 McGuire's first combat assignment was in June 1942, flying patrols over the Aleutian Islands in a Bell P-39 Airacobra while assigned to the 54th Fighter Group until October, before returning to Harding Field, Louisiana.While scoring no aerial victories in the Aleutians, McGuire was able to hone his skills as a pilot.In December 1942, he married Marilynn "Pudgy" Giesler  shortly before he was transferred to Hamilton Field, California.