VMF-224Bio-IrishHC

VMF-224 Scrap Book

VMF-224 Squadron Member

Harold C. Irish

Harold Chester Irish, son of Chester and Mary (Betker) Irish, was born at Laona, Wisconsin on April 2, 1919. After two years of college at Wisconsin State College Stevens Point, Harold enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the summer of 1941 and received training at Glenview Naval Air Station, Pensacola Naval Air Station, and Miami Naval Air Station prior to his designation as Naval Aviator #14994 on July 31, 1942. At that time he was commissioned as a Second Lt. in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He was then sent to Jacksonville Naval Air Station for additional training in SNJ, F4F, and F4U type aircraft. While waiting for the shortage of fighter aircraft to match the supply of pilots, he was able to gain additional flight hours having been assigned as an instructor at Jacksonville.

After returning to Glenview in May of 1943 for Carrier Qualifications aboard the USS Wolverine, along with brief duty at Marine Corps Air Station - El Centro, Harold was assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-224 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station - El Toro, California. Beginning in July of 1943, equipped with the new F4U Corsair, the squadron island hopped from Hawaii, to American Samoa, to Funafuti and finally to Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. November of 1943 saw brief duty with VMF-441 to assist with the squadron’s transition to F4U aircraft. At the rank of captain, Harold functioned as a division leader and served with VMF-224 until early September, 1944. Harold was awarded the Air Medal for his service during this period. Upon return to the states, he was again assigned as an Operational Training Instructor with VF-OUT-4 and VF-OUT-5 based at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Just prior to being reassigned for the invasion of Japan, the war ended, and Harold was discharged from active duty on November 14, 1945.

After the war, he returned to Wisconsin and resumed his college studies earning money by giving flight lesions and crop dusting in a surplus N3N. Harold also helped to form, and was the first president of the Stevens Point Civil Air Patrol unit. After finishing college he married Mary Murphy and the couple returned to Laona, Wisconsin where he built and operated a small airport for three years before he began teaching high school. As a member of a Reserve unit based at Glenview Naval Air Station, he was promoted to the rank of Major in 1951 prior to an Honorable Discharge from the USMC Reserve.

Harold and Mary had four children along with 4 grandchildren. After he retired from teaching in 1977 Harold kept busy in his wood shop, gardening, and by doing a little hunting and fishing. Harold died at his home in Shawano, Wisconsin on May 8, 1989 at the age of 78.

Harold C. Irish

VMF-224, June 1943 - September 1944

Additional photos of Harold C. Irish