Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
David
F.
MacGhee
POW (Korea)

Home:

Tampa

, 

Florida

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Major

    Batallion:

    371st Bombardment Squadron

    Regiment:

    307th Bombardment Wing

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Korea)

    Action Date:

    November 10, 1950 – September 6, 1953
    NARA Database: Repatriated Korean Conflict Prisoners of War, 7/5/1950 – 10/6/1954

    Major David F. MacGhee (ASN: 0-790271), United States Air Force, was captured by communist forces after he was shot down over North Korea on 10 November 1950, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his release on 6 September 1953, during Operation Big Switch at the end of the war.

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Corps)

    Action Date:

    June 28, 1944
    War Department, General Orders No. 87 (November 14, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Captain (Air Corps) David F. MacGhee (ASN: 0-790271), United States Army Air Forces, for heroism involving voluntary risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, at Chatham Field, Georgia, on 28 June 1944. On that date, a B-24 type Army airplane crashed in the night and burned. There was imminent danger of explosion of gasoline tanks. Captain MacGhee, one of a party of four who went to the rescue of the crew, at the risk of his life, entered the fiercely burning wreckage. While attempting to free trapped members of the crew, Captain MacGhee was blown through the waist window when the oxygen containers exploded. He entered the airplane again and assisted in removing two injured men to safety.