media-38676.jpeg UPL 38676 From Cleveland Heights, OH, Capt. Robert M. Callahan enlisted on 6 April 1942 at Ft. Hayes (Columbus), OH. Assigned to the 370th Fighter Squadron, Capt. Callahan flew over 100 combat missions with the 359th Fighter Group, earning one aerial victory, three ground, and nine damaged on the ground. He completed his combat tour of duty on 22 August 1944.

11 April 1944: Briefing 0745 for Ramrod Penetration mission. Sixteen planes participated. One pilot returned early. Escort provided to bombers from Holdorf to Fallersleben. Here 1107 hours several E/A attacked bombers, and here Lt. Kibler, Leader of Red Flight, fired at and damaged one Me 109, and Lt. Doersch, Red Three, fired at and destroyed one FW 190. White and Blue Flights, turning back on a course toward Brunswick, strafed an A/D near there at Wolkenrod with the following results, Capt. Mc Kee destroyed one Ju 88 and damaged two Ju 88s, Lt. Hollis destroyed one Ju 88, Lt. Shupe destroyed one Ju 88 and damaged one Ju 88, Lt. Borg damaged on U/I E/A and damaged one T/E transport, Lt. Ambrose destroyed on T/E #/A, Lt. Porter damaged one Ju 88, one control tower, and one barracks area, and Lt. Wetmore destroyed one Ju 88, damaged one Ju 88, and damaged one U/I S/E E/A. Pilots in these flights also strafed and damaged hangars and workshops. Yellow Flight, led by Capt. Smith, strafed an A/D near Gutersloh with these results: Lt. Burgsteiner destroyed four FW 190s and damaged one other, Capt. Smith destroyed two FW 190s and probably destroyed another FW 190 in the air, and Lt. Callahan damaged five FW 190s. Prior to strafing this A/D, Yellow Flight had escorted two straggling bombers, abandoning escort at scene of strafing, and after strafing, proceeded to Base singly. ~ Excerpt from the April 1944 370th Fighter Squadron history. 359th Fighter Group collection

Photo of Capt. Robert M. Callahan feeding Flak, the 370th Fighter Squadron mascot, courtesy Anthony Chardella.
Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.
Posted by Janet Fogg, 359th Fighter Group Historian.