From McGuire struggled to free himself from the stricken fighter. Finally McGuire was able to free himself and deploy his parachute at . He landed safely in the water and was rescued by a
PT boat. McGuire suffered a bullet wound to his wrist and numerous other injuries including some broken ribs. He spent six weeks in the hospital before he returned to his unit. For his actions on this day he was awarded a
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
and a
Purple Heart.
[ In late December, he was promoted to ]captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
and became the operation officer of the 431st Fighter Squadron.
In early May 1944, McGuire became the commanding officer of the 431st Fighter Squadron. McGuire wrote a book, ''Combat Tactics In The Southwest Pacific Area'', for Fifth Air Force on 4 May 1944. On May 18, he was promoted to major. In December, McGuire became the Operation Officer of the 475th Fighter Group. On December 25–26, 1944, he downed seven Japanese fighter aircraft in just two days over Luzon, Philippines.
Last mission and death
January 7, 1945, McGuire took off from Dulag Airfield on Leyte and led a group of four P-38s – himself, Major Jack Rittmayer, Captain Edwin Weaver, and Lieutenant Douglas Thropp – on a fighter sweep over northern Negros Island in the central Philippines. Their aim was to gain victories. McGuire desperately wanted to pass Bong's score of 40 kills.[John R. Bruning, ''Race of Aces: WWII's Elite Airmen and the Epic Battle to Become the Master of the Sky.'' Hachette Books, 2020.] Descending through cloud cover, McGuire's flight circled a Japanese airfield at Fabrica and then proceeded to a second airstrip at Manapla (also referred to as Carolina). As they approached Manapla, they were confronted by a lone Ki-43 "Oscar", which immediately engaged McGuire's flight.
Flying in the number-three position, Lt. Thropp saw the Oscar trying to attack him in a head-on pass. Thropp broke hard left. The Japanese pilot turned with him and fell into position behind him while firing. Major Rittmayer, flying as Thropp's wingman, turned sharply towards and began firing on the attacker. McGuire saw the Oscar was being engaged by Rittmayer and turned to face an imminent threat to the flight from the opposite direction. McGuire and his flight had encountered Warrant Officer Akira Sugimoto
Akira may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Akira'' (franchise), a Japanese cyberpunk franchise
** ''Akira'' (manga), a 1980s cyberpunk manga by Katsuhiro Otomo
** ''Akira'' (1988 film), an anime film adaptation of the manga
** ''Akira'' (vide ...
(杉本明, ''Sugimoto Akira''), who was an instructor pilot with some 3,000+ hours in type. Sugimoto broke away from Thropp and Rittmayer and turned to find McGuire and his wingman Ed Weaver directly in front of him. Sugimoto was easily able to catch up and attack them from behind.
As Sugimoto approached Weaver from behind, Weaver radioed he was attacked and cut inside of the turn to present a more difficult shot. McGuire eased up on his turn rate in an effort to draw the attacker off of his wingman and onto himself. Sugimoto took the bait and switched his attack to McGuire. As Sugimoto approached from behind, McGuire rapidly increased his turn rate.[ This extremely dangerous maneuver, performed at an altitude of only (contrary to McGuire's own dictates never to engage at a low altitude), caused McGuire's P-38 to stall. It ]snap roll
Aerobatic maneuvers are flight paths putting aircraft in unusual attitudes, in air shows, dogfights or competition aerobatics. Aerobatics can be performed by a single aircraft or in formation with several others. Nearly all aircraft are capab ...
ed inverted and nosed down into the ground. Despite the low altitude, McGuire nearly pulled out successfully; had he jettisoned his drop tanks at the start of the dogfight, he might have managed it. McGuire was killed on impact.
McGuire's crash was witnessed by Filipinos who immediately rushed to the scene and secured his body so it would not be captured. In 1949, his remains were recovered by the U.S. Army and returned to the United States. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on May 17, 1950. A memorial was erected at McGuire's fatal crash site on Negros Island in 2007, placed by aviation archaeologist and former fighter pilot David Mason.
Military awards
McGuire's military decorations and awards include:
Medal of Honor citation
:Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army Air Forces, Fifth Air Force
:Place and date: Over Luzon, Philippine Islands, December 25–26, 1944
:Entered service at: Sebring, Florida
:Birth: Ridgewood, New Jersey
:G.O. No.: 24, March 7, 1946
Namings and other honors
* McGuire Air Force Base
McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, approximately south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is under the j ...
, New Jersey, January 1948. The base has a P-38 Lightning on static display and the C-17 and KC-10 aircraft flown by the 305 AMW and 514 AMW carry the image of a P-38 in the fin flash of each aircraft's vertical stabilizer.
* Major Thomas B. McGuire Medal of Honor Exhibit: National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place just east of Dayton, Ohio, in Greene and Montgomery counties. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wri ...
, Ohio.
* National Aviation Hall of Fame, Dayton, Ohio
* Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey
The Aviation Hall Of Fame & Museum of New Jersey was founded in 1972 and preserves New Jersey's aviation and space heritage. The museum displays historic aircraft, space equipment, artifacts, photographs, art and an aircraft model collection. The ...
( Teterboro Airport)
* Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame
* National Medal of Honor Grove, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
* Florida Medal of Honor Grove
* Georgia Tech Alumni Medal of Honor Garden
* United States and Canadian Military Service display of the Beta Museum at the Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi (), commonly known as Beta, is a North American social fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of North America's oldest fraternities, as of 2022 it consists of 144 active chapters in the Unite ...
General Fraternity headquarters in Oxford, Ohio
See also
List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
This is a list of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II. The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recip ...
References
Bibliography
* Berg, A. Scott. ''Lindbergh''. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1998. .
* Martin, Charles A. ''The Last Great Ace: The Life of Major Thomas B. McGuire Jr.'' Jacksonville, Florida: Fruit Cove Publishing, 1999. .
External links
Tommy McGuire at acesofww2.com
McGuire Air Force Base Website fact sheet
McGuire fact sheet from the National Museum of the USAF (includes MOH citation)
"The Last Great Ace" a book about The Life of Thomas B. McGuire written by Charles A. Martin
"Wingman to the Aces: LT Floyd Fulkerson: Ultimate Wingman"
''Flight Journal'', December 2012
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGuire, Thomas
1920 births
1945 deaths
American people of Irish descent
American World War II flying aces
Aviators killed by being shot down
Aviators from New Jersey
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Georgia Tech alumni
Military personnel from New Jersey
National Aviation Hall of Fame inductees
People from Sebring, Florida
People from Ridgewood, New Jersey
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
Recipients of the Silver Star
Recipients of the Air Medal
United States Army Air Forces Medal of Honor recipients
United States Army Air Forces officers
United States Army Air Forces personnel killed in World War II
United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor