- SURNAME
Callahan
- FORENAME
Robert
- UNIT
850 Bomber Squadron (801 Bomber Group)
- RANK
Second Lieutenant
- NUMBER
0-703088
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
England 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
navigator
B-24H 42-95321
training
shot down by intruder over England
awarded for saving Second Lieutenant Sanders by sharing his parachute
flew 48 missions
CITATION:
Silver Star :
I. Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, 22 September 143 as amended and pursuant to authority contained in this letter, HQ., USSTAF, AG 200.6, 3 April 1944, Subject: “Awards and Decorations”, the SILVER STAR is awarded to the following named Officers and Enlisted Men:
ROBERT CALLAHAN, 0-703088, 2nd Lt., Army Air Forces, US Army. For gallantry in action, while serving as navigator of a B-24 aircraft on 27 June 1944. The airplane in which the Lt. Callahan was flying burst into flames as the result of an attack by an enemy night intruder aircraft. When the flames began to engulf the whole plane, the pilot gave the order to bail out. Just as Lt. Callahan was preparing to jump, he noticed that the bombardier’s parachute was out of his reach and on fire. Acting with coolness and courage, he instructed the bombardier to lock his arms about him and they would jump together, using one parachute. Although at a fairly low altitude, Lt Callahan delayed pulling the ripcord in order to lessen the shock, which might have broken the bombardier’s grip on him. Lt Callahan sustained a broken ankle on landing. His gallant actions on this occasion saved the life of the bombardier. Entered Military Service from Wisconsin.
I. Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, 22 September 143 as amended and pursuant to authority contained in this letter, HQ., USSTAF, AG 200.6, 3 April 1944, Subject: “Awards and Decorations”, the SILVER STAR is awarded to the following named Officers and Enlisted Men:
ROBERT CALLAHAN, 0-703088, 2nd Lt., Army Air Forces, US Army. For gallantry in action, while serving as navigator of a B-24 aircraft on 27 June 1944. The airplane in which the Lt. Callahan was flying burst into flames as the result of an attack by an enemy night intruder aircraft. When the flames began to engulf the whole plane, the pilot gave the order to bail out. Just as Lt. Callahan was preparing to jump, he noticed that the bombardier’s parachute was out of his reach and on fire. Acting with coolness and courage, he instructed the bombardier to lock his arms about him and they would jump together, using one parachute. Although at a fairly low altitude, Lt Callahan delayed pulling the ripcord in order to lessen the shock, which might have broken the bombardier’s grip on him. Lt Callahan sustained a broken ankle on landing. His gallant actions on this occasion saved the life of the bombardier. Entered Military Service from Wisconsin.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/46111
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