Eugene Francis McGurl

Infobox Military Person

lived= February 8, 1917 – June 3, 1942
placeofbirth= Belmont, Massachusetts
placeofdeath= Lashio, Burma

nickname= Gene
allegiance= United States Army Air Force
serviceyears= February 11, 1941 – June 3, 1942
rank= First Lt.
commands= China-Burma-India Theater
unit= 95th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bomb Group "Kicking Mules"
battles= World War II The Doolittle raid
awards= Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart (posthumous)
Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade
laterwork=

Eugene Francis McGurl, born February 8, 1917, Belmont, Massachusetts Killed in Action June 3, 1942, Lashio, Burma

Graduate of Arlington High School (Arlington, Massachusetts), class of 1934. Lieutenant McGurl attended three years of college before enlisting on February 11, 1941 at Boston, Mass. McGurl Completed navigation training and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, December 6, 1941.

First Lieutenant McGurl was assigned to the 95th Bomb Squadron of the 17th Bombardment Group. First Lieutenant McGurl participated in the Doolittle Raid a military operation that was dramatized in the movie Thirty Seconds over Tokyo.On 8:37 a.m local time April 18th 1942 First Lieutenant McGurl and the rest of his crew flying in their North American Aviation B-25B Mitchell proceeded to Tokyo where bombing from 1200 feet, they made direct hits with three demolition bombs and one incendiary cluster on power stations, oil tanks, a large manufacturing plant and the congested area Southeast of the Imperial Palace. One factory bombed was a new building which covered approximately two city blocks.

Bad weather prevented the flyers from finding their prearranged landing fields in China, and they bailed out near and just Southeast of Chuchow. All crew members were safe.

First Lieutenant McGurl Remained in the China-Burma-India Theater after the Tokyo Raid. First Lieutenant McGurl was killed in action on June 3, 1942 when his plane crashed into a mountain after bombing Lashio, Burma enroute to Kunming, China.

Decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart (posthumous) and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A, 1st Grade.