Harold Alling McGinnis was born at Murrayville, Illinois, on November 26, 1893. He was graduated from the University of Chicago in 1916 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws and enlisted in the Signal Corps on October 17, 1917, as a private. He was accepted as a Flying Cadet and on July 20, 1918, was commissioned a temporary second lieutenant in the Air Service. On July 1, 1920, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Regular Army Air Service.
SERVICE
From October 1917 until February 1918 he received aviation training at Kelly Field, Texas, and at the University of Texas. He then went to Scott Field, Illinois, as a flight instructor. In December 1918 he was transferred to Barron Field, Texas, and remained there until April 1919, when he went to Post Field, Oklahoma. In August 1919 he went to Washington, D.C., as an auditing officer in the Office of the Director of Air Service.
He went to Bolling Field, District of Columbia, in April 1920, as Trial Judge Advocate and in January 1921 was transferred to Kelly Field, Texas, as Adjutant. In July 1921 he went to Ellington Field, Texas. He was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, from July 1922 until September 1922, and was then transferred to Chanute Field, Illinois, as Trial Judge Advocate.
Luke Field, Hawaii, was his next assignment and he served there from February 1925 until April 1927, when he was transferred to Fort Armstrong, Hawaii. He served at the Hawaiian General Depot in Honolulu from June 1927 until May of the following year when he returned to the United States and was assigned to the Army Industrial College in Washington, D.C. Upon his graduation there in June 1929 he entered Harvard University as a student in the School of Business Administration. He was graduated in June 1931 and reported to Langley Field, Virginia, for duty as Assistant Supply Officer, becoming Supply Officer in January 1932.
In August 1935 he entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, and was graduated in June 1936. He became Material Officer, S-4, of the 1st Wing at March Field, California, in October 1936. On October 6, 1939, he was detailed to the Inspector Generals’ Department and was assigned to Langley Field, Virginia, as Assistant Inspector General of the General Headquarters Air Force. In December 1940 he became Inspector General of that unit and of the Air Forces Combat Command with headquarters at Langley Field and at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C.
In July 1942 he went overseas as Inspector General of the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations, later becoming Air Inspector with the same unit. In June 1944 he returned to the United States and became Supply Staff Officer, 200th Army Air Forces Base Unit, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Subsequently he became Deputy Chief of Staff for Maintenance and Supply, Second Air Force.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private, Sergeant First Class, and Private First Class, Aviation Section, Signal Corps, October 17, 1917, to July 19, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Air Service, U.S.A., July 20, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; First Lieutenant, July 1, 1920; Captain, March 1, 1934; Major (temporary), April 20, 1935, to August 28, 1935; Major (temporary), August 29, 1936, to July 1, 1940; Major, July 1, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), March 15, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., September 15, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, November 16, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., November 10, 1944; terminated Brigadier General, A.U.S., November 30, 1945; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; retired in the grade of Brigadier General, September 30, 1948.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, Mexican Border Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, World War II Victory Medal.
He was awarded the Legion of Merit in August 1943, with the following citation:
“For exceptionally meritorious conduct and outstanding achievement in the performance of duty. During this period of 1 September 1942 to 30 June 1943, Colonel McGinnis developed and organized a functional system for technical inspections of aircraft and all related technical equipment used by combat and service units throughout the Eighth Air Force. This system, now being applied, contributed directly and materially to the saving of lives, the accomplishment of vital missions, and the safety of aircraft by reducing the aircraft abortive and accident rate and by raising the level of efficiency of technical supply, maintenance, and repair personnel and facilities. The professional and technical skill, broad knowledge, and high devotion to duty displayed by this officer reflect the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.”
(Up to date as 28 May 1945.)