Joseph Creuss Callaghan

Name:

Country:

Ireland

Rank:

Major

Service:

Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force

Units:

18, 87

Victories:

Born:

04 March 1893

Place of Birth:

Kingstown

Died:

02 July 1918

Place of Death:

Cemetery:

Contay British Cemetery, Contay, Somme, France

Joseph Creuss Callaghan transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915. In 1916 he scored his first victory with an F.E.2b but was wounded in action on 31 July 1916. In January 1917, he became an aerial gunnery instructor at Turnberry where his aerial stunts earned him the nickname "Mad Major." In April 1918, he returned to combat as a Sopwith Dolphin pilot and commanding officer of 87 Squadron. By the end of June, he'd scored four more victories to become an ace. On 2 July 1918, Callaghan single-handedly attacked a group of as many as 25 German fighters. He was killed when his Dolphin was shot down in flames by Franz Büchner of Jasta 13.

Listed as Joseph Cruess Callaghan in the London Gazette.

Military Cross (MC)

2nd Lt. (temp. Capt.) Joseph Cruess Callaghan, R. Muns. Fus. and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed marked courage and skill on several occasions in carrying out night bombing operations. On one occasion he extinguished a hostile searchlight.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 13 February 1917 (29940/1540)

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	26 Apr 1916		18	F.E.2b (5232) ¹	Fokker E (DES)
2	29 May 1918	1940	87	Sopwith Dolphin (D3671)	Rumpler C (OOC)	Villers-Brettoneaux
3	01 Jun 1918	1415	87	Sopwith Dolphin (D3671)	LVG C (DES)	W of Bertangles
4	28 Jun 1918	0815	87	Sopwith Dolphin (D3671)	Albatros D.V (DES)	Bapaume-Quéant
5	28 Jun 1918	0915	87	Sopwith Dolphin (D3671)	Albatros D.V (OOC)	Bapaume

1	Observer Lt J Mitchell (KIA)

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