Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr.
U.S. Army Air Force, 5th Air Force, 475th Fighter Group, 431st Fighter Squadron
P-38 Lightning pilot and ace who earned the Medal of Honor

Background
Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr. was born on August 1, 1920 to parents Thomas B. McGuire and Pauline Hoffman Watson McGuire in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Nicknamed "Tommy" or "Mickey". At an early age, his parents divorced and he split his time between his father in New Jersey and mother in Florida. He graduated High School in Sebring, Florida then attended Georgia Tech for three years.

Wartime History
On July 12, 1941 McGuire joined the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) as an aviation cadet and completed flight training. On February 2, 1942 he earned his wings at Kelly Field, Texas and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-437031.

During February 1942 McGuire was assigned to the 50th Pursuit Group (50th PG), 313th Pursuit Squadron (313th PS) at Selfridge Field. In May 1942 assigned to the 54th Fighter Group (54th PG), 56th Fighter Squadron (56th PS) at Paine Field in Washington State. During June 1942 stationed in Alaska until October 1942. On December 4, 1942 married Marilynn Elaine “Pudgy” Giesler.

During March 1943 he returned to Hamilton Field then sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). McGuire was assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) in New Guinea. During July 1943, assigned to the 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades" and was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

Assigned Aircraft
McGuire was assigned five different P-38 Lightnings, each nicknamed "Pudgy" after his wife with a roman numeral for each subsequent plane (II, III, IV and V). All were assigned squadron number 131.

P-38H "Pudgy" 42-66592  ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped.
P-38H "Pudgy" (Pudgy II) 42-66817  ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped.
P-38J "Pudgy" (Pudgy III)  42-?????  ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped.
P-38L "Pudgy IV" 44-?????  ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped.
P-38L "Pudgy V" 44-24155  ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped.

Aerial Victory Claims
McGuire was officially credited with 38 aerial victories plus 3 probables and 2 damaged, all flying the P-38 Lightning in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). He was the second highest scoring American ace of World War II.

On August 18, 1943 he claimed his first three aerial victories over Wewak.

On August 21, 1943 he claimed two aerial victories over Wewak and became an ace.

On August 29, 1943 he claimed two more aerial victories over Wewak.

On September 28, 1943 he claimed two more victories over Wewak.

On October 15, 1943 McGuire took off on a scramble to intercept a formation of incoming Japanese planes. During air combat over Oro Bay, he claimed a D3A Val dive bomber, his tenth aerial victory and two probable Zeros. In his Flight Log Book he noted: "1 Val destroyed 2 Zekes probables good fight over Oro Bay low".

On October 17, 1943 McGuire took off piloting P-38H 42-66836 on a scramble mission to intercept incoming A6M Zeros off Oro Bay During the air combat, McGuire claimed three Zeros shot down before he was hit by gunfire and wounded. Damaged, he sucessfully bailed out over the Solomon Sea roughly 25 miles off the north coast of New Guinea. After landing in the sea, he was unable to inflate his life raft due to shrapnel holes and instead floated in his life vest. Thirty minutes later, rescued by PT-152 and transported to USS Hilo AGP-2 and later returned to shore and got back to his squadron. In his Flight Log Book he noted: "Bailed out plane shot down wounded Oro Bay (3 Zekes destroyed) bomber turned [?]". Afterwards, he was hospitalized for 18 days to recouperate in Port Moresby and later Brisbane.

Afterwards, promoted to the rank Captain. Two months later promoted to the rank of Major. During May 1944 he becane the Commanding Officer (C. O.) of 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS). During December 1944 he became operations officer for the 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) until January 7, 1945 when he went Missing In Action (MIA).

On December 13, 1944 McGuire claimed a J2M Jack [sic JAAF fighter] over Tanzan Airfield on Negros.

During the night of January 6, 1945 McGuire planned a fighter sweep to search for enemy aircraft to shoot down, in hopes of claiming aerial victories to equal or exceed the forty victories credited to Major Richard I. Bong who had rotated back to the United States. On his final mission. McGuire did not fly his personal aircraft, P-38L "Pudgy V" 42-66817.

Mission History
On January 7, 1945 McGuire took off piloting P-38L "Eileen-Ann" 44-24845 on a fighter sweep over Negros Island hopes of finding Japanese aircraft to shoot down and add to McGuire's aerial victory credits. Over Negros, the flew over Fabrica Airfield, but did not spot any Japanese planes on the ground or in the air. Next, they proceeded to Caroline Airfield where they spotted a single Ki-43 Oscar pilot Warrant Officer Akira Sugimoto from 54th Hiko Sentai.

Before intercepting, McGuire told his flight to "hold your tanks" (not to release their drop tanks) took retain fuel in anticipation of flying further to engage in more combat. With their drop tanks still attached, the P-38s were slower and less maneuverable. During the dogfight with the Oscar, McGuire crashed. On the ground, Filipinos saw a P-38 flying upside down before hitting trees and crashing east of a ravine and exploded on impact. McGuire was killed in the crash and listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Precisely what caused McGuire to crash is unknown. Most published accounts claim McGuire turned too sharply while trying to get a deflection burst into a Ki-43 Oscar and it was assumed he snap-rolled to the left and hit the ground inverted from about 300'. The snap-roll theory for his crash is only an assumption as none of the pilots in the air witnessed him crash. Another theory is that he experienced a high speed stall at low altitude and crashed.

Missing Air Crew Report 11589 (MACR 11589) states the loss of McGuire was a "loss attributed to enemy aircraft". Ki-43 Oscar pilot W.O. Sugimoto and entered a turning battle with McGuire's P-38 and fired on his aircraft. Therefore, W.O. Sugimoto could be credited for shooting down or causing McGuire to crash according to USAAF victory claiming methodology.

Recovery of Remains
His remains were recovered in 1949 and later transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Medal of Honor
McGuire earned the of Honor, posthumously for his actions between December 25, 1944–January 7, 1945 when lost in air combat. On March 7, 1946 McGuire earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously. The medal was presented by General George C. Kenney to his widow Marilynn Elaine “Pudgy” who immediately gave the medal to his father.

Medal of Honor (December 25, 1944–January 7, 1945, posthumously) G.O. No.: 24, 7 March 1946 "He fought with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity over Luzon, Philippine Islands. Voluntarily, he led a squadron of 15 P-38's as top cover for heavy bombers striking Mabalacat Airdrome, where his formation was attacked by 20 aggressive Japanese fighters. In the ensuing action he repeatedly flew to the aid of embattled comrades, driving off enemy assaults while himself under attack and at times outnumbered 3 to 1, and even after his guns jammed, continuing the fight by forcing a hostile plane into his wingman's line of fire. Before he started back to his base he had shot down 3 Zeros. The next day he again volunteered to lead escort fighters on a mission to strongly defended Clark Field. During the resultant engagement he again exposed himself to attacks so that he might rescue a crippled bomber. In rapid succession he shot down 1 aircraft, parried the attack of 4 enemy fighters, 1 of which he shot down, single-handedly engaged 3 more Japanese, destroying 1, and then shot down still another, his 38th victory in aerial combat. On 7 January 1945, while leading a voluntary fighter sweep over Los Negros Island, he risked an extremely hazardous maneuver at low altitude in an attempt to save a fellow flyer from attack, crashed, and was reported missing in action. With gallant initiative, deep and unselfish concern for the safety of others, and heroic determination to destroy the enemy at all costs, Maj. McGuire set an inspiring example in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service."

Memorials
McGuire was officially declared dead the day of the mission.

After McGuire went missing, San Jose Airfield was renamed McGuire Drome in his honor.

On May 17, 1950 McGuire was buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 11, grave 426-SH.

On January 13, 1948 the Fort Dix Army Air Base in Wrightstown, New Jersey was renamed McGuire Air Force Base (McGuire AFB) in his honor. Outside the base as a gate guard is F-5G 44-53015 painted in the markings of P-38L "Pudgy V" 44-24155 assigned to McGuire.

The American Legion Post 132 in Franklin, New Jersey is named for McGuire.

The Sebring Historical Society at the Charles F. Weigle House in Sebring, Florida displays McGuire's medals.

The Sebring Regional Airport has a mural and display honoring McGuire.

The Florida Medal of Honor Memorial in Sebring, Florida has a display on McGuire including his medals on temporary loan.

Relatives
Marilynn Elaine “Pudgy” Giesler Beatty (widow, passed away November 19, 1988 at age 74)

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Thomas B. Mc Guire Jr.
Aviators Flight Log Book - Thomas McGuire (October 13, 1943–December 19, 1943)
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: McGuire, Thomas B Jr. page 128 (PDF page 135), Alphabetical, by theater of operation (SWP) McGuire, Chronological List, 431st FTR SQ.
The Morning Call "A Grateful Nation Today Pays Highest Tribute To Hereo Who Gve Life In War Against Japs" May 8, 1946 pages 1, 19
McGuire's Last Mission (1975) by Caroll Anderson
The McGuire Story (1981)
P-38 Lightning Aces of the Pacific and CBI (1997) by John Stanaway cover (P-38J Pudgy III), pages 21-45 (475th FG references in New Guinea), 48-58 (color profiles), 60 (artwork McGuire), page 61-71 (475th FG references in Philippines), 84-88 (Bong and McGuire), 89 (Appendices P-38 aces, 475th FG pilots), 92 (color plate descriptions), 96 (figure plate description, 6)
The Last Great Ace (1999) by Charles A. Martin
"What Really Happened to McGuire?" by David Mason via Wayback Machine January 27, 2012
The Search For The Crash Site of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. by David Mason, 2001
Introduction to the United States Air Force (2001) page 39 (Bong)
McGuire Final Report: Investigation into the final combat mission of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. (2009) by David J. Mason
Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr
USAF Museum McGuire -- Maj Thomas B McGuire Jr (2014) biography
ANC Explorer - Thomas B. McGuire, Jr (grave photos)
FindAGrave - Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. (photos, grave photo)

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?