Elmer "Lucky" McGinty
December 27, 1923 – May 5, 2024
Elmer McGinty (Lucky) was born December 27th, 1923, to Bertha (Lengel) and Hugh McGinty, Sr. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Elmer grew up with his three brothers in Roxboro, Pennsylvania. He left high school early to enlist in the Army Air Corps with his brother Hugh (Mac) on January 27, 1941, just after he turned 17 years old. The military then sent him from Philadelphia to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver where he began his military training and grew to love Colorado.
After about a year and a half, his military training was completed in Texas on the 'heavies,' the B-17s. This is where his crew was assembled to be transported overseas on the Queen Elizabeth, and ultimately to Horham Air Base in England. Lucky was assigned as a B-17 left waist gunner with the 95th Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force. During his service he completed 29 bombing missions over Germany and Poland, including 4 missions on Berlin. Lucky took part in “The Big Week” (February 20-25, 1944) under the direction of Lieutenant General Doolittle. On his March 6th, 1944, mission to Berlin, Lucky was credited with shooting down a German ME109 fighter.
May 8, 1944, was his last mission, and afterward he became an instructor for gunners. Having survived 29 missions, Lucky lived up to his nickname but said he really acquired his nickname by getting into a few scrapes, including hitting a lieutenant and managing to escape court martial. Out of the ten men in his bomber crew, Lucky is the last one to pass away at 100 years old.
Lucky returned to the United States in September 1944, where he was discharged. In 1960 he met his lovely wife Doris and they relocated to Boulder, CO, in 1963. They were married for over 57 years and raised five children. Lucky worked for and retired early from the Hostess/Wonder Bread Company in 1984 as a top salesman.
Lucky served on the board and was an ambassador for The Greatest Generation Foundation. This is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring veterans by providing education to later generations about the extraordinary history and sacrifices made by our veterans. Lucky is also a longtime member of the Colorado Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society and was actively involved with the 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation.
Lucky is survived by his brother Robert, five children (Betty, Barb, Diane, Bruce and Glenn), as well as 5 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Lucky is predeceased by his parents, his wife Doris and two brothers, Michael and Mac McGinty.
Funeral and memorial service information will be provided once they are scheduled.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to TRU Community Care Hospice, www.trucare.org/donate.