Honor and Remember

David "Mike" McGuire

03-26-1955 - 09-17-1992

Branch of Service: U.S. Air Force

Rank: Major

Spouse of: Kathy McGuire

Comments: Major David “Mike” McGuire, 37 years old, sacrificed his life to avoid crashing into Upper Heyford village in England. On September 17, 1992 Mike, along with Captain Jerry Lindh, was returning to the USAF base in the troubled, F-111 fighter bomber after a readiness mission. Rather than immediately eject from the plane, they stayed with it to ensure it didn’t crash into houses, school, and church. At a safe point, the escape crew capsule separated but it was too low to prevent the crew’s demise. Since that fateful date, the people of the village and base have not ceased to remember Mike’s bravery. On a stone memorial in the village cemetery these words are found: “In Memory of Capt. Jerry Lindh and Maj. David “Mike” McGuire who gallantly gave their lives to save our village… God Bless. From all your friends at Upper Heyford.” Mike is a 1977 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and received his Master’s degree in Operations Research at AFIT in Dayton, Ohio where he met his wife, Kathy Stewart McGuire. Mike served at home and abroad, including the first Gulf War and received many honors and awards during his military career.