Personnel

Subj: Contrails My War Record  

Date: 6/17/2003 7:40:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

From: callfosh@bellsouth.net 

To: MPFaley@aol.com 

Sent from the Internet (Details) 

 



Dear Mr. Faley,

I am the daughter of John F. Callahan, the man who organized, primarily wrote and published Contrails My War Record.  He was also a member of the 100th, stationed at Thorpe Abbotts.  I have only one of this book and since it is one of the few things I have of his, I would like to acquire another.  If you hear of someone else who seeks to sell a copy, I would appreciate it if you would forward my e-mail address to him or her.

Also, I would greatly appreciate finding out any information about my father's tome in the 100th.  He had been in the Royal Canadian Air Force until 1941 and joined the USAAF thereafter.  He did not talk much about his time in WW II (except maybe about the brussel sprouts he had to eat) and some of his time on leave in England.  Therefore, I would like to find out more, whatever it might be.  Can you advise me how I can go about this?

Thank you.

Kathryn M. Callahan



My father John Francis Callahan was a member of the 100th and wrote Contrails, My War Record. He often spoke about his time in England, but I am not sure if these recollections were from his time in the Royal Candian Air Force or in the 100th. He died in 1991. Because his service records were destroyed in the 1973 fire along with so many others, there are big holes in my knowledge of his service. I would welcome any information about him during his service, complimentary or otherwise. I can be reached at callfosh@aol.com. Thanks so much. Kathyn



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RCAF material:



From your website:

Email note from Wally Fydenchuk (June 2003):

John F. Callahan

CALLAHAN  JOHN FRANCIS   graduated from # 4 Air Observers School, Crumlin (now London, Ontario) He was an Air Gunner. Discharged from the RCAF in 1942. In the photos you sent he is posing with a Fairey Battle, which were used at RCAF Bombing and Gunnery Schools. 

 Wally

 

CALLAHAN J.F. S/SGT 350TH GND DUR ASN 32326283 (RCAF) WROTE "CONTRAILS" 

Callahan's serial number is not from one of the blocks issued to ex RAF/RCAF transferees. The 32326283

 

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&sc=24994,24995,24996,24998,24997,24993,24981,24983&bc=sl,fd&txt_24994=32326283&op_24994=0&nfo_24994=V,8,1900&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=2950214

 

Looks like Callahan dropped out of the RCAF training program and enlisted in the U.S. Army in NY as a private on May 28, 1942. I can't figure out why he didn't transfer to the USAAF in Canada along with the other 1800 Americans in May 1942.

 

Wally

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At the time of his transfer, he was training as a navigator at No. 4 Air Observers School, London, Ontario

Wally P F







Field Title Value Meaning 

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 11998317  11998317  

NAME CALLAHAN#JOHN#F#########  CALLAHAN#JOHN#F#########  

RESIDENCE: STATE 23  NEW YORK  

RESIDENCE: COUNTY 067  ONONDAGA  

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT 0926  Undefined Code  

DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY 16  16  

DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH 05  05  

DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR 42  42  

GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION CPL#  Corporal  

GRADE: CODE 6  Corporal  

BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION AC#  Air Corps  

BRANCH: CODE 20  Air Corps  

FIELD USE AS DESIRED #  #  

TERM OF ENLISTMENT 5  Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law  

LONGEVITY ###  ###  

SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL 0  Civil Life  

NATIVITY 23  NEW YORK  

YEAR OF BIRTH 14  1914  

RACE AND CITIZENSHIP 1  White, citizen  

EDUCATION 5  1 year of college  

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION 081  Advertising agents  

MARITAL STATUS 6  Single, without dependents  

COMPONENT OF THE ARMY 6  Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of the United States under Army Regulations 605-10  

CARD NUMBER #  #  

BOX NUMBER 0075  0075  

FILM REEL NUMBER 1.68#  1.68#