Morton D. Magoffin
Colonel, U.S. Air Force

Following his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy with the Class of 1937, Morton D. Magoffin was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry on 12 June 1937. Choosing to join the U.S. Army Air Corps, Magoffin attended flight training and, on completion was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps with the rating of Pilot on 20 October 1937.

Magoffin was a pursuit pilot in Hawaii until December 1942, when he joined the 326th Fighter Group in the United States. In January 1943, then-Major Magoffin was transferred to the 359th Fighter Group. In March 1943, he became Commander of the 362nd Fighter Group.

On 13 July 1944, Colonel Morton D. Magoffin was serving as Pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Plane and as Commanding Officer of the 362nd Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, COL Magoffin’s Group was in aerial combat against German forces. While leading his fighter squadron on a combat mission, COL Magoffin was returning to a beachhead air strip in France with his fuel supply almost gone. Suddenly, COL Magoffin saw a flight of German FW 190 fighter planes in front, and 1,000 feet above, him. Ignoring the odds against him, COL Magoffin signaled one of his flight leaders to join him in engaging the enemy and ordered the remainder of the squadron to continue to the beachhead. During the ensuing combat, COL Magoffin destroyed 2 of the fighters while his wingman accounted for 2 more. Then a direct hit from a 20 mm shell badly damaged the plane of COL Magoffin's wingman, causing it to fly at a reduced speed, and at low altitude, into heavy flak and small arms fire. Ignoring his own safety, COL Magoffin drew attention from the damaged plane by exposing his aircraft as a target. Although his plane was hit repeatedly and his engine failed just as he reached the airstrip, COL Magoffin succeeded in landing safely. COL Magoffin’s flying skills, outstanding leadership and selfless, courageous actions that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 10 August 1944, COL Magoffin was forced to bail out over France and was captured as a Prisoner of War. In September 1944, he was liberated from a hospital in Paris and returned to the U.S. for treatment of his injuries.

Throughout his time in the European Theater of Operations, COL Magoffin only flew the P-47 Thunderbolt and was credited with downing 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat with 1 aircraft damaged.

After World War II, Col Magoffin served in the new U.S. Air Force and his commands included:

● Commander, 57th Fighter Group at Fort Richardson, AK, from November 1947 to January 1949
● Commander of the Air Base Defense School at Parks AFB, CA,, from September 1952 to January 1955
● Commander, 6171st Air Base Wing
● Commander, 6147th Tactical Control Group

Col Magoffin also served in various staff positions and deputy commander assignments. From August 1957 until his medical retirement from the Air Force on 18 March, 1958, he was hospitalized at Parks AFB, CA.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with 3 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Presidential Unit Citation
Prisoner of War Medal
American Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium)
Command Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Morton D. Magoffin (0-20847), Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy on 13 July 1944, while leading his fighter squadron on a combat mission. On this date, Colonel Magoffin was returning to a beachhead air strip in France with his supply of gasoline almost exhausted, when he observed a flight of FW 190 German fighter planes in front and 1,000 feet above him. Regardless of the odds against him, Colonel Magoffin unhesitatingly signaled for one of his flight leaders to join him in engaging the enemy and ordered the remainder of the squadron to continue to the beachhead. In the ensuing combat, Colonel Magoffin, displaying great skill and courage, destroyed two of the enemy planes while his wing pilot accounted for two more. At this time a direct hit from a 20 MM shell badly crippled the plane operated by Colonel Magoffin's companion, causing it to fly at a reduced rate of speed and at low altitude in the face of heavy flak and small arms fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, Colonel Magoffin drew attention from the damaged plane by dangerously exposing himself as a target. Although his plane was hit repeatedly and his engine failed just as he reached the airstrip, he succeeded in landing safely. The extraordinary heroism and outstanding leadership displayed by Colonel Magoffin on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

Headquarters: U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 4 (1945)

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal, created by the U.S. Mint, is the highest civilian honor Congress can give on behalf of the American people. On 20 May 2015, leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate presented the Congressional Gold Medal [see photo] to the American Fighter Aces Association at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Emancipation Hall.

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. Colonel Morton D. Magoffin was one of them, having been credited with 5 aircraft shot down in aerial combat and 1 damaged, earning him the title of “Ace.” At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Burial

Colonel Morton D. Magoffin died on 10 July 2007. The disposition of his remains is unknown.