John Arthur Macready
Encyclopedia
John Arthur Macready was an American test pilot and aviator. He was the only three-time recipient of the Mackay Trophy
, receiving the trophy three consecutive years.
in 1912. He enlisted in the Army
in 1917, earning his pilot's wings at Rockwell Field
, in San Diego. He quickly rose to the position of flight instructor at the Army Pilot School at Brooks Field
, Texas. While based at Brooks Field Lt. Macready wrote a basic flight manual for student pilots, tilted "The All Thru System of Flying Instructions". The book became the U.S. military's basic flight manual during the early years of aviation.
, the Army Signal Corps' new experimental test field in Dayton, Ohio
. On 3 August 1921 Lt. Macready became the first person to test fly an experimental aerial application
system for spraying pesticides from an aircraft, flying the world's first "crop duster". At McCook he also became the first pilot to bail out of a stricken aircraft at night.
In 1921, he set an altitude record of 34,509 feet for which he was awarded the first of three consecutive Mackay trophies.
. He served as a colonel and commanded several Army Air Force groups, as well as serving in North Africa
as inspector general for the Twelfth Air Force. Macready was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame
. He retired from active duty in 1948.
MacKay trophy
The Mackay Trophy was established on 27 January 1911 by Clarence Hungerford Mackay, who was then head of the Postal Telegraph-Cable Company and the Commercial Cable Company. Originally, aviators could compete for the trophy annually under rules made each year or the War Department could award the...
, receiving the trophy three consecutive years.
History
Born in San Diego, California, Macready received a bachelor's degree in economics from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1912. He enlisted in the Army
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
in 1917, earning his pilot's wings at Rockwell Field
Rockwell Field
Rockwell Field was an Army air base located in Coronado, California, near San Diego. It shared the area known as North Island with Naval Air Station North Island from 1912 to 1935. Its functions were eventually moved to March Field so that the naval air station could take over the whole area...
, in San Diego. He quickly rose to the position of flight instructor at the Army Pilot School at Brooks Field
Brooks Field
Brooks Field may refer to:* Brooks City-Base, formerly Brooks Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas, USA.* Brooks Field , a football stadium in Golden, Colorado, USA....
, Texas. While based at Brooks Field Lt. Macready wrote a basic flight manual for student pilots, tilted "The All Thru System of Flying Instructions". The book became the U.S. military's basic flight manual during the early years of aviation.
McCook Field
In 1918 Lt. Macready was assigned to McCook FieldMcCook Field
McCook Field was an airfield and aviation experimentation station operated by the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps and its successor the United States Army Air Service from 1917-1927...
, the Army Signal Corps' new experimental test field in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. On 3 August 1921 Lt. Macready became the first person to test fly an experimental aerial application
Aerial application
Aerial application, commonly called crop dusting, involves spraying crops with fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides from an agricultural aircraft. The specific spreading of fertilizer is also known as aerial topdressing....
system for spraying pesticides from an aircraft, flying the world's first "crop duster". At McCook he also became the first pilot to bail out of a stricken aircraft at night.
In 1921, he set an altitude record of 34,509 feet for which he was awarded the first of three consecutive Mackay trophies.
World War II
Macready was recalled to duty in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served as a colonel and commanded several Army Air Force groups, as well as serving in North Africa
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
as inspector general for the Twelfth Air Force. Macready was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame
National Aviation Hall of Fame
The American National Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, east Dayton, Ohio...
. He retired from active duty in 1948.
Mackay Trophy
Macready remains the only person to win the Mackay Trophy three times. The trophy is awarded for the year's greatest accomplishment in aviation by an American pilot. Lt. Macrady won the trophy in three consecutive years.- 1921 - The trophy was awarded for a series of high altitude test flights at McCook Field using the XC05A involving the first use of supplemental oxygen. The flights established a world record altitude of 40,800 feet; the previous record being 39,596 ft set by a French aviator Callizo.
- 1922 - The trophy was awarded for a flight on 5–6 October 1922. Taking off on 5 October, an aircraft piloted by Macready and Lt. Oakley G. KellyOakley G. KellyOakley George Kelly was a record setting pilot for the United States Army Air Service.-Biography:He was born on December 3, 1891 in Pennsylvania.In May 1922, Lieutenant Oakley G...
established a world flight endurance record of 35 hours 18.5 minutes over San Diego, California. This, and later endurance flights led to the development of the world's first air-to-air refueling system.
- 1923 - The trophy was awarded for the first non-stop coast-to-coast flight. The flight began on 2 May 1923, and concluded on 3 May. Lts. Macready and Kelly took off from Roosevelt Field, New York in a modified Fokker T-2 loaded with gasoline. The pair landed at Rockwell Field, in San Diego, California having completed the first nonstop U.S. transcontinental flight in an official time of 26 hours, 50 minutes and 38 3/5 seconds.
National Aviation Hall of Fame
- Macready was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of FameNational Aviation Hall of FameThe American National Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, east Dayton, Ohio...
in 1968.