Joseph Callaghan Military person

Major Joseph Creuss Callaghan (4 March 1893 – 2 July 1918) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.The Irish-born Callaghan was living in Texas when World War I began; he returned home to join the Royal Munster Fusiliers. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 1 September 1915. He was assigned to No. 18 Squadron in April 1916; he promptly piloted an FE.2b to victory on the 26th, getting credit for destroying a Fokker Eindekker (though the Germans recorded no casualties). He crashlanded near Château de la Haie because of damaged controls, to discover his observer dead, shot through the head.His next posting was to No. 2 School of Aerial Gunnery. His final posting was command of No. 87 Squadron in January 1918. He scored four more victories in a month, between 29 May and 28 June 1918, flying Sopwith Dolphin No. D3671. On 2 July, he launched a solo attack on a large formation of German fighters, estimated to number as many as 25. He was shot down in flames by German ace Leutnant Franz Büchner.

Personal facts

Birth dateMarch 04, 1893
Date of deathJuly 02, 1918
Resting place
France , Contay

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Military person

allegianceUnited Kingdom
award
Military Cross
military commandNo. 87 Squadron RAF
military unit
Royal Munster Fusiliers
No. 18 Squadron RAF
service start1915
service end1918

Joseph Callaghan on Wikipedia