Frank J. Callaghan was born at Denver, Colorado on March 7, 1914. His parents were Cornelius Martin Callaghan (11 Nov 1888 – 5 Dec 1936), who was born at Denver, Colorado; and Catherine Ann (Munday) Callaghan (22 Mar 1888 – 27 Oct 1922), who was born at Central City, Colorado. His parents married at Denver, Colorado on June 14, 1911.
He had four sisters and three brothers. His brother Daniel P. Callaghan (7 Mar 1914 – 29 Nov 1980) was his twin. His brother James Thomas Callaghan (11 May 1916 – 7 Dec 1941) served in the U.S. Navy as a Boatswain's Mate 2d class during World War II. He died aboard the USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His brother John Martin Callaghan (11 Dec 1918 – 6 Jul 1954) served in the U.S. Navy as an Ensign during World War II.
In 1917 the family lived at 2057 Downing Street, Denver, Colorado, and his father was a police patrolman for the City of Denver. His mother died in 1922 when he was eight years old, and his father married Clara M. Courtney on June 20, 1933. His father died in 1936.
He entered the service at Los Angeles County, California. His next of kin is listed as his oldest sister, Cornelia Marie (Callaghan) Catlett, who lived with her husband, Robert James Catlett, at 3010 Vine Street, Denver, Colorado.
He completed Army Air Forces flight engineer and aerial gunnery training, and was assigned to the heavy bomber crew of Lt Willard J. Curtiss. The Curtiss crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines, to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force that day. Lt Curtiss' crew flew B-17G 42-102497 in the number six position in the Low Squadron of the Group formation, and T/Sgt Callaghan flew as tail gunner. The 487th Bomb Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. T/Sgt Callaghan was killed in action when his crew's aircraft was shot down by German fighters south of Liege, Belgium. He was probably killed in the aircraft by enemy fire. The pilot, Lt Curtiss, and radio operator, S/Sgt Saporito, were also killed. The aircraft crashed at Comblain-au-Pont, Belgium. Six men survived.
T/Sgt Callaghan is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium.
B-17G 42-102497 crew:
• Curtiss, Willard J – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Collins, Thomas W – 1/Lt – Copilot – Safe
• Ghezzi, Edward H – 1/Lt – Navigator – Safe
• Merritt, James K – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Barajas, Ralph R – Sgt – Engineer* – Safe
• Saporito, Salvatore A – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Blackwell, Robert C – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Pagac, Samuel J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – Safe
• Callaghan, Frank J – T/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
(*In MACR 12177 Sgt Barajas is listed as tail gunner on this mission, but his diary reflects that he flew as top turret gunner.)
Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com