More detail on this person: Major General
William R. Quinn retired from active duty on
September 1, 1975. He was born on June 13, 1923,
in Merrick, NY. He received his B. S. degree from
the University of Maryland in 1960, and his M. S.
degree from George Washington University in 1965.
He also completed the Advanced Management
Program (AMP63) at Harvard.
His initial entry into the service was as a Naval
Aviation Cadet in September 1942. Upon
completion of flight training at the Naval Air
Station, Pensacola, FL, he was commissioned a
second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve, and
designated a Naval aviator in March 1944. After
serving briefly with the 9th Marine Aircraft Wing,
Cherry Point, NC, he reported to Marine Fighter
Squadron 312, Marine Aircraft Group 33, on
Okinawa flying the new twin engine fighter, the
F7F.
Returning to the United States in early 1946, he
reverted to inactive status in March of that year,
but flew with the Reserves from the Naval Air
Station, New York, until October when he was
promoted to first lieutenant and augmented into
the regular Marine Corps.
He was assigned to Marine Fighter Squadron 225,
Marine Aircraft Group 11 at Cherry Point, from
October 1946 to December 1948, and, in addition to
frequent deployments to the Caribbean aboard
CVES, served four months aboard the USS Siboney
on a squadron deployment to the Persian Gulf. In
late 1948, he joined Marine Fighter Squadron 211
at Tsingtao, China. Shortly thereafter, as the
Chinese communists entered Tsingtao, Marine
Fighter Squadron 211, deployed aboard the USS
Rendova and conducted flight operations along the
China coast, deploying to MCAS Edenton in mid
1949.
Upon graduation from the Aviation Electronics
Officer School, Memphis, TN, in August 1950, he
reported to Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro,
where he served as a ground control intercept
controller until February 1951. He was promoted to
captain in January 1951.
He next deployed with Marine Helicopter Transport
Squadron 161 to Korea serving as a squadron pilot
and Aviation and Electronics Officer and
subsequently as Personnel Officer of Marine
Helicopter Medium Squadron 361 at Marine Corps
Air Facility Santa Ana, CA. From early 1953 until
October 1955 he severed at the Marine Corps Air
Stations El Toro, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and Naval
Air Station Atsugi Japan, flying F9F's and FJ2's.
During this time he was promoted to major
December 1954.
In January of 1956, after completing the Aviation
Safety Course at the University of Southern
California, he reported to the Marine Corps Air
Station, Quantico, VA, where he first flew
Corsairs with the Demonstration Unit and served as
Aviation Electronics Officer with Aviation
Electronic Squadron 12. Being reassigned to
Headquarters Squadron, he served as the Station's
Aviation Safety Officer and Assistant S-3, prior
to his attending the Amphibious Warfare School,
Marine Corps Schools Quantico, which he
completed in June 1959.
After graduation from the University of Maryland
under the Boot Strap program in June 1960, he was
assigned to the Marine Aviation Detachment, Naval
Missile Center Point Mugu, CA, as Head of Space
Vehicle and Satellite Branch, Pacific Missile
Operations where he was involved in Project
Mercury (John Glenn's Space Orbits). He was
promoted to lieutenant colonel in March 1962.
Assigned overseas in June 1962, he served as
Executive officer of the Research and Development
Field Unit, Advance Research Projects Agency
Bangkok, Thailand, and as the Air Mobility
Projects Officer for counterinsurgency (COIN)
traveling to Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaya and Burma
on various projects.
Upon his return to the United States in August
1964, he completed the Air War College, Maxwell
Air Force Base, AL, before returning overseas in
August 1965, to serve with the 1st Marine Aircraft
Wing in Vietnam. He was attached to Marine Wing
Headquarters serving as Wing Operations Officer in
G-3, and later as Commanding Officer of Marine
Helicopter Medium Squadron 161, Marine Aircraft
Group 16, operating from Phu Bai by the city of
Hue.
He returned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing,
Cherry Point, and served as Assistant Chief of
Staff, G-l, from September 1966 until June 1968,
when he became Commanding Officer, Marine
Aircraft Group 26, Marine Corps Air Station
(Helicopter), New River, N C. While stationed at
Cherry Point, he was promoted to colonel in June
1967. Returning to the Far East in June 1969, he
served as Commanding officer, Marine Corps Air
Station, Iwakuni, Japan. Following his advancement
to the rank of Brigadier General, August 31, 1970,
he assumed duty as Assistant Wing Commander,
1st Marine Aircraft Wing in the Republic of
Vietnam. Upon establishment of the brigade in
Vietnam, he returned the 1st MAW Flag to its
headquarters at Iwakuni, Japan in 1971.
In October 1971, after his return to the United
States, he was assigned duty as Director, Systems
Support Group, Headquarters Marine Corps, serving
in that billet until April 1973, when he was
transferred to El Toro and became Commander,
Marine Corps Air Bases, Western Area and
Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Station, El
Toro. Following his advancement to major general
on May 3, 1974, he was assigned as Commanding
General, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, El Toro, and CG,
I MAF, remaining in that billet until his
retirement on September 1, 1975. He was
employed by ITT for the next 4 years plus several
other consulting roles.
The General's personal decorations include the
Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and gold star in
lieu of a second award, Distinguished Flying Cross
with combat "V" and one gold star in lieu of a
subsequent award, the Bronze Star Medal with
Combat "V", the Meritorious Service Medal, and the
Air Medal with gold stars in lieu of second
through fourth awards and Bronze Numeral "6".
Major General Quinn has four children: Patricia,
Pegi, Penny and Mitchell, living in Alabama and
Georgia. General Quinn and his current wife,
Margo, reside in Mission Viejo, CA, enjoying her
two daughters, sons-in-law and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation, P.O. Box
45316, San Diego, CA 92145-0316
This information was last updated 09/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association