Ashley Chadbourne McKinley

Ashley Chadbourne McKinley
Born	(1896-06-23)June 23, 1896 Marshall, Texas
Died	February 11, 1970(1970-02-11)(aged 73) Florida
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	National Guard United States Army United States Air Force
Years of service	1916–1926 1941–1956
Rank	Colonel
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

Ashley Chadbourne McKinley(June 23, 1896 – February 11, 1970) was an accomplishedAmericanaerial photographerandcolonelin theU.S. Army Air Corpswho helped pioneer aviation at subzero temperatures. He accompaniedRichard E. Byrdas an aerial photographer on his expedition to theSouth Pole.

Early career

McKinley joined Battery A of theMissouri National Guardon June 21, 1916, and served on the Mexican Border until December 21 of the same year. Following the United States' entry into theFirst World War,he enlisted in theUnited States Army Signal Corpson August 7, 1917, and became adirigiblepilot. He was commissioned as a 1st lieutenant in the Officer's Reserve Corps on December 7, 1917, to date from November 27. He was placed on active duty on December 16, 1917.

DuringWorld War I,he commanded a balloon observation company. He later taughtaerial photographyandsurveying.He was promoted to the rank ofcaptainon November 20, 1918, shortly after the armistice.

Interwar period

Due to the post war draw down, McKinley's appointment as captain was vacated and he was made a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Air Service on September 21, 1920 (to rank from July 1, 1920). He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on April 12, 1921.

On April 3, 1926, McKinley resigned from the Army to begin an aerial surveying and photography service. In 1928–1929, he was a photographer for theByrd Antarctic Expedition.He was one of four men (along withRichard Byrd,Bernt BalchenandHarold June) aboard the first aircraft to fly over the South Pole on November 29, 1929.He was decorated with theDistinguished Flying Crossby Secretary of WarPatrick J. Hurleyon July 9, 1930.

World War II

In 1941, as the United States prepared to enter the Second World War, McKinley rejoined theArmy Air Corpsas a major. He was in charge of the cold-weather operations of theArmy Air ForceatLadd FieldinFairbanks, Alaska.McKinley was the first person to suggest that U.S. aircraft be constructed to operate in subzero temperatures and that the Air Force should build a facility to test aircraft in subzero temperatures. He was transferred toEglin Fieldfor the construction of the facility. He had risen to the rank of colonel by the war's end in 1945.

Post war

McKinley transferred from the Army to the newly createdUnited States Air Forcein 1947. He served in Korea in 1951 during the Korean War with the rank of colonel.

Retirement

After retiring from the Air Force as a colonel on June 30, 1956, McKinley worked as a civilian consultant toAdmiral Richard Byrd.

In 1959 he became a member of the Florida Society of theSons of the American Revolution.

Colonel McKinley died in Florida and is buried inArlington National Cemetery.

Legacy

In June 1971, theMcKinley Climatic LaboratoryatEglin Air Force Basewas named in his honor.

Books and film

• McKinley authored a 1929 book with Athos Maxwell Narraway,Applied aerial photography
• McKinley appeared in the 1930documentaryWith Byrd at the South Pole

Awards

• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal
• World War I Victory Medal
• American Defense Service Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Korean Service Medal
• Air Force Longevity Service Ribbonwith one silveroak leaf cluster(6 awards)
• United Nations Korea Medal

Distinguished Flying Cross citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Ashley C. McKinley, U.S. Army Air Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight as aerial photographer for the 1928 – 1930 Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Capitan McKinley, in the face of the very gravest danger performed his duties in such a manner as to merit the highest praise. He participated in numerous flights over the South Pole on 28–29 November 1929. His devotion to and the accomplishment of this duty obtained results which brought great credit to himself, the expedition, and the United States Army.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 2 (1931)