Georgia Tech, Roll #350

Thomas McGuire quit Georgia Tech during his junior year to fight in World War II. He quickly became a Major in the Air Force. He
flew a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, which he affectionately nicknamed "Pudgy" after his wife. The plane sported two Allison engines and two 160-gallon wing fuel tanks. McGuire shot down a total of thirty-eight Japanese planes, including seven in a single day. For this
deed he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. His total of 38 made him the second leading American air ace of WWII. Other
medals he was awarded include:

He was killed on January 7, 1945, while responding to his wing mate over the Los Negros Islands, the Philippines. His formation
scattered and an enemy aircraft zeroed in on one of the P-38s, his wing mate. The pilot radioed for help and McGuire was quick to
respond. He went into a sharp turn at about 180 miles per hour and both engines stalled. He always had three important rules:

1. Never go into combat with your wing tanks on
2. Never fight in combat going less than 300 mph
3. Never fligh at low altitudes during combat

Unfortunately, he broke all three rules on the day he died trying to save his wing mates life.