Mack McKay was born to Malcolm T. McKay and Bernice M. Starkey in Ballinger, Texas. The McKay family moved from Texas to California when Mack was four years old. He was refused entry to the local elementary school because his given name, Mack, was thought by the registrar to be a nickname. He was told to find out his "real" name and come back. His mother sent him three times before he was enrolled.
He joined the Navy Reserve while enrolled at Compton Junior College at age seventeen in 1937. He didn't approve of the class division between the officers and men in the Navy, and thought the officers were arrogant. Regardless he was friends with Harold E. Roach, who left the Navy to become a Marine Corps fighter pilot in the Solomons. McKay did meet Admiral William Halsey, then the Commanding Officer of U.S.S. Saratoga, and was deeply impressed by that officer.
He joined the Air Corps while still in college at March Field, Riverside, California on November 23, 1940. He transferred to the Army Air Force on July 11, 1941 after a year of active duty and two years in the reserves with the Navy. McKay was issued Officer Service Number O-421269. McKay learned to fly at Mesa Del Rey Field in King City, California, Class 43-J. He trained on B-25s until joining the 306th Bombardment Group.
McKay arrived at the 306th's 423rd Bombardment Squadron to lead "A" Flight in late April 1942. McKay was promoted to Captain in late July 1942. Orders issued on July 28, 1942 detailed McKay to fly as Command Pilot from Wendover Field, Utah in B-17E 41-9067 to Westover Field, Massachusetts, and then to the United Kingdom in B-17F 41-24660 later named "Little Audrey" on July 31, 1942. This was part of the movement of the 306th Bombardment Group into the European Theatre of Operations.
Johnson was Co-Pilot, Pollock navigated, Alleman was Engineer and Top Turret Gunner, and Henn and Gibson were gunners for the cross-Atlantic flight.
On August 1, 1942, McKay and Lieutenant John Brady enjoyed the officers' pool at Chanute Field, Illinois while the rest of the air echelon visited slot machines. The next week, the ground echelon crossed the Atlantic via the Queen Elizabeth, and they were excited to see McKay in "Little Audrey" buzz the ship while on submarine patrol.
On October 22, 1942, McKay, along with Lieutenants John Barnett, John B. Brady and William R. Warner, executed a test flight maintaining 500 feet altitude. McKay and Barnett's aircraft clipped foliage from trees that the ground crew found when they landed.
On November 8, 1942, McKay and Lieutenant Loyal M. Felts joined the 369th Bombardment Squadron on an attack on submarine pens at Lille. Initially unopposed, the 369th aborted the bomb run and set up again when German fighters attacked. The 369th experienced many losses on that mission but McKay and Felts returned unharmed.
During a visit to Oxford Hospital on December 20, 1942, McKay drove and many officers accompanied him. While the 423rd's Combat Diary doesn't explicitly mention alcohol, McKay drove the vehicle into a ditch on the way back.
McKay was awarded the Air Medal on January 12, 1943. (151) On January 20, 1943, McKay was selected to command the 368th Bombardment Squadron. The 423rd's Combat Diary recorded, "Capt. Mack McKay, after taking part in ten completed missions without a slip or abortion--a truly remarkable record--was chosen today as the next commanding officer of the 368th Bomb Squadron. While we all, without exception, hate to lose Mack, it is an honor and a promotion for him personally, and in that we are all honored in his being chosen for the job." McKay flew sixteen missions with the 306th Bombardment Group, often in B-17F 41-24660 "Little Audrey" but in several other aircraft as well. McKay took part in every mission, starting with the 306th's first on October 9, 1942, and was the lead plane for the entire group at the end of his tour. He was promoted to Major on February 23, 1943. McKay commanded the 368th until April 8, 1943, and then departed England for the United States on April 16, 1943, to lecture trainees on B-17 combat operations. )
Andy Rooney wrote about the 8th Air Force and Mack McKay in an article published on August 19, 1943. Mack McKay was awarded the Silver Star in 1943.
Assuming command of the 1st Bombardment Squadron on June 16, 1943, he trained B-17 crews until February 27, 1944. He also consulted on the placement of gun turrets on the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress. McKay was only 23 years old at the time. After overexertion and hospitalization for two and a half months, he retired from the Air Force on April 16, 1944.
McKay became a cargo pilot for the Flying Tigers for four and a half years. Later he was an investment broker for an oil company. He outlived his first wife and married again. McKay is buried in Riverside National Cemetery.
He joined the Navy Reserve while enrolled at Compton Junior College at age seventeen in 1937. He didn't approve of the class division between the officers and men in the Navy, and thought the officers were arrogant. Regardless he was friends with Harold E. Roach, who left the Navy to become a Marine Corps fighter pilot in the Solomons. McKay did meet Admiral William Halsey, then the Commanding Officer of U.S.S. Saratoga, and was deeply impressed by that officer.
He joined the Air Corps while still in college at March Field, Riverside, California on November 23, 1940. He transferred to the Army Air Force on July 11, 1941 after a year of active duty and two years in the reserves with the Navy. McKay was issued Officer Service Number O-421269. McKay learned to fly at Mesa Del Rey Field in King City, California, Class 43-J. He trained on B-25s until joining the 306th Bombardment Group.
McKay arrived at the 306th's 423rd Bombardment Squadron to lead "A" Flight in late April 1942. McKay was promoted to Captain in late July 1942. Orders issued on July 28, 1942 detailed McKay to fly as Command Pilot from Wendover Field, Utah in B-17E 41-9067 to Westover Field, Massachusetts, and then to the United Kingdom in B-17F 41-24660 later named "Little Audrey" on July 31, 1942. This was part of the movement of the 306th Bombardment Group into the European Theatre of Operations.
Johnson was Co-Pilot, Pollock navigated, Alleman was Engineer and Top Turret Gunner, and Henn and Gibson were gunners for the cross-Atlantic flight.
On August 1, 1942, McKay and Lieutenant John Brady enjoyed the officers' pool at Chanute Field, Illinois while the rest of the air echelon visited slot machines. The next week, the ground echelon crossed the Atlantic via the Queen Elizabeth, and they were excited to see McKay in "Little Audrey" buzz the ship while on submarine patrol.
On October 22, 1942, McKay, along with Lieutenants John Barnett, John B. Brady and William R. Warner, executed a test flight maintaining 500 feet altitude. McKay and Barnett's aircraft clipped foliage from trees that the ground crew found when they landed.
On November 8, 1942, McKay and Lieutenant Loyal M. Felts joined the 369th Bombardment Squadron on an attack on submarine pens at Lille. Initially unopposed, the 369th aborted the bomb run and set up again when German fighters attacked. The 369th experienced many losses on that mission but McKay and Felts returned unharmed.
During a visit to Oxford Hospital on December 20, 1942, McKay drove and many officers accompanied him. While the 423rd's Combat Diary doesn't explicitly mention alcohol, McKay drove the vehicle into a ditch on the way back.
McKay was awarded the Air Medal on January 12, 1943. (151) On January 20, 1943, McKay was selected to command the 368th Bombardment Squadron. The 423rd's Combat Diary recorded, "Capt. Mack McKay, after taking part in ten completed missions without a slip or abortion--a truly remarkable record--was chosen today as the next commanding officer of the 368th Bomb Squadron. While we all, without exception, hate to lose Mack, it is an honor and a promotion for him personally, and in that we are all honored in his being chosen for the job." McKay flew sixteen missions with the 306th Bombardment Group, often in B-17F 41-24660 "Little Audrey" but in several other aircraft as well. McKay took part in every mission, starting with the 306th's first on October 9, 1942, and was the lead plane for the entire group at the end of his tour. He was promoted to Major on February 23, 1943. McKay commanded the 368th until April 8, 1943, and then departed England for the United States on April 16, 1943, to lecture trainees on B-17 combat operations. )
Andy Rooney wrote about the 8th Air Force and Mack McKay in an article published on August 19, 1943. Mack McKay was awarded the Silver Star in 1943.
Assuming command of the 1st Bombardment Squadron on June 16, 1943, he trained B-17 crews until February 27, 1944. He also consulted on the placement of gun turrets on the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress. McKay was only 23 years old at the time. After overexertion and hospitalization for two and a half months, he retired from the Air Force on April 16, 1944.
McKay became a cargo pilot for the Flying Tigers for four and a half years. Later he was an investment broker for an oil company. He outlived his first wife and married again. McKay is buried in Riverside National Cemetery.
Mack McKay was born to Malcolm T. McKay and Bernice M. Starkey in Ballinger, Texas. The McKay family moved from Texas to California when Mack was four years old. He was refused entry to the local elementary school because his given name, Mack, was thought by the registrar to be a nickname. He was told to find out his "real" name and come back. His mother sent him three times before he was enrolled.
He joined the Navy Reserve while enrolled at Compton Junior College at age seventeen in 1937. He didn't approve of the class division between the officers and men in the Navy, and thought the officers were arrogant. Regardless he was friends with Harold E. Roach, who left the Navy to become a Marine Corps fighter pilot in the Solomons. McKay did meet Admiral William Halsey, then the Commanding Officer of U.S.S. Saratoga, and was deeply impressed by that officer.
He joined the Air Corps while still in college at March Field, Riverside, California on November 23, 1940. He transferred to the Army Air Force on July 11, 1941 after a year of active duty and two years in the reserves with the Navy. McKay was issued Officer Service Number O-421269. McKay learned to fly at Mesa Del Rey Field in King City, California, Class 43-J. He trained on B-25s until joining the 306th Bombardment Group.
McKay arrived at the 306th's 423rd Bombardment Squadron to lead "A" Flight in late April 1942. McKay was promoted to Captain in late July 1942. Orders issued on July 28, 1942 detailed McKay to fly as Command Pilot from Wendover Field, Utah in B-17E 41-9067 to Westover Field, Massachusetts, and then to the United Kingdom in B-17F 41-24660 later named "Little Audrey" on July 31, 1942. This was part of the movement of the 306th Bombardment Group into the European Theatre of Operations.
Johnson was Co-Pilot, Pollock navigated, Alleman was Engineer and Top Turret Gunner, and Henn and Gibson were gunners for the cross-Atlantic flight.
On August 1, 1942, McKay and Lieutenant John Brady enjoyed the officers' pool at Chanute Field, Illinois while the rest of the air echelon visited slot machines. The next week, the ground echelon crossed the Atlantic via the Queen Elizabeth, and they were excited to see McKay in "Little Audrey" buzz the ship while on submarine patrol.
On October 22, 1942, McKay, along with Lieutenants John Barnett, John B. Brady and William R. Warner, executed a test flight maintaining 500 feet altitude. McKay and Barnett's aircraft clipped foliage from trees that the ground crew found when they landed.
On November 8, 1942, McKay and Lieutenant Loyal M. Felts joined the 369th Bombardment Squadron on an attack on submarine pens at Lille. Initially unopposed, the 369th aborted the bomb run and set up again when German fighters attacked. The 369th experienced many losses on that mission but McKay and Felts returned unharmed.
During a visit to Oxford Hospital on December 20, 1942, McKay drove and many officers accompanied him. While the 423rd's Combat Diary doesn't explicitly mention alcohol, McKay drove the vehicle into a ditch on the way back.
McKay was awarded the Air Medal on January 12, 1943. (151) On January 20, 1943, McKay was selected to command the 368th Bombardment Squadron. The 423rd's Combat Diary recorded, "Capt. Mack McKay, after taking part in ten completed missions without a slip or abortion--a truly remarkable record--was chosen today as the next commanding officer of the 368th Bomb Squadron. While we all, without exception, hate to lose Mack, it is an honor and a promotion for him personally, and in that we are all honored in his being chosen for the job." McKay flew sixteen missions with the 306th Bombardment Group, often in B-17F 41-24660 "Little Audrey" but in several other aircraft as well. McKay took part in every mission, starting with the 306th's first on October 9, 1942, and was the lead plane for the entire group at the end of his tour. He was promoted to Major on February 23, 1943. McKay commanded the 368th until April 8, 1943, and then departed England for the United States on April 16, 1943, to lecture trainees on B-17 combat operations. )
Andy Rooney wrote about the 8th Air Force and Mack McKay in an article published on August 19, 1943. Mack McKay was awarded the Silver Star in 1943.
Assuming command of the 1st Bombardment Squadron on June 16, 1943, he trained B-17 crews until February 27, 1944. He also consulted on the placement of gun turrets on the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress. McKay was only 23 years old at the time. After overexertion and hospitalization for two and a half months, he retired from the Air Force on April 16, 1944.
McKay became a cargo pilot for the Flying Tigers for four and a half years. Later he was an investment broker for an oil company. He outlived his first wife and married again. McKay is buried in Riverside National Cemetery.
He joined the Navy Reserve while enrolled at Compton Junior College at age seventeen in 1937. He didn't approve of the class division between the officers and men in the Navy, and thought the officers were arrogant. Regardless he was friends with Harold E. Roach, who left the Navy to become a Marine Corps fighter pilot in the Solomons. McKay did meet Admiral William Halsey, then the Commanding Officer of U.S.S. Saratoga, and was deeply impressed by that officer.
He joined the Air Corps while still in college at March Field, Riverside, California on November 23, 1940. He transferred to the Army Air Force on July 11, 1941 after a year of active duty and two years in the reserves with the Navy. McKay was issued Officer Service Number O-421269. McKay learned to fly at Mesa Del Rey Field in King City, California, Class 43-J. He trained on B-25s until joining the 306th Bombardment Group.
McKay arrived at the 306th's 423rd Bombardment Squadron to lead "A" Flight in late April 1942. McKay was promoted to Captain in late July 1942. Orders issued on July 28, 1942 detailed McKay to fly as Command Pilot from Wendover Field, Utah in B-17E 41-9067 to Westover Field, Massachusetts, and then to the United Kingdom in B-17F 41-24660 later named "Little Audrey" on July 31, 1942. This was part of the movement of the 306th Bombardment Group into the European Theatre of Operations.
Johnson was Co-Pilot, Pollock navigated, Alleman was Engineer and Top Turret Gunner, and Henn and Gibson were gunners for the cross-Atlantic flight.
On August 1, 1942, McKay and Lieutenant John Brady enjoyed the officers' pool at Chanute Field, Illinois while the rest of the air echelon visited slot machines. The next week, the ground echelon crossed the Atlantic via the Queen Elizabeth, and they were excited to see McKay in "Little Audrey" buzz the ship while on submarine patrol.
On October 22, 1942, McKay, along with Lieutenants John Barnett, John B. Brady and William R. Warner, executed a test flight maintaining 500 feet altitude. McKay and Barnett's aircraft clipped foliage from trees that the ground crew found when they landed.
On November 8, 1942, McKay and Lieutenant Loyal M. Felts joined the 369th Bombardment Squadron on an attack on submarine pens at Lille. Initially unopposed, the 369th aborted the bomb run and set up again when German fighters attacked. The 369th experienced many losses on that mission but McKay and Felts returned unharmed.
During a visit to Oxford Hospital on December 20, 1942, McKay drove and many officers accompanied him. While the 423rd's Combat Diary doesn't explicitly mention alcohol, McKay drove the vehicle into a ditch on the way back.
McKay was awarded the Air Medal on January 12, 1943. (151) On January 20, 1943, McKay was selected to command the 368th Bombardment Squadron. The 423rd's Combat Diary recorded, "Capt. Mack McKay, after taking part in ten completed missions without a slip or abortion--a truly remarkable record--was chosen today as the next commanding officer of the 368th Bomb Squadron. While we all, without exception, hate to lose Mack, it is an honor and a promotion for him personally, and in that we are all honored in his being chosen for the job." McKay flew sixteen missions with the 306th Bombardment Group, often in B-17F 41-24660 "Little Audrey" but in several other aircraft as well. McKay took part in every mission, starting with the 306th's first on October 9, 1942, and was the lead plane for the entire group at the end of his tour. He was promoted to Major on February 23, 1943. McKay commanded the 368th until April 8, 1943, and then departed England for the United States on April 16, 1943, to lecture trainees on B-17 combat operations. )
Andy Rooney wrote about the 8th Air Force and Mack McKay in an article published on August 19, 1943. Mack McKay was awarded the Silver Star in 1943.
Assuming command of the 1st Bombardment Squadron on June 16, 1943, he trained B-17 crews until February 27, 1944. He also consulted on the placement of gun turrets on the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress. McKay was only 23 years old at the time. After overexertion and hospitalization for two and a half months, he retired from the Air Force on April 16, 1944.
McKay became a cargo pilot for the Flying Tigers for four and a half years. Later he was an investment broker for an oil company. He outlived his first wife and married again. McKay is buried in Riverside National Cemetery.
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