News

NASCAR Team Honors Major Thomas McGuire’s Legacy
August 14, 2023 — The colors of Major Thomas McGuire’s personal plane, “Pudgy” flew again the weekend of July 22 at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race Explore the Pocono Mountains 225. Team Jordan Anderson Racing painted their number 27 entry in tribute to the design that Maj McGuire flew during World War II. Driven by Xfinity Series driver Jeb Burton,... MORE

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Jeb Burton speeds down the front straightaway during Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono Raceway, July 22 2023. NASCAR Xfinity Series team owner Jordan Anderson honored one of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst's namesakes Thomas McGuire's legacy by having driver Jeb Burton's number 27 car painted in the livery of McGuire's personal Lockheed P-38 Lightning "Pudgy", and by hosting 305th AMW Airmen at the track as personal guests of the team. Burton finished in 12th position out of 38 entries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sergio Avalos)

New Jersey Civil Air Patrol Honors Maj. Thomas B. McGuire, Jr.
August 2, 2022 — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued a letter today remembering the “life and legacy” of Maj. Thomas B. McGuire, Jr., World War II hero and one of the U.S. military’s most decorated fighter pilots. Members of Civil Air Patrol presented the letter to U.S. Air Force Col. Wes Adams, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the 87th Air Base Wing commander... MORE

The Tommy B. McGuire, Jr. Story
March 5, 2021 — Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr., was born on 1 August 1920 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. His father, Thomas B. McGuire, Sr., owned a Packard automobile dealership in Paterson, New Jersey, and the family of Irish descent was fairly affluent during the Depression. After his parents separated, he moved with his mother in the 1930’s to Sebring, Florida, where he spent his teenage years. An accomplished clarinetist and sports car devotee, McGuire was accepted as an engineering student at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech University). Nonetheless, the promising student put aside personal gain when he left college in his third year to pursue his ultimate dream of flying. He joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1941 as an aviation cadet. Very slight of build – less than 140 pounds – and 5’ 8” tall, he made up with determination what he lacked in size... MORE

Newspaper article "body of Major McGuire, Air Ace, Found in Jungle 4 1/2 Years After Plane Crashed

Joint Base hosts JCOC, tells Air Force story
August 16, 2017 — Total force Airmen welcomed 44 visitors attending the 2017 Joint Civilian Orientation Conference here, Aug. 11, showcasing the joint base’s Rapid Global Mobility integration with the Air Force and greater Department of Defense. The only outreach program sponsored by the Secretary of Defense, the JCOC is the most prestigious public liaison program... MORE