Staff Sergeant, 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, World War II.
Tail Gunner aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-3053, nicknamed "Desperate Journey."
Shot down by enemy fighters while on mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and went down near Wittmund, Germany, May 21, 1943. Eight of the 10-man crew were killed. Two survived and became POWs. Missing Air Crew Report № 4438 and 4633.
The crewmembers Killed In Action were:
1st Lt. Norbert D Koll, IA, O-726258, Pilot
2nd Lt. Wayne L Buck, IA, O-729806, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Edwin M Bruton Jr, MO, O-731017, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Alfredo L Davila, TX, 38093722, Radio Operator/Gunner
T/Sgt. Albert W Zaverl, CO, 18047296, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
S/Sgt. William L Caligan Jr, CT, 11045589, Tail Gunner
Sgt. Elwyn J Roberts, PA, 13025136, Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Guy F Wyatt, IN, 35358470, Left Waist Gunner
~
William L. Caligan (father)
Evelyn Caligan (mother)
Frederic Caligan (twin brother)
Entered the service from Connecticut; ASN 11045589.
Enlisted at Hartford, CT, February 3, 1942.
Military details provided by Tim Cook
Staff Sergeant William Lee "Bill" Caligan, Jr., born 28 Mar 1920, was the son of William L and Evelyn M (Scott) Caligan of Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut. Waterbury is 22 miles north of New Haven.
In the 1930 census 10-year-old William is living with his parents and twin brother Frederick on Madeline Avenue in Waterbury. His father is a superintendent for a brass mill.
In the 1940 census 20-year-old William is living with his parents and brother Frederick 20, still on Madeline Avenue in Waterbury. His father is now the production manager of the brass mill. William is an apprentice chemist at the brass mill.
On his Oct 1940 draft registration 21-year-old William is still living at home on Madeline Ave. and working for the Chase Company as a Laboratory Assistant.
William enlisted 3 Feb 1942 at Hartford, Ct. He'd had 4 years of high school and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under laboratory technicians and assistants. He was 5'5"and weighed 115 lbs. He was assigned to the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group.
The 91st Bomb Group Flew B-17s out of RAF Bassingbourn 45 miles due north of London.
William was the tail gunner on B-17 42-3053 "Desperate Journey" piloted by 1st Lt Norbert D Koll. On 21 May 1943 Lt Koll's first mission was to bomb shipyards and port facilities at Wilhelmshaven on the North Sea 90 miles due west of Hamburg.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Connecticut show Caligan, William L Jr, SSgt from New Haven County as FOD (Finding of Death) 21 May 1943. An FOD was determined at least one year and one day after a soldier, sailor or airman went missing in action. Desperate Journey was shot down by German fighters and crashed near Wittmund, Germany. Wittmund is 16 mi WNW of Wilhelmshaven. 8 of ten crewmembers were killed.
Contributor: Andy (48021049) •
Tail Gunner aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-3053, nicknamed "Desperate Journey."
Shot down by enemy fighters while on mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and went down near Wittmund, Germany, May 21, 1943. Eight of the 10-man crew were killed. Two survived and became POWs. Missing Air Crew Report № 4438 and 4633.
The crewmembers Killed In Action were:
1st Lt. Norbert D Koll, IA, O-726258, Pilot
2nd Lt. Wayne L Buck, IA, O-729806, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Edwin M Bruton Jr, MO, O-731017, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Alfredo L Davila, TX, 38093722, Radio Operator/Gunner
T/Sgt. Albert W Zaverl, CO, 18047296, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
S/Sgt. William L Caligan Jr, CT, 11045589, Tail Gunner
Sgt. Elwyn J Roberts, PA, 13025136, Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Guy F Wyatt, IN, 35358470, Left Waist Gunner
~
William L. Caligan (father)
Evelyn Caligan (mother)
Frederic Caligan (twin brother)
Entered the service from Connecticut; ASN 11045589.
Enlisted at Hartford, CT, February 3, 1942.
Military details provided by Tim Cook
Staff Sergeant William Lee "Bill" Caligan, Jr., born 28 Mar 1920, was the son of William L and Evelyn M (Scott) Caligan of Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut. Waterbury is 22 miles north of New Haven.
In the 1930 census 10-year-old William is living with his parents and twin brother Frederick on Madeline Avenue in Waterbury. His father is a superintendent for a brass mill.
In the 1940 census 20-year-old William is living with his parents and brother Frederick 20, still on Madeline Avenue in Waterbury. His father is now the production manager of the brass mill. William is an apprentice chemist at the brass mill.
On his Oct 1940 draft registration 21-year-old William is still living at home on Madeline Ave. and working for the Chase Company as a Laboratory Assistant.
William enlisted 3 Feb 1942 at Hartford, Ct. He'd had 4 years of high school and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under laboratory technicians and assistants. He was 5'5"and weighed 115 lbs. He was assigned to the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group.
The 91st Bomb Group Flew B-17s out of RAF Bassingbourn 45 miles due north of London.
William was the tail gunner on B-17 42-3053 "Desperate Journey" piloted by 1st Lt Norbert D Koll. On 21 May 1943 Lt Koll's first mission was to bomb shipyards and port facilities at Wilhelmshaven on the North Sea 90 miles due west of Hamburg.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Connecticut show Caligan, William L Jr, SSgt from New Haven County as FOD (Finding of Death) 21 May 1943. An FOD was determined at least one year and one day after a soldier, sailor or airman went missing in action. Desperate Journey was shot down by German fighters and crashed near Wittmund, Germany. Wittmund is 16 mi WNW of Wilhelmshaven. 8 of ten crewmembers were killed.
Contributor: Andy (48021049) •
Staff Sergeant, 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, World War II.
Tail Gunner aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-3053, nicknamed "Desperate Journey."
Shot down by enemy fighters while on mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and went down near Wittmund, Germany, May 21, 1943. Eight of the 10-man crew were killed. Two survived and became POWs. Missing Air Crew Report № 4438 and 4633.
The crewmembers Killed In Action were:
1st Lt. Norbert D Koll, IA, O-726258, Pilot
2nd Lt. Wayne L Buck, IA, O-729806, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Edwin M Bruton Jr, MO, O-731017, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Alfredo L Davila, TX, 38093722, Radio Operator/Gunner
T/Sgt. Albert W Zaverl, CO, 18047296, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
S/Sgt. William L Caligan Jr, CT, 11045589, Tail Gunner
Sgt. Elwyn J Roberts, PA, 13025136, Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Guy F Wyatt, IN, 35358470, Left Waist Gunner
~
William L. Caligan (father)
Evelyn Caligan (mother)
Frederic Caligan (twin brother)
Entered the service from Connecticut; ASN 11045589.
Enlisted at Hartford, CT, February 3, 1942.
Military details provided by Tim Cook
Staff Sergeant William Lee "Bill" Caligan, Jr., born 28 Mar 1920, was the son of William L and Evelyn M (Scott) Caligan of Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut. Waterbury is 22 miles north of New Haven.
In the 1930 census 10-year-old William is living with his parents and twin brother Frederick on Madeline Avenue in Waterbury. His father is a superintendent for a brass mill.
In the 1940 census 20-year-old William is living with his parents and brother Frederick 20, still on Madeline Avenue in Waterbury. His father is now the production manager of the brass mill. William is an apprentice chemist at the brass mill.
On his Oct 1940 draft registration 21-year-old William is still living at home on Madeline Ave. and working for the Chase Company as a Laboratory Assistant.
William enlisted 3 Feb 1942 at Hartford, Ct. He'd had 4 years of high school and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under laboratory technicians and assistants. He was 5'5"and weighed 115 lbs. He was assigned to the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group.
The 91st Bomb Group Flew B-17s out of RAF Bassingbourn 45 miles due north of London.
William was the tail gunner on B-17 42-3053 "Desperate Journey" piloted by 1st Lt Norbert D Koll. On 21 May 1943 Lt Koll's first mission was to bomb shipyards and port facilities at Wilhelmshaven on the North Sea 90 miles due west of Hamburg.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Connecticut show Caligan, William L Jr, SSgt from New Haven County as FOD (Finding of Death) 21 May 1943. An FOD was determined at least one year and one day after a soldier, sailor or airman went missing in action. Desperate Journey was shot down by German fighters and crashed near Wittmund, Germany. Wittmund is 16 mi WNW of Wilhelmshaven. 8 of ten crewmembers were killed.
Contributor: Andy (48021049) •
Tail Gunner aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-3053, nicknamed "Desperate Journey."
Shot down by enemy fighters while on mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and went down near Wittmund, Germany, May 21, 1943. Eight of the 10-man crew were killed. Two survived and became POWs. Missing Air Crew Report № 4438 and 4633.
The crewmembers Killed In Action were:
1st Lt. Norbert D Koll, IA, O-726258, Pilot
2nd Lt. Wayne L Buck, IA, O-729806, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Edwin M Bruton Jr, MO, O-731017, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Alfredo L Davila, TX, 38093722, Radio Operator/Gunner
T/Sgt. Albert W Zaverl, CO, 18047296, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
S/Sgt. William L Caligan Jr, CT, 11045589, Tail Gunner
Sgt. Elwyn J Roberts, PA, 13025136, Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Guy F Wyatt, IN, 35358470, Left Waist Gunner
~
William L. Caligan (father)
Evelyn Caligan (mother)
Frederic Caligan (twin brother)
Entered the service from Connecticut; ASN 11045589.
Enlisted at Hartford, CT, February 3, 1942.
Military details provided by Tim Cook
Staff Sergeant William Lee "Bill" Caligan, Jr., born 28 Mar 1920, was the son of William L and Evelyn M (Scott) Caligan of Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut. Waterbury is 22 miles north of New Haven.
In the 1930 census 10-year-old William is living with his parents and twin brother Frederick on Madeline Avenue in Waterbury. His father is a superintendent for a brass mill.
In the 1940 census 20-year-old William is living with his parents and brother Frederick 20, still on Madeline Avenue in Waterbury. His father is now the production manager of the brass mill. William is an apprentice chemist at the brass mill.
On his Oct 1940 draft registration 21-year-old William is still living at home on Madeline Ave. and working for the Chase Company as a Laboratory Assistant.
William enlisted 3 Feb 1942 at Hartford, Ct. He'd had 4 years of high school and was single without dependents. His civil occupation was listed under laboratory technicians and assistants. He was 5'5"and weighed 115 lbs. He was assigned to the 324th Bomb Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group.
The 91st Bomb Group Flew B-17s out of RAF Bassingbourn 45 miles due north of London.
William was the tail gunner on B-17 42-3053 "Desperate Journey" piloted by 1st Lt Norbert D Koll. On 21 May 1943 Lt Koll's first mission was to bomb shipyards and port facilities at Wilhelmshaven on the North Sea 90 miles due west of Hamburg.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Connecticut show Caligan, William L Jr, SSgt from New Haven County as FOD (Finding of Death) 21 May 1943. An FOD was determined at least one year and one day after a soldier, sailor or airman went missing in action. Desperate Journey was shot down by German fighters and crashed near Wittmund, Germany. Wittmund is 16 mi WNW of Wilhelmshaven. 8 of ten crewmembers were killed.
Contributor: Andy (48021049) •
Inscription
SSGT 324 BOMB SQ 91 BOMB GP (H)
CONNECTICUT MAY 21 1943
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