Scope and Content Note
The papers of John F. Callahan span the years 1917 to 1958, with the bulk of the material dating between 1942 and 1944. This collection comprises correspondence, military service records, and photographs concerning John F. Callahan’s service in the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, and later, the military service of his sons, John Jr. and Charles during World War II. Material is arranged alphabetically by person or material type.
This collection primarily documents John Jr. and Charles’s service in the United States Army Air Forces between 1942 and 1944 during World War II. Correspondence sent to John F. Callahan from his two sons during basic training and then from Europe represents the bulk of the collection. These papers also chronicle John F. Callahan’s search for information after the B-24 bomber Charles flew on as a navigator was downed over Germany in 1944. Many of the letters in this collection are from the parents of Charles’s crew members who were also lost when the plane was downed. Correspondence written by John F. Callahan to Clara Morehouse between 1917 and 1918 describing his experiences in the Expeditionary Forces primarily in Germany and France is also included in this collection, as are some documents related to enlistment and service summaries for all three men.