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Kenneth Perry McNaughton

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Kenneth Perry McNaughton

Birth
Kent County, Michigan, USA
Death
16 Jun 1974 (aged 70)
San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, USA
Burial
Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
USMA Class of 1926. Cullum No. 7992.

He was the son of Orrin J. McNaughton and Mary Hunsicker McNaughton.
On August 25, 1931 as Kenneth P. McNaughton, he married Elizabeth F. Baskerville at Los Angeles, California.
They were the parents of two children.

He was a descendant of the MacNauchtans of Argyll and Dundarave of Scotland. After graduation in 1926 he visited Europe where he met his future wife, the artist, Elizabeth Baskerville of Los Angeles, whom he married in 1931. His first assignment was as a field artillery officer at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Although he wanted to be a pilot, his visual acuity was below standard. He spent his free time strengthening his vision and in 1928 entered primary training at Brooks Field in Texas. He was one of three officers to graduate from his initial class of ten. He became and expert at aerial mapping after an observation assignment at Fort Sill and photography school at Chanute. From 1931 to 1934 he aerial mapped the Hawaiian Islands. In 1937, he was Commandant of Cadets at Randolph Field and improved practices that reduced the failure rate of student pilots. He was instrumental in expanding the Air Corps training program. In 1938, the United States Army Air Corps graduated a grand total of 313 pilots. By 1944, the reorganized program was able to train 102,000 pilots and graduated 87,330. He was promoted to a General Officer, the first in his West Point class. In 1948, he received his 2nd star while serving as Deputy for Air Force Training and Requirements at the Pentagon. Next, he was assigned to Scott Air Force Base, as Vice Commander, Air Training Command. He completed his 30 year career as Vice Commander, Far Eastern Air Force. In civilian life he became Vice President and Director of Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation and was a member of the board for the Wackenhut Corporation. In 1964, he retired to Pebble Beach, California. He was a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St. Andrews, Scotland; member, Daedalian Society and was active with the Scottish Society of Monterey, California. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Bronze Star. Foreign decorations included the Order of the Royal Crown of Thailand, Chinese Cloud Banner (Nun Hui), Commander of the British Empire, Order of Military Merit (Teaguk, Korea) and Order of the Rising Sun (Japan). He died of brain stem cancer at Letterman Army Hospital on June 16, 1974. His remains were given to a medical school and his ashes were scattered to the wind at sea. Survivors included his wife, one daughter of Claremont, California, one son of Brooks Air Force Base in Texas, five grandchildren, one sister of Charlotte, Michigan and one brother of Azle, Texas.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates Memorial.
USMA Class of 1926. Cullum No. 7992.

He was the son of Orrin J. McNaughton and Mary Hunsicker McNaughton.
On August 25, 1931 as Kenneth P. McNaughton, he married Elizabeth F. Baskerville at Los Angeles, California.
They were the parents of two children.

He was a descendant of the MacNauchtans of Argyll and Dundarave of Scotland. After graduation in 1926 he visited Europe where he met his future wife, the artist, Elizabeth Baskerville of Los Angeles, whom he married in 1931. His first assignment was as a field artillery officer at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Although he wanted to be a pilot, his visual acuity was below standard. He spent his free time strengthening his vision and in 1928 entered primary training at Brooks Field in Texas. He was one of three officers to graduate from his initial class of ten. He became and expert at aerial mapping after an observation assignment at Fort Sill and photography school at Chanute. From 1931 to 1934 he aerial mapped the Hawaiian Islands. In 1937, he was Commandant of Cadets at Randolph Field and improved practices that reduced the failure rate of student pilots. He was instrumental in expanding the Air Corps training program. In 1938, the United States Army Air Corps graduated a grand total of 313 pilots. By 1944, the reorganized program was able to train 102,000 pilots and graduated 87,330. He was promoted to a General Officer, the first in his West Point class. In 1948, he received his 2nd star while serving as Deputy for Air Force Training and Requirements at the Pentagon. Next, he was assigned to Scott Air Force Base, as Vice Commander, Air Training Command. He completed his 30 year career as Vice Commander, Far Eastern Air Force. In civilian life he became Vice President and Director of Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation and was a member of the board for the Wackenhut Corporation. In 1964, he retired to Pebble Beach, California. He was a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St. Andrews, Scotland; member, Daedalian Society and was active with the Scottish Society of Monterey, California. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Bronze Star. Foreign decorations included the Order of the Royal Crown of Thailand, Chinese Cloud Banner (Nun Hui), Commander of the British Empire, Order of Military Merit (Teaguk, Korea) and Order of the Rising Sun (Japan). He died of brain stem cancer at Letterman Army Hospital on June 16, 1974. His remains were given to a medical school and his ashes were scattered to the wind at sea. Survivors included his wife, one daughter of Claremont, California, one son of Brooks Air Force Base in Texas, five grandchildren, one sister of Charlotte, Michigan and one brother of Azle, Texas.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates Memorial.


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