Our walk today was dedicated in honor of:
Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Martin O’Callighan, Age 22 of Memphis, TN.
MIA/KIA Feb 14, 1945
Through the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Second Lieutenant Martin F. O’Callaghan, Jr., killed during World War II, were accounted for on April 24, 2018.
In February 1945, 2nd Lt. O’Callaghan was a pilot with the 96th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group, Fifteenth Air Force (Italy), VIII Fighter Command on a mission to strafe targets near Maribor, Yugoslavia, now Slovenia. While attacking locomotives near a railway station, O’Callaghan’s P-38 Lightning aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire. He radioed his squadron-mates to say that he might attempt to bail out of the aircraft, however, according to witnesses, he attempted to land the aircraft in a field southeast of Maribor.
As he was attempting to land, the aircraft inverted, crashed and burst into flames. Because Yugoslavia was an occupied territory at the time, no immediate search for his remains could be conducted.DPAA is grateful to the American Battle Monuments Commission for their partnership in this mission.He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
2Lt O’Callaghan’s name is permanently inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Impruneta, Italy, along with the other MIAs from WWII. Although interred as an “unknown”, his grave was meticulously cared for over the past 70 years by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
We had a great 3.71 Mile walk today. We walked to the Crossville Memorial Airport for their fly in. We got to visit with several people and talk about 2nd Lt. O’Callaghan’s story. What a beautiful day to honor such a hero. I want to thank my friend Robert for walking with us and I want to thank all who honked, waved, and saluted in helping us honor this hero. We had 117 honks. It was amazing. Thank You.
Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Martin O’Callighan will not be forgotten !
