World War II Hero Returns Home To South Side 80 Years After Death

CHICAGO — Eighty years after he went missing in action during a massive bombing mission over Romania, a World War II pilot’s remains will return home to the South Side for burial.

First Lieutenant Edward Timothy McGuire joined the U.S. Army Air Forces from Chicago and served in the 415th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group. He died in August 1943 when the enemy gunned down his bomber. McGuire’s remains were finally identified in June through DNA and other anthropological methods.

Rolling Thunder Illinois Chapter 2 is organizing a procession befitting a hero when the young airman returns to the home he left over eight decades ago to fight the Nazis. Southwest Airlines Flight 472 carrying McGuire’s remains is expected to land at Chicago Midway Airport around 3:10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20. Following the dignified transfer, a police-escorted procession will travel south on Cicero Avenue from 55th Street to Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd St, Oak Lawn (103rd Street and Cicero Avenue), contingent on the plane's arrival. The procession is expected to pass through Oak Lawn no later than 3:45 p.m.

Residents are encouraged to line Cicero Avenue in a show of respect for the brave pilot. The Oak Lawn Fire Department is planning an honor guard along the route. Neighboring fire departments and police are also expected to participate.

“It takes the military a long time to verify DNA and notify the family,” said Wayne Kirkpatrick, a retired U.S. Army colonel and chair of Rolling Thunder Illinois Chapter 2, which endeavors to educate the public about the 82,000 missing service members in wars since World War I.

“We found out about [McGuire’s] arrival at Midway a few days ago, so we picked up the mission,” he added.

On Aug. 1, 1943, McGuire was 22 years old when he took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries in Romania. He was one of 177 bombers that took off from Benghazi, Libya, for the raid. McGuire was serving as a pilot of a B24 Liberator that crashed as a result of enemy anti-aircraft fire. McGuire’s plane was among the 51 that failed to return.

“The operation he was in was incredible,” Kirkpatrick said. To see 177 B24 bombers on the ground is amazing, but to see them in the sky.”

Missing from McGuire’s bio on the DPAA website, “is his valor, Kirkpatrick said. When McGuire’s plane fell under enemy anti-aircraft fire, he knew the plane wasn’t going to make it so he saved his crew.

“Rather than trying to crash land, he climbed and gained altitude so his crew could bail,” Kirkpatrick said. “He exposed himself to more anti-aircraft fire and was shot down.”

Considered a strategic disaster, Operation Tidal Wave cost the lives of hundreds of USAAF airmen, many of whom, including McGuire, were buried as unknowns in the hero section of Bolovan Cemetery in Ploiesti.

Following the war, the American Graves Registration Command disinterred all American remains from the Bolovan Cemetery for identification purposes. The AGRC was unable to identify more than 80 unknowns from Bolovan Cemetery. The unidentified remains were permanently in Belgium.

In 2017, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began exhuming the unknowns for comparison with the unaccounted-for airmen lost during Operation Tidal Wave. The DPAA identified McGuire’s remains using dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System performed DNA analysis. The young pilot’s remains were identified in June. Unfortunately, McGuire’s parents and many of his siblings died never knowing his fate.

Visitation for UAAF First Lt. Edward T. McGuire will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, with a Mass of Christian Burial immediately following at 11 a.m., at Most Holy Redeemer Church, 9525 S. Lawndale, Evergreen Park.

After the service, the hearse carrying McGuire’s remains will be escorted to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, escorted by Chicago, Alsip and Oak Lawn police and fire, and motorcycles from Rolling Thunder, Inc. Illinois, Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Riders, VFW and Combat veterans. McGuire will be buried with full military hours. Patch will publish the funeral procession route to the cemetery when it becomes available.