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BORN
1921
DIED
2016
Michael McCarthy Obituary
Brig. Gen. USAF Ret.
Michael McCarthy, long term resident of Rolling Hills Estates, died peacefully at his home at the age of 94 in the company of his loving and devoted wife of 20 years, Eileen. A distinguished and highly-decorated fighter pilot who flew 154 combat missions in WWII with the 57th Fighter Group, flying P-40 and P-47 aircraft, he retired from the USAF in 1972.
Following the war, he married his sweetheart, Margaret Hogan, who also served in the US Coast Guard ("Maggie Hogan" was emblazoned on his P-47 Thunderbolt fighter during the war) and raised a family of 11 children. After Margaret's death he and Eileen were married at St. John Fisher Parish. Mike is survived by his beloved Eileen; his sister, Louise Foley of Boston, Mass; brother-in-law, Chuck Lynch of Chelmsford, Mass; 11 children with Margaret, 19 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, six stepchildren and nine step-grandchildren. Michael was born in Boston, Dec. 26, 1921. He was an All-Scholastic halfback at Boston Latin School. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He graduated from Class 43-A, in January 1943 and served 27 months flying dangerous close air support and air-to-air missions until the end of WWII. Throughout his career he held senior level command positions including assignments as squadron commander and Wing Commander. His last USAF assignment was Chief of Staff for Air Training Command at Randolph AFB, Texas. He worked for Northrop Corporation for 12 years and was the Project Manager for "Operation Peace Hawk," a program to modernize the Royal Saudi Air Force and to train its pilots to fly the Northrop F-5 fighter.
Known for his sterling integrity, honor, Irish wit, a wonderful smile and courage, he will be missed, and he leaves a wonderful legacy of faith, service, and a grace-filled life. May he rest in peace.
A funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated, Friday, June 24 at 1 p.m. at St. John Fisher Church, 5448 Crest Road, in Rancho Palos Verdes.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fisher House at www.fisherhouse.org. Michael McCarthy will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Please sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.
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Memories and Condolences
for Michael McCarthy
Sponsored by Daily Breeze.
Ken Mitts
June 16, 2023
I am thankful for General McCarthy's service to our nation and am thinking of the family on the recent anniversary of his passing. I served over 22 years in the Air Force and am struck by the mention of his commitment to integrity-unfortunately something missing in too many of our leaders. It would have been an honor to serve under his command.
Michael C.MCarthy
June 30, 2016
To all the family, deepest sympathy.
I knew "Mike" for year at SJF as well as golf.
God Bless You All.
Marie Alessndra
Josephine de la Rocha
June 28, 2016
My deepest condolences to the McCarthy family. Especially, to his 11 children, who lost their father. Mary Ann, the eldest, who loved her father deeply, her children Katherine, Terri, Margaret and Joe, may you find comfort in knowing that he is forever resting.
Joe + Carol Zamoida
June 27, 2016
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
June 25, 2016
To the family of Michael,
So sorry for your loss. When someone you love becomes a memory the memory become a treasure so treasure the memory
Matt 5:4,5
BC~
June 24, 2016
Deepest sympathy to all my McCarthy cousins on the death of their Dad General Chris.
May he Rest in Peace,
Michael Barry,
Kinsale, Ireland
George Krumenacker
June 24, 2016
Sincere condolences on the passing of Gen McCarthy. An officer and a gentleman to the nth degree. He was my wing commander at Craig AFB, Selma, AL 1968-1968. A pilot's pilot and a true leader of men. The USAF and the military in general could use more men like General Mike in this day and age.
I could tell a very interesting story about how my Iranian roommate almost killed him in the T-37 trainer but that's for another time.
He's truly an American hero and deserving of all the accolades afforded him. May he bask in the warm glow of God's embrace.
June 23, 2016
Our deepest condolences to Aileen and family. Michael served his country with distinction when he was needed most. A great fighter pilot. A great American.
God Bless General Michael McCarthy.
Joe and Rosalind Thompson
Ken Mitts
June 23, 2016
My wife, Beth, and I send our condolences to all the family and friends of General McCarthy. Although we did not know the General, we are close friends with his son Kevin-first meeting him when all our dad's were stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas in the late 1960s. Knowing the great character and intelligence of all of General McCarthy's sons and daughters, we have a good sense of the wonderful man General McCarthy must have been. As a retired Air Force officer, I salute the General and am grateful for his service to our country.
With sympathy,
Ken and Beth Mitts
Kathleen Barry
June 23, 2016
McCarthy PROUD. What a great guy. A true gentle man who loved all his family and was so proud of being Irish. I am so proud to be his cousin. Rest in Peace.
Mike Kennedy
June 22, 2016
The last of the maned aircraft fighter pilots
Mike Kennedy
Northrop Aircraft, retarded
F-5E-F Project Engineer
Mike Kennedy
June 22, 2016
So sad; he was about the last of the maned aircraft fighter pilots.
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