Harold Loring Mace

Military
media-48275.jpeg UPL 48275 BGEN Harold Loring Mace
Commander Officer 416th BG
Commander Officer 98th Combat Bomb Wing
9th Air Force

Object Number - UPL 48275 - BGEN Harold Loring Mace Commander Officer 416th BG Commander Officer 98th Combat Bomb Wing 9th Air Force

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.

Connections

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Units served with

An A-26 Invader (F6-P, serial number 43-22330) nicknamed "For Pete's Sake" of the 416th Bomb Group prepares for take-off at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group . Written on slide casing: '416 BG Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Winsome Winnie
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 669th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 669th Bomb Squadron
B-26 Marauders, including (serial number 43-9701) of the 416th Bomb Group fly in formation.
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Lake Helen, Florida 10 October 1907

Other

Commissioned 2nd LT USAAC

6 October 1930

Other

First 416th BG Combat Mission

Poix Airfield, France 3 March 1944

Other

Final 416th BG Combat Mission

La Gouesniere,, France 28 July 1944

Died

Manila, Philippines 20 January 1946

Buried

25 October 1948 Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Plot Sec: 11, Site: 444 SH

Other

Commander 416th BG in the ETO

Wethersfield Airfield, UK

Other

Commander 96th CBW

Laon-Athies Airfield, France

Harold Loring Mace: Gallery (1 items)