. ▁He ▁later ▁served ▁also ▁as ▁Marine ▁Fight ing ▁Squadron ▁ 1 ▁( VM F - 1 ) ▁commander ▁at ▁the ▁same ▁air ▁station ▁and ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁major ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 3 8 . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁ ▁Mc Kit tr ick ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁Head quarters ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁in ▁Washington , ▁D . C ., ▁and ▁attached ▁to ▁the ▁War ▁Pl ans ▁Section ▁of ▁the ▁Division ▁of ▁Pl ans ▁and ▁Pol ic ies ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 9 3 9 . ▁He ▁subsequently ▁sa iled ▁to ▁C airo , ▁Egypt , ▁and ▁served ▁as ▁A viation ▁Ob server ▁for ▁next ▁two ▁years . ▁Mc Kit tr ick ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁Head quarters ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁and ▁following ▁his ▁promotion ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁lieutenant ▁colon el ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁command ing ▁officer ▁of ▁Marine ▁A ircraft ▁Group ▁ 2 4 ▁at ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁Air ▁Station ▁E wa , ▁Hawai i . ▁ ▁While ▁in ▁this ▁capacity , ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁colon el ▁on ▁October ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁and ▁subsequently ▁sa iled ▁for ▁B oug ain ville ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁Mc Kit tr ick ▁directed ▁air ▁operations ▁during ▁the ▁Bomb ing ▁of ▁R aba ul ▁in ▁late ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁and ▁early ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁and ▁received ▁the ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Mer