Eugene Francis McGurl
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| Eugene Francis McGurl | |
|---|---|
| February 8, 1917 – June 3, 1942 | |
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| Nickname | Gene |
| Place of birth | Belmont, Massachusetts |
| Place of death | Lashio, Burma |
| Allegiance | United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | February 11, 1941 – June 3, 1942 |
| Rank | First Lt. |
| Unit | 95th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bomb Group "Kicking Mules" |
| Commands held | China-Burma-India Theater |
| Battles/wars | World War II The Doolittle raid |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart (posthumous) Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade |
Eugene Francis McGurl, born February 8, 1917, Belmont, Massachusetts Killed in Action June 3, 1942, Lashio, Burma
Graduate of Arlington High School (Arlington, Massachusetts), class of 1934. Lieutenant McGurl attended three years of college before enlisting on February 11, 1941 at Boston, Mass. McGurl Completed navigation training and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, December 6, 1941.
First Lieutenant McGurl was assigned to the 95th Bomb Squadron of the 17th Bombardment Group. First Lieutenant McGurl participated in the Doolittle Raid a military operation that was dramatized in the movie Thirty Seconds over Tokyo. On 8:37 a.m local time April 18th 1942 First Lieutenant McGurl and the rest of his crew flying in their North American Aviation B-25B Mitchell proceeded to Tokyo where bombing from 1200 feet, they made direct hits with three demolition bombs and one incendiary cluster on power stations, oil tanks, a large manufacturing plant and the congested area Southeast of the Imperial Palace. One factory bombed was a new building which covered approximately two city blocks.
Bad weather prevented the flyers from finding their prearranged landing fields in China, and they bailed out near and just Southeast of Chuchow. All crew members were safe.
First Lieutenant McGurl Remained in the China-Burma-India Theater after the Tokyo Raid. First Lieutenant McGurl was killed in action on June 3, 1942 when his plane crashed into a mountain after bombing Lashio, Burma enroute to Kunming, China.
Decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart (posthumous) and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.
