Ashley Chadbourne McKinley
Ashley Chadbourne McKinley | |
---|---|
Born | |
Years of service | 1916–1926 1941–1956 |
Rank | Colonel |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Ashley Chadbourne McKinley (June 23, 1896 – February 11, 1970) was an accomplished
Early career
McKinley joined Battery A of the
During World War I, he commanded a balloon observation company. He later taught aerial photography and surveying. He was promoted to the rank of captain on November 20, 1918, shortly after the armistice.[1]
Interwar period
Due to the post war draw down, McKinley's appointment as captain was vacated and he was made a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Air Service on September 21, 1920 (to rank from July 1, 1920). He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on April 12, 1921.[2]
On April 3, 1926, McKinley resigned from the Army to begin an aerial surveying and photography service. In 1928–1929, he was a photographer for the
World War II
In 1941, as the United States prepared to enter the Second World War, McKinley rejoined the
Post war
McKinley transferred from the Army to the newly created United States Air Force in 1947. He served in Korea in 1951 during the Korean War with the rank of colonel.
Retirement
After retiring from the Air Force as a colonel on June 30, 1956, McKinley worked as a civilian consultant to
In 1959 he became a member of the Florida Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.[4]
Colonel McKinley died in Florida and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[1]
Legacy
In June 1971, the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base was named in his honor.[1][5]
Books and film
- McKinley authored a 1929 book with Athos Maxwell Narraway, Applied aerial photography
- McKinley appeared in the 1930 documentary With Byrd at the South Pole
Awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal
- World War I Victory Medal
- American Defense Service Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Korean Service Medal
- Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver oak leaf cluster(6 awards)
- United Nations Korea Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Ashley C. McKinley, U.S. Army Air Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight as aerial photographer for the 1928 – 1930 Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Capitan McKinley, in the face of the very gravest danger performed his duties in such a manner as to merit the highest praise. He participated in numerous flights over the South Pole on 28–29 November 1929. His devotion to and the accomplishment of this duty obtained results which brought great credit to himself, the expedition, and the United States Army.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 2 (1931) [6]
See also
References
- ^ ASME. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ Official Army Register, January 1, 1926. pg. 389.
- ^ "Secretary of War Patrick J. Hurley presenting decorations to two Reserve officers and one enlisted man who were members of the Byrd South Pole Expedition. Sgt. Benjamin Roth, who received the Soldiers' Medal, Lieut. Dean C. Smith and Capt. Ashley C. McKinley, who received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Patrick J. Hurley and Maj. Gen. James E. Fechet, Chief of the Army Air Corps". Photograph. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ Membership application. Florida Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. February 27, 1959.
- ^ "McKinley Climatic Laboratory". Landmarks. American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ "Hall of Valor". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2 July 2017.