Clifford J. MacGregor

Clifford J. MacGregor (23 February 1904 - October 1985) was a meteorologist, Arctic explorer and naval aviator.

Early years

MacGregor went to College in Michigan

Military career

MacGregor was in the U.S. Navy until 1926 where he was trained to pilot Zeppelins at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

MacGregor was a Commander in the US Naval Reserve and returned to active duty during World War II as a PBY Squadron Commander in Greenland. He had left the Navy only 15 years earlier.

Weather Bureau service

In 1930 MacGregor was posted to Alaska for the establishment of the first Arctic weather observation network for Alaskan Airways Weather Service.

He was then appointed to the Point Barrow, Alaska Meteorological Station as Commander of the U.S. Arctic weather expedietion for the Second International Polar Year (1932-33). While in Alaska MacGregor formulated a theory that Northern Hemespheric weather was bred in the Arctic.

MacGregor was assigned to the Newark Airport Weather office before taking a leave of absence to lead his own Arctic Expedition from July 1, 1937 through October 4, 1938 to Etah, Greenland. It was MacGregor and his expedition that first proposed the need for a network of Arctic weather stations.

In 1939, MacGregor was stationed at the Weather Bureau, in Horseheads, NY.

Other accomplishments

MacGregor captained a boat in the 1935 California-Hawaii yacht race. MacGregor settled (retired) in Milanville, PA.

Summary

"MacGregor typified useful adventure as much as anyone I have ever met in arranging for broadcasts over a period of years in the field of exploration" Able Alan Schechter - NBC News

"At 6'-2" Cliford J. MacGregor was not the kind of person one forgets. This could be one of the reasons for his historical neglect. Many seemed to want to forget him. He was a "wave maker" who didn't mind rocking official boats. His criticism of (what he believed to be) the archaic U.S. Weather Bureau didn't find him many friends there." Hal Vogel - Ice Cap News

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