Michael George Hurschell McPharlin
Military ROLL OF HONOURMichael McPharlin, known as Mike or "Wee Mike" was a P/O on 71 Eagle Squadron RAF. He had joined the RCAF from Hastings, Michigan, and after completing his flying training he transferred into the Royal Air Force. He named his plane "Wee Ginny". He made many close friends in the Eagles, but when his friends transferred to the newly-commissioned 4th Fighter Group, 334th Squadron, he did not, but was instead assigned to the 339th Fighter Group. Nevertheless, he maintained an ongoing friendship with the 334th and was frequently loaned to and flew on missions with his 334th buddies.
On 19 August 1942 he had to bail out over Dieppe, but fortunately was returned to his squadron. On 6 June 1944, flying with his friends of 334th Squadron, in P-51B 42-106909 6N-Z 'Wee Ginny', he was not so lucky. He reported that his left magneto was out and he was heading for home nursing his rough engine. He was never heard from again.
He had 6.5 enemy aircraft to his credit.
Just five days after he was reported missing, on 11 June 1944, his wife Patricia gave birth to their daughter, Carleen.
On 29 November 2017, the Library & Archives at the San Diego Air & Space Museum received a donation of a pilot’s logbook. Research has revealed that the log book belonged to McPharlin. Read the full story here: http://sandiegoairandspace.org/blog/article/unlocking-a-mysterious-and-…
The Air & Space Museum has shared the photos tucked into the log book here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/sets/72157689771650741
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Blue Island, IL, USA | 16 June 1913 | Born - 16 June 1913 Blue Island, IL, USA |
Other E/A Kills 1.5 total |
Saint-Omer, France | 27 April 1941 | 1 x Bf109 killed and 1 shared on Rodeo to St Omer. |
Other E/A Kills 1.5 total |
Saint-Omer, France | 2 August 1942 | 3 x shared Fw190 kills in Spitfire Mk Vb W3709 St Omer Area 2-8-42. |
Other E/A damaged |
Guînes, France | 14 August 1942 | 1 x Fw190 damaged in Spitfire Mk Vb W3957 Guines, France. 14-8-42. |
Other Bailed out on Op's |
Dieppe, France | 19 August 1942 | 19 Aug 1942 he had to bail out of Spitfire Mk Vb W3761 over Dieppe, but fortunately was returned to his squadron. |
Other E/A probable shared |
Dieppe, France | 19 August 1942 | 3rd trip of the day in Spitfire Mk Vb W3761 and 1/2 share of Ju88 probable. Dieppe. |
Other Assigned |
29 September 1942 | Assigned to the 339th Fighter Group, HQ Sqn. | |
Other Married Virginia Cromwell |
Deer Park, Toronto, ON, Canada | 28 December 1942 | At Deer Park Church Chapel |
Other E/A Kills 1.5 total |
2 July 1943 | 1 x Bf109 kill and 1 Bf109 shared, flying in P-51B 42-106909 6N-Z 'Wee Ginny' with HQ Sqn, 339th FG on a shuttle mission to Russia. 2-7-43. | |
Died |
Évreux, France | 6 June 1944 | On 6 June 1944, flying with his friends of 334th FS in P-51B 42-106909 6N-Z 'Wee Ginny'. He reported that his left magneto was out and he was heading for home nursing his rough engine. He was never heard from again. MIA/KIA. MACR 5621. |
Hastings, MI 49058, USA | |||
Other Joined RCAF |
Canada | Joined Royal Canadian Air Force. | |
Other Service flying training |
Tulsa, OK, USA | Completed his service flying training. | |
Other Transferred RAF |
Transferred to the Royal Air Force. | ||
Other Shipped overseas |
Merseyside, UK | Shipped overseas to ETO. | |
Other Operational training |
Great Britain, United Kingdom | Operational training at OTU. Conversion to Hurricane and Spitfire. | |
Other Assigned |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | Assigned to 71 Eagle Squadron RAF. P/O on probation. | |
Buried |
Plot E Row 1 Grave 43 |
Revisions
Correspondence with Debbie Seracini, Archivist, San Diego Air and Space Museum
http://sandiegoairandspace.org/blog/article/unlocking-a-mysterious-and-…
Brought in sources from duplicate records:
MACR 5621 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
https://abmc.gov/node/545023#.Wif-QE1LGM8
Mission 376: Battle Over the Reich, May 28, 1944 (Stackpole Military History) by Ivo de Jong
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3739
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/334_m…
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/334_m…
Mission 376: Battle Over the Reich, May 28, 1944 (Stackpole Military History) by Ivo de Jong
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3739
Personal research & 'Eighty-One Aces of the 4th Fighter Group' by Frank Speer.