MACK C. MAISON, LT, USN
Mack Maison '44
Lucky Bag
From the 1944 Lucky Bag:
Mack C. Maison
Salem, Oregon
The Mais did some things well, others not so well. His proficiencies were golf, and bunk drill; his ability was limited in fathoming the Executive and Academic Departments. Yet the most salient indication of a man's success is his ability to inspire confidence in superiors and subordinates. This ability, with his sincerity, will make Mack a real officer. The Army and the women of Oregon bade farewell when Mack left the blue Pacific for the Severn, but a strange attraction always seemed to recall him. Rarely could he walk through the gate when beating the leave deadline. Sometime, someplace we'll meet again, and have another champagne party.
The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Mack C. Maison
Salem, Oregon
The Mais did some things well, others not so well. His proficiencies were golf, and bunk drill; his ability was limited in fathoming the Executive and Academic Departments. Yet the most salient indication of a man's success is his ability to inspire confidence in superiors and subordinates. This ability, with his sincerity, will make Mack a real officer. The Army and the women of Oregon bade farewell when Mack left the blue Pacific for the Severn, but a strange attraction always seemed to recall him. Rarely could he walk through the gate when beating the leave deadline. Sometime, someplace we'll meet again, and have another champagne party.
The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Mack was lost when his F4U-4 Corsair crashed near Corpus Christi, Texas on July 6, 1949.
Other Information
There is a newspaper report in April 1945 of his completion of initial flight training; he was being transferred to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, for intermediate training.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Mack was born in Prineville and moved to Salem in 1925. He attended Highland school and Parrish junior high. He graduated from Salem high school where he was sports writer for the newspaper and was a member of the golf team. He was also a member of Boy Scout Troop 12.
In August 1938, two parties were held in honor of him attending Columbia Preparatory in Washington, D. C.
Mack was appointed to the Naval Academy by Sen. Charles McNary.
During WWII he served aboard aircraft carriers in the South Pacific. He had a year of sea duty, returning in September 1944 to begin his flight training at Jacksonville. In December 1944, he was in pre-flight training at Ottumwa. He finished there in April 1945 and was transferred to Corpus Christi for intermediate training. He received his wings in September 1945.
In June 1946, he was in Norfolk, Virginia, and in December, he was stationed at Oceana, Virginia. He next would serve on an aircraft carrier, the USS Kearsarge. From December 1947 through December 1948, he was stationed at Quonset Point, Rhode Island.
Mack was a flight instructor at Corpus Christi and was simulating a dog fight with a student in another plane when his plane went out of control and crashed.
During Mack’s entombment, Major Gordon Dolittle of the Oregon Air National Guard’s 123rd Fighter Squadron led 12 planes in a memorial flight over the Mt. Crest Abbey mausoleum. According to custom, one plane was missing from the formation in honor of Mack.
He is buried in Oregon and was survived by his parents, and a sister. His father, Harold G., was superintendent of the Oregon state police, a brigadier general in the Oregon national guard, and assistant commander of the 41st infantry division. (Information from the Statesman Journal on July 13, 1949.)
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