Philip James McCaffrey was born in Solano, California in 1918. His mother was named Margaret. No NARA enlistment record has been found for him, but his service number indicates he was drafted, and his recorded service history suggests that was in 1943.

After basic training, he was assigned to aerial gunnery school and then to an operational unit to receive further combat crew and aerial gunnery training. In late 1944, he and the crew he had been assigned to arrived in England. Here, they were sent to the 563rd Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group, operating from Knettishall, England.

On November 6, 1944 the crew flew their first combat mission in a B-17 # 43-38655, no name. On November 11, they flew for the second time, this mission was on B-17 # 43-37896, named "Forever Amber." The crew stood down until November 26 when they were tasked to participate in a bombing raid on the railway marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany.

Flak was heavy over the target, and just before bomb release, a flak shell burst under the fore part of the fuselage. Smoke filled the cockpit as a major fire erupted. The bomber dropped out of formation, and the pilot hit the bail out signal. Before the crew could respond, the aircraft exploded, killing some of the crew but blowing the rest out of the aircraft. Observers stated the parachutes fell through a following squadron, and at least one collapsed.

Four crew members were killed, while six dropped to safety, only to be captured by the Germans. Four bodies were recovered and buried locally. After the war, McCaffrey was moved to the American Cemetery at Margraten, Holland. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, airforce.togetherweserved.com