William L. McKittrick

William Lake McKittrick (June 30, 1897 – March 27, 1984) was a decorated aviation officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. He is most noted for his service as commanding officer of the Marine Aircraft Group 24 during the Bougainville Campaign and later as Air Defense Commander during the Battle of Saipan.

Early career

McKittrick was born on June 30, 1897, in Pelzer, South Carolina, and later attended The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where he graduated in 1918. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps as private on March 10, 1918, and following his quick promotion to corporal, he was attached to the School of Application for officer training. McKittrick was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on December 16, 1918, and subsequently assigned as line officer to 15th Marine Regiment at Marine Barracks Quantico. The 15th Marines were assigned to the 2nd Provisional Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Logan Feland and sailed for Santo Domingo in February 1919. He saw some action during the combats against Dominican rebels and finally was ordered back to United States in October 1921.

Upon his return from his first expeditionary duty, he was transferred to the Marine barracks at Naval Station Key West, Florida. After nine months of service there, impressed by the Aviation units, McKittrick applied for the pilot training in July 1922. He was assigned as Student Naval aviator to the pilot training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida and finally received his wings in February 1923.

In June 1936, recently graduated McKittrick was appointed officer in charge of the aerial operations and training at Marine Corps Air Station, Quantico. He later served also as Marine Fighting Squadron 1 (VMF-1) commander at the same air station and was promoted to the rank of major in June 1938. Three future Marine Corps Generals: 1st Lt. Christian F. Schilt, Capt. James T. Moore and William L. McKittrick during theirs interwar service.

World War II

McKittrick was transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., and attached to the War Plans Section of the Division of Plans and Policies in July 1939. He subsequently sailed to Cairo, Egypt, and served as Aviation Observer for next two years. McKittrick returned to the Headquarters Marine Corps in November 1941 and following his promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel in February 1942, he was appointed commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 24 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii.

While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of colonel on October 5, 1942, and subsequently sailed for Bougainville in September 1943. McKittrick directed air operations during the Bombing of Rabaul in late 1943 and early 1944 and received the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his work in this capacity.

Colonel McKittrick was transferred stateside in November 1944 and assigned again to the Headquarters Marine Corps. He was subsequently appointed assistant to the Director of Marine Corps Aviation under Major General Field Harris. While served in this assignment, McKittrick was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on January 20, 1945.