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McGinnis (Captain Knefler) Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10093
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Captain Knefler McGinnis Personal Papers
source:
McGinnis, Captain Knefler
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10093
Physical Description:
0.45 Cubic Feet
one box 15” x 5”x 10.5”.
Date (inclusive): 1892-1980
Abstract: Capt. Knefler McGinnis served in the U.S. Navy from 1912 to 1946, having been trained as a naval aviator and serving aboard
several naval destroyers and making several flight records.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Captain Knefler McGinnis was born on July 21, 1892 in Indianapolis, Indiana and moved to Washington, D. C. with his family
as a child. He became a page in the United States Senate prior to receiving his appointment to the Naval Academy in 1912.
After he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1916, he served aboard several naval destroyers. He was stationed in Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba in the 1920’s. He entered the Bureau of Aeronautics to complete his training as a naval aviator. There are several
articles and notices of his flying expertise in the collection.
He set world records for flight times and distances throughout his naval career. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
as commanding officer for a record-setting 1935 flight from Norfolk, VA, to Coco Solo, Canal Zone, and finally to San Francisco,
CA, in which he led a flight of Consolidated XP3Ys of VP-10. He was commander of a squadron at Pearl Harbor at the time of
the Japanese attack. No personnel under his command were lost during the attack.
He was commander of Naval Station Terminal Island commissioning three ships during before his retirement in 1946. He moved
to La Jolla, CA with his wife, Roberta, and worked with Consolidated (an aircraft manufacturer) after World War II. Roberta
passed away in December 1979. Captain Knefler McGinnis passed away a few weeks later on January 3, 1980.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this collection were donated to the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Various albums include Captain Knefler McGinnis.
Related Research Institutions:
The California State Military Museum
1119 Second Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
www.militarymuseum.org
Secondary Sources:
“Ex-Navy Capt. McGinnis Dies.” San Diego Union Tribune, January 7, 1980.
Collection consists of one box 15” x 5”x 10.5”. There are newspaper clippings, letters, orders from the military, procedures
for commissioning ships, personal photographs and official military photographs. There are separate folders for newspaper
clippings, a speech with no date on it, articles and comics from The Honolulu Start Bulletin correspondence regarding graduation
ceremonies of the Naval War College in Newport, RI, correspondence regarding the commissioning of the U. S. S. Norton Sound,
correspondence regarding the commissioning of the U. S. S. Pine Island, correspondence regarding the commissioning of the
U. S. S. Salisbury Sound, a folder with miscellaneous speech, certificate of record and valuation of household and personal
effects. One folder contains personal and military photographs from 1928 when Knefler McGinnis was stationed at Guantanamo
Bay and Santiago, Cuba. Another folder contains personal photographs of Knefler McGinnis and his wife, Roberta. One folder
contains the Laws of the Navy and another folder has official military photographs of a ceremony on June 23, 1945.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Consolidated XP3Y
McGinnis, Captain Knefler
Guantánamo Bay Naval Base (Cuba)
United States. Navy. Patrol Squadron VP-10
Naval Air Station Terminal Island
USS Salisbury Sound
USS Pine Island