War Department Press Release

FUTURE RELEASE PLEASE NOTE DATE WAR DEPARTMENT Bureau of Public Relations PRESS BRANCH Tel. RE 6700 Brs. 3425 and 4860 FUTURE RELEASE FOR RELFASE IN A.M. PAPERS, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1946 MAJ. THOMAS B. McGUIRE, JR, AVARDED MEDAL OF HONOR POSTHUMOUSLY Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr., veteran 13th Air Force fighter pilot officially credited with 38 enemy planes destroyed in aerial combat, has been posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry in action over Luzon, Philippine Islands, December 25 and 26, 1944. During those two days McGuire shot down seven Japanese fighters while leading a flight of 15 Lockheed P-38 Lightnings flying as top cover for heavy bombers attacking Mabalacat Airdrome and Clark Field on Luzon. He later was killed when he attempted a dangerous low-altitude maneuver in an effort to rescue a comrade under fire by a Jæp fighter. On Christmas day, 1944, McGuire volunteered to lead a squadron of 15 planes to provide protection for heavy bombers attacking Mabalacat Airdrome. As the formation crossed Luzon, it was attacked by 20 aggressive Japanese fighters. In the battle that followed, mcGuire shot down three Jap planes. In two of the engagements he was outmumbered three to one. The third plane was destroyed while attacking another pilot in mcGuire's flight. Although McGuire's guns jammed, he continuted to attack and forced another enemy plane into his wingman's line of fire, thus aiding in a fourth victory. The following day he volunteered to lead a squadron to Clark Field, Over the target one of the bombers was hit by flak. As the bomber left the formation it was attacked by Japanese fighters. McGuire entered the fight and purposely exposed himself to attack to enable the crippled bomber to escape. He shot down one plane and then was attacked by four more. He outmaneuvered the four, shot one down and then attacked three others. He destroyed one of them before leaving the fight and rejoining the formation. On the way out of the target area, McGuire shot down another Jap, his fourth for the day, bringing his total to 38 enemy planes destroyed. McGuire died attempting to save a fellow pilot. On January 7, 1945, he was leading a flight of four-P-38's over a Jap-held airstrip on Los Negros Island when a single Jap jumped them from out of the clouds. When the attack started the formation waš flying at 2,000 feet in hopes of catching some enemy planos while taking off. McGuire led his squadron into a tight Lufbery, snaring the Zero inside. The Jap made a sharp turn in an effort to break out of the trap, but the P-38's kept with him all the way down to 200 feet. There, the formation scattered and the enemy pilot maneuvered into position on the tail of one of the Lightnings. The attacked pilot called for help and McGuire tried to respond. His plane fell off and crashed. Realizing the seriousness of his fellow pilot's plight and knowing that it might prove fatal to himself, McGuire wilfully violated three rules he constantly had preached to his pilots: "Never attempt combat at low altitude. "Never let your air speed fall below 300 miles per hour in combat. MCRF