the newly created United States Air Force in 1947. He served in Korea in 1951 during the Korean War with the rank of colonel. Retirement After retiring from the Air Force as a colonel on June 30, 1956, McKinley worked as a civilian consultant to Admiral Richard Byrd. In 1959 he became a member of the Florida Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Colonel McKinley died in Florida and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Legacy In June 1971, the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base was named in his honor. Books and film McKinley authored a 1929 book with Athos Maxwell Narraway, Applied aerial photography McKinley appeared in the 1930 documentary With Byrd at the South Pole Awards Distinguished Flying Cross Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal World War I Victory Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver oak leaf cluster (6 awards) United Nations Korea Medal Distinguished Flying Cross citation The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Ashley C. McKinley, U.S. Army Air Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight as aerial photographer for the 1928 – 1930 Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Capitan McKinley, in the face of the very gravest danger performed his duties in such a manner as to merit the highest praise. He participated in numerous flights over the South Pole on 28–29 November 1929. His devotion to and the accomplishment of this duty obtained results which brought great credit to himself, the expedition, and the United States Army. General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 2 (1931) See also References 1896 births 1970 deaths Aviators from Texas People from Marshall, Texas United States Army officers United States Army Air Forces officers Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Air Force officers Military personnel from Texas Missouri National Guard personnel United States Army personnel of World War I United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II South Pole Marie Byrd Land explorers and scientists