Personnel

Ground Crew for Squawkin Hawk, 



World War II vet reflects on time as B-17 mechanic

John Callihan, WWII vet, reflects on his time working on B-17 bombers while in the Army Air Corps last week at his home. The plane he worked on called the “Squawkin Hawk” was used in 50 missions.



Janet S. Carter / The Free Press

By Noah Clark / Staff Writer 

Published: Monday, January 20, 2014 at 20:18 PM.

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Serving in what he describes as “the greatest military ever assembled” is a source of pride for World War II B-17 mechanic John Callihan.



Callihan, who grew up in Columbus County, said he was drafted into the Army Air Corps in September 1942.  After completing mechanic school in Amarillo Texas and a stop at the B-17 plant in Seattle, Callihan — who will celebrate his 94th birthday later this week — arrived at Royal Air Force Station Thorpe Abbotts in England where he remained until September 1945.



Callihan said he was part of the ground crew for a B-17 known as the “Squawkin Hawk” in the 100th Bomb Group, 349th Squadron.



“When it got shot at, we had to make repairs and whatever else was needed,” he said. “Every time it left the base to go on a mission, there were 10 men aboard, and it depended on us to keep it in condition to fly so it would bring those men back.”



Callihan said the worst condition he ever saw the plane was when the elevators and rudder we almost completely gone.



“We couldn’t believe it could fly, but it did,” he said.



Callihan said the “Squawkin Hawk” flew on 50 missions and he formed a close bond with the crew.



“We were just like a family,” he said. “We treated those planes as if they were our children.”



Callihan said he was busy during most of his waking hours.



“If we weren’t working on our own plane, we were working on someone else’s,” he said.



In addition to gaining experience as a mechanic, Callihan said he met his wife Monica at a summer resort in England.



The pair dated for a year, but Callihan said he wanted Monica to visit the United States before they decided to get married.



“I knew there was going to be a lot of girls the boys would shoot lines to and make them think that in America all they had to do was walk around and pick up $100 bills,” he said. “I let Monica know it wasn’t like that, and I wanted her to come over and see what it was like before we got married because I planned on making it a long term affair if she liked it.” 



The two were married for 59 years before Monica’s passing several years ago.



Callihan was reunited with the B-17 in June when he visited the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah, Ga. When museum staff found out Callihan used to work on B-17s, Callihan said they gave him star treatment and let him go aboard the plane.



“It was an experience I didn’t think I would ever have again,” he said. “I felt like I was home.”



Callihan said he is grateful for his time in the military.



“I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” he said.



 



Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Noah.Clark@Kinston.com. Follow him on twitter at @nclark763.