Frank J Calicura

Military
media-41464.jpeg UPL 41464 Frank Calicura Collection

owner of source material.

Object Number - UPL 41464

Frank Calicura served as a pilot with the 95th Bomb Group.



From Martinez News-Gazette article:

"Twenty-three years old and the father of two, Calicura was one of 17 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Calicura who lived on Mellus Street. After graduating from Alhambra High School in 1938, he became a butcher, working for his brother, Sam."



"When the war came, Calicura took flying lessons at the little Martinez air strip that paralleled the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks on the waterfront and became a member of the Civil Air Patrol entering Army Air Force flight training in February, 1943. His brother Dominic entered flight training at the same time ending up as a training pilot for fighter aircraft."



"Calicura would have preferred lighter aircraft but was instead assigned to “heavies”, the huge four-engine planes being used in the European Theater."



He flew the B-17 'Spirit of Martinez' into the ETO, completed his 30 missions and flew the aircraft back again.



From Martinez News-Gazette article again:

"He resumed his career as a butcher later opening a shop on Main Street with his brother Billy."



"Frank Calicura died of a heart attack at his Martinez home in 1961 at the age of 41."

Connections

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Units served with

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Belligerent Beauty
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spirit of Martinez, Cal's Rascals
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Red Fox
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Primary Basic Flight Training

Horham 3 November 1943 - 3 December 1943 USAAF Southeast Training Center. Taylor Airfield (Ocala Airport)

Other

Graduated from

Alhambra High School, 150 E Street, Martinez, CA 94553, USA

Other

Pre-flight School (Pilot)

Montgomery, AL, USA Maxwell Airfield

Born

Other

First Solo Flight Test Completed

Ocala, FL, USA Canal Field, Ocala, FL

Other

Bambridge AAB Basic Pilot Training

Bainbridge, GA, USA 2 months

Other

Turner Field Pilot Training (Advanced Twin Engine)

15 April 1944 Passed instrument Flight Test on 15, April 1944.

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95th bg heritage association

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95thbg.org

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owner of source material and relative.

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ContributorLucy May
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Sources

Martinez News-Gazette article: http://martinezgazette.com/archives/21825

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ContributorAAM
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Frank J Calicura: Gallery (23 items)