Harold Loring Mace was born at Lake Helen, Florida, on October 10, 1907. He was accepted as a Flying Cadet on October 23, 1928, and on October 12, 1929, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps Reserve of the Army. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps of the Regular Army on January 6, 1930.
SERVICE
He was first assigned to Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama, as Squadron Officer, 22nd Observation Squadron, and remained there until June 1931. He then became Assistant Personnel Adjutant and Recruiting Officer at Chanute Field, Illinois, and was later enrolled as a student in the Maintenance Engineer Course, Air Corps Technical School at that station.
In July 1932 he was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, as Engineer, Armament, Operations, Transportation and Utilities Officer, and Fire Marshal of the 16th Observation Squadron at Lawson Field. Four years later he left the United States for duty at Nichols Field, Philippine Islands, and during his two years of foreign service became Assistant Squadron Adjutant and Athletic Officer of the 66th Service Squadron and Post and Group Inspector, Engineer and Ordnance Officer of the 4th Composite Group.
Upon his return to this country in July 1938 he was assigned to Randolph Field, Texas, where he performed a variety of duties, among them Flying Instructor and Flight Commander at the Air Corps Primary Flying School, Stage Commander at the Air Corps Basic Flying School, Assistant Director of Training at the Gulf Coast Air Corps Training Center, and Director of Flying at the Army Air Forces Basic Flying School. In June 1942 he was relieved from Randolph Field and assigned to Coffeyville, Kansas, as Director of Training, Headquarters Army Air Forces Basic Flying School where he later served in the same capacity with the 366th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron.
His next assignment, in November 1942, was Director of Training, 56th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron at Goodfellow Field, Texas. He later proceeded to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he remained until August 1943 as Base Commander of the 82nd Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron. He spent the next six months at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, Drew Field, Florida, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Laurel, Mississippi, as Deputy Wing Commander, 56th Bombardment Training Wing, and as Group Commander, 46th and 416th Bombardment Groups. In February 1944 he moved with the 416th Bombardment Group, equipped with the A-20 “Havoc” bomber, to England and led it in combat in the European Theater of Operations. In August 1944 he became Commander, later Commanding General of the 98th Combat Bombardment Wing, Ninth Air Force, in the European Theater of Operations.
In May 1945 he transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations to serve on the staff of the Seventh Air Force.
General Mace died on January 20, 1946, at Manila, Philippines, of a gunshot wound.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Flying Cadet, Air Corps, October 23, 1928, to October, 12, 1929; Second Lieutenant, Air Reserve, October 12, 1929; Second Lieutenant, Air Corps, January 6, 1930; accepted January 31, 1930; First Lieutenant, August 1, 1935; Captain, January 6, 1940; Major (temporary), March 21, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), January 5, 1942; Major, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), July 23, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., December 21, 1943; Colonel, A.U.S., August 1, 1944; Brigadier General, A.U.S., November 21, 1944.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.