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This is the second of Major Thomas McGuire's Lightnings. All were named 'Pudgy', and it was not until the fourth machine when he added the number of his machine, in that case 'Pudgy IV'. McGuire was apparently an abrasive sort of chap who was very competitive. He strove to beat the score of Major Richard Bong, America's leading ace with 40 confirmed kills and also a Lightning ace in the Pacific Theatre. Richard Bong lost his life back the in the USA testing an early jet. Thomas McGuire reached a score of 38 kills before he was killed on 7th January 1945 over Los Negros Island trying to defend a fellow pilot from attack.
In that action a single Zero came from the clouds in total surprise. It was flown by Shoichi Sugita, who would eventually be killed in action himself with 80 kills to his name. McGuire spotted the Zero at the last moment and pulled his P38 into a vertical bank and steep turn. His three pilots circled, boxing the Zero in. All five aircraft dropped to 200 feet as the Zero tried to escape the circle. Tommy McGuire had basic rules he was always to abide by and taught his other pilots to follow. In this action he was to break all of them. The first rule - never attempt combat at low level. The P38s then scattered, and the Zero latched onto the tail of one of McGuire's pilots, who called for help. McGuire responded, reduced speed, and pulled round. This broke his second rule - never drop below 300 mph in combat. He also still had his drop tanks, violating the third rule to drop them in a fight. In the tight turn with the Zero having the advantage over both P38s, McGuire's P38 stalled at low speed and low altitude, plunging into the jungle where it exploded.
Major Thomas McGuire He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously.
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This is the second of Major Thomas McGuire's Lightnings. All were named 'Pudgy', and it was not until the fourth machine when he added the number of his machine, in that case 'Pudgy IV'. McGuire was apparently an abrasive sort of chap who was very competitive. He strove to beat the score of Major Richard Bong, America's leading ace with 40 confirmed kills and also a Lightning ace in the Pacific Theatre. Richard Bong lost his life back the in the USA testing an early jet. Thomas McGuire reached a score of 38 kills before he was killed on 7th January 1945 over Los Negros Island trying to defend a fellow pilot from attack.
In that action a single Zero came from the clouds in total surprise. It was flown by Shoichi Sugita, who would eventually be killed in action himself with 80 kills to his name. McGuire spotted the Zero at the last moment and pulled his P38 into a vertical bank and steep turn. His three pilots circled, boxing the Zero in. All five aircraft dropped to 200 feet as the Zero tried to escape the circle. Tommy McGuire had basic rules he was always to abide by and taught his other pilots to follow. In this action he was to break all of them. The first rule - never attempt combat at low level. The P38s then scattered, and the Zero latched onto the tail of one of McGuire's pilots, who called for help. McGuire responded, reduced speed, and pulled round. This broke his second rule - never drop below 300 mph in combat. He also still had his drop tanks, violating the third rule to drop them in a fight. In the tight turn with the Zero having the advantage over both P38s, McGuire's P38 stalled at low speed and low altitude, plunging into the jungle where it exploded.
Major Thomas McGuire He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously.
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