Brigadier General Robert B. Maguire

Gen. Maguire was born on Dec. 5, 1924 in Los Angeles, Calif. He grew up and attended schools in Glendale, Calif., where he graduated from Glendale High School in June 1942.

Maguire enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet in April 1943. He attended College Training Detachment and Cadet Preflight. This was followed by Primary, Basic and Advanced Flying Schools. On June 27, 1944, at Brooks Field, Texas, Maguire was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was awarded Air Corps pilot wings. He then attended 8-26, B-24, and 8-17 flight transition schools and was promoted to First Lieutenant on 22 January, 1945.

Maguire then served in various flying assignments in the Continental U.S. and in Hawaii. His final assignment was flying Navigator Trainees in C-47s and B-25s at Mather Field, Calif. He was Honorably Discharged on Dec. 11, 1946.

After a short vacation at home in California, General Maguire moved to Hawaii in the Summer of 1947 and worked for the Flying liger Lines as a Flight Dispatcher and Operations Supervisor.

On Oct. 4, 1947, Maguire joined the Hawaii Air National Guard (HANG) as a drill status (part time) First Lieutenant, assigned to the 199th Fighter Squadron as a P-47 Fighter Pilot. Later that year he was hired as a civilian Air Technician (full time) Operations Officer with the Squadron. While in this position, he attended several Air Corps Service Schools on Air Force active duty including: Air force Intelligence Officer (in residence), Instrument Pilot Instructor (in residence), Combat Air Interceptor Officer (in residence), and Air War College (in drill status study group).

In April 1950, Maguire left his Air Technician position with the HANG to accept a position as a pilot with Hawaiian Airlines (HAL), but he continued as a drill status Officer and Pilot with the HANG.

At Hawaiian Airlines, Maguire enjoyed a 33 year career where he progressed from Pilot to Captain, to Chief Pilot, to Director of Flight Operations and to Vice President, Flight Operations. Perhaps the highlight of this career was the first introduction of Inter Island Jet Service, when Hawaiian Airlines started DC-9 service in 1966. Maguire was in charge of all Pilot Training and Qualifications in this Douglas DC-9 Aircraft. He retired from the Airline in June 1983.

In the Hawaii Air National Guard, Maguire progressed from Squadron Pilot to Flight Leader and other positions of increased responsibility. During changes of assigned aircraft from the P-47 to the F-86 to the F-86L and to the F-102, he progressed in rank to Captain in March 1949, to Major in May 1955. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in October, 1960 and in December of that year he was assigned as Commander of the newly formed 154th Fighter Group flying F-102 aircraft.

In 1964, Maguire moved from his position as Commander, 154th Fighter Group to Headquarters, HANG and assumed the position of Direct of Operations where he supervised the operational activities of all of the rapidly expanding number of HANG units. He was promoted to Colonel in Feb. 1968.

In 1973 Maguire was assigned as Assistant Adjutant General (AIR) and Commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard, and in 1974 was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.

In April, 1976, Maguire retired from the Air National Guard / U.S. Air Force, capping a 33 year career of Military Service.

Maguire is a Command Pilot with over 10,000 military and civilian flight hours in 15 types of training, bomber, transport, and fighter Military aircraft and seven types of propeller, turbo prop and jet in civilian Airline aircraft.

His military awards and decorations include the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Hawaii National Guard Commendation Medal.

Maguire’s civic and social affiliations include the Order of the Daedalian; Quiet Birdmen; Pacific Aviation Museum Charter Member; National Guard Association; Air Force Association; Outrigger Canoe Club and Life Member of Kaneohe Yacht Club.

Last updated August 2017