Michael F Chayka

Military
media-14900.jpeg UPL 14900 SSgt. Michael Chayca, standing in front of his airplane, the B-24 Liberator, 41-24232, Calaban, in the 67th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force. It flew on the Ploesti oil refinery raid, diverting safely to Malta. Aug 1, 1943.
Calaban was later lost on the bombing raid to the Emden Industrial area, with it's pilot, Lt. Richard F. O’Neill. Lt. ONeill was known for his violent evasive actions on bomb runs. On this bomb run, these maneuvers put him below the B-24, 42-72878, whose bombs struck, Calaban, behind the #4 engine, shearing the right wing off, and, also, the tail. Calaban, went down with all but one of it's crew members, crashing on land near the Emden Estuary. 9 KIA 1 POW. MACR 1653. Crew Chief Mike Chayka features in photo.

Wording changes. - Kickapoo

Object Number - UPL 14900 - SSgt. Michael Chayca, standing in front of his airplane, the B-24 Liberator, 41-24232, Calaban, in the 67th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, and...

Served as Crew Chief on the B-24D, Calaban. Saved airplanes on ground by putting out a fire.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The 'semiofficial' insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Calaban
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Cayuga County, NY 24 October 1917

Enlisted

Fort Niagara, Youngstown, NY 3 September 1941 Fort Niagara, Youngstown, NY

Died

Cortland, NY 16 June 2011

Buried

Cortland Rural Cemetery, Cortland, NY 22 June 2011 Cortland Rural Cemetery Cortland, Cortland County, NY Sectin D2 Lot 62

Based

Shipdham Assigned to 67BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - Calaban

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - Calaban

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / relative

Michael F Chayka: Gallery (1 items)