On This Date January 9,1941-McGuire AFB established

January 9 , 1941 – McGuire Air Force Base was established as Fort Dix Airport in 1937 and first
opened to military aircraft on this date. On January 13, 1948 the United States Air Force
renamed the facility McGuire Air Force Base in honor of Major Thomas Buchanan McGuire, Jr.,
(1920–1945). Medal of Honor recipient and second place American flying ace of World War II.
Major McGuire died on January 7, 1945 when his P-38 Lightning spun out of control and
crashed on Negros Island in the Philippines as he attempted to aid his wingman during an aerial
dogfight.