Michael F Chayka
Military
media-14900.jpeg
UPL 14900
SSgt. Michael Chayca, standing in front of his airplane, the B-24 Liberator, 41-24232, Calaban, in the 67th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force. It flew on the Ploesti oil refinery raid, diverting safely to Malta. Aug 1, 1943.
Calaban was later lost on the bombing raid to the Emden Industrial area, with it's pilot, Lt. Richard F. O’Neill. Lt. ONeill was known for his violent evasive actions on bomb runs. On this bomb run, these maneuvers put him below the B-24, 42-72878, whose bombs struck, Calaban, behind the #4 engine, shearing the right wing off, and, also, the tail. Calaban, went down with all but one of it's crew members, crashing on land near the Emden Estuary. 9 KIA 1 POW. MACR 1653. Crew Chief Mike Chayka features in photo.
Calaban was later lost on the bombing raid to the Emden Industrial area, with it's pilot, Lt. Richard F. O’Neill. Lt. ONeill was known for his violent evasive actions on bomb runs. On this bomb run, these maneuvers put him below the B-24, 42-72878, whose bombs struck, Calaban, behind the #4 engine, shearing the right wing off, and, also, the tail. Calaban, went down with all but one of it's crew members, crashing on land near the Emden Estuary. 9 KIA 1 POW. MACR 1653. Crew Chief Mike Chayka features in photo.
Wording changes. - Kickapoo
Served as Crew Chief on the B-24D, Calaban. Saved airplanes on ground by putting out a fire.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Calaban
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Cayuga County, NY | 24 October 1917 | |
Enlisted |
Fort Niagara, Youngstown, NY | 3 September 1941 | Fort Niagara, Youngstown, NY |
Died |
Cortland, NY | 16 June 2011 | |
Buried |
Cortland Rural Cemetery, Cortland, NY | 22 June 2011 | Cortland Rural Cemetery Cortland, Cortland County, NY Sectin D2 Lot 62 |
Based |
Shipdham | Assigned to 67BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / relative