DOB/DOD: February 19, 1922 (Waterford, CT) – February 10, 1945; 22 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Baxter Street, Tolland
ENLISTMENT: September 7, 1942, in Hartford, Connecticut
SERVICE NUMBER: 11094945
UNIT: 26th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: Flight Engineer
STATUS: MISSING IN ACTION
FAMILY: Born to George Edmund (1893-1963) and Elizabeth Payne Caldwell (1895-1963). The second born of eight children. Siblings are Elizabeth Caldwell Norris (1920-1987), George (1924-2016), Daisy (1926-2013), Mary (1927-2021), Arthur (1930-), Robert (1932-), and Raymond (1934-), James (1937), and Barbara Caldwell Bossie (1939-).
OTHER: Father, George, was a World War I veteran who participated in the Meuse Oise and Meuse Argonne Offensives. 1, 2 He was assigned to Company C, 302nd Field Battalion, 77th Infantry Division. William worked at Hamilton Standard Propellers in East Hartford prior to the service. 5
NOTE: TSG Caldwell’s training logs, mission logs, and postcards he sent home can be seen through an online repository. If you are interested in viewing the documents, please contact the webmaster.
Parents George and Elizabeth and family photos contributed by the Caldwell Family.
William “Bill” Caldwell photos contributed by the Caldwell Family
George Jr., George Sr., William
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) lists Tech Sergeant Caldwell as one of 944 Army Air Force personnel from WWII as “Unaccounted For” and “Non-recoverable.” 6
Non-recoverable cases are defined as being assessed to have negligible potential for accounting, such as cases in which the remains are lost at sea or the remains of an individual were cremated and/or systematically destroyed. This assessment will be based upon historical research, scientific analysis, and the limits of current technology.
TSG Caldwell earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), awarded to U.S. and Foreign military personnel and civilians who have displayed extraordinary heroism while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States, in military operations involving conflict with a foreign force, or while serving with a friendly nation engaged in armed conflict against a force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Also awarded the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart Medal posthumously.
Citation to accompany the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Missing In Action)
By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 2 July 1926 (Bull. No. 8, W.D., 1926), and pursuant to the authority contained in paragraph 14, AR 600-45, 22 September 1943 and Ltr Hq AAFPOA, 18 October 1944.
The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded by the Commanding General, Seventh Air Force, to the following named officers and enlisted men [TSG Caldwell was one of the enlisted men identified], Air Corps, United States Army (Missing in Action), for extraordinary heroism in aerial flight against the enemy on 10 February 1945. During this mission, each crew member of a heavy bombardment type aircraft were members of the lead crew, which led a formation into the intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire over the strongly defended Japanese island base of Ha Ha Jima at a time when this base was a primary and important target, the neutralization of which was imperative to the success of our invasion of Iwo Jima. Realizing the importance of this mission, each man, utterly disregarding personal safety, flew an unusually long and accurate bomb run, inflicting untold damage to enemy installations. Their aircraft was hit by a direct burst of flak and exploded in mid-air. Parachutes were seen leaving the plane, but only one survivor was rescued. Seldom has an organization been led by a more courageous, efficient, and effective crew. The cool courage in the face of great danger and the high degree of professional skill and devotion to duty displayed by each exemplifies the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces.
Copy of the original telegram sent to the parents of William Caldwell. Contributed by the Caldwell family.
Postcard contributed by the Caldwell family.
Missing Air Crew Report #12052 3
Date: February 10, 1945
Time: 0208
Location: 3 miles Southeast of the southern tip of Haha Jima
Aircraft type: B-24L
Aircraft serial number: 44-41465
Aircraft nickname: Royal Flush
Details: Took off from Guam as the lead aircraft on a bombing mission against Okimura on Haha Jima (Mother Island). Over the target at 16,000′ while on the bomb run with the bomb bay doors open, hit by anti-aircraft fire that caused the bomb bay fuel tank to catch fire and caused the bomber to nose down momentarily. Two crew members were observed to have bailed out, but only one parachute opened. Another three bailed out, and two or three additional parachutes opened. While diving, the B-24’s left wing broke off, and the bomber disintegrated into pieces before it crashed into the sea roughly one mile east of the center of Haha Jima (other sources list the location as three miles off the southeastern tip of Haha Jima). Another plane in the formation flew down to 200’ altitude and dropped two life rafts.
WEBMASTER NOTE: The lone survivor was tail gunner SSgt Richard E. Chandler. He survived the war and lived to be 91 years old. The rest of the crew are presumed to have gone down with the bomber or drowned.
The crew of 44-41465 “Royal Flush.”
1st Lt Edwin E. Brashear; Pilot; Brownwood, TX
2nd Lt Theodore Robinson; Co-Pilot; Dallas, TX
2nd Lt Frank J. Curley; Navigator; Philadelphia, PA
2nd Lt Albert C. Reynolds; Bombardier; Danville, IL
TSgt William F. Caldwell; Engineer/Top Turret Gunner; Tolland, CT
TSgt Vincent Foti; Radio Operator; Elizabeth, NJ
SSgt Cecil K. Decker; Radar Operator; Monte Vista, CO
SSgt James T. McGee; Assistant Engineer; Paris, MO
SSgt John J. Kerezki; Armorer/Gunner; Nanty Glo, PA
SSgt Richard E. Chandler; Armorer/Tail Gunner; Bemidji, MN (sole survivor)
Major Robert W. Holland; Passenger; Salt Lake City, UT
Posted to Fold3.com by Traci Cleveland McPherson, granddaughter of the sole survivor of the demise of The Royal Flush, Richard E. Chandler.
This is lovingly dedicated to my grandfather Richard (Dick) Chandler, whose actions spoke louder than words ever could.
Dick was born in 1924 and grew up in the small logging city of Bemidji, MN. His parents were of Scandinavian descent. He had one brother and one sister. Academically, Dick was very intelligent in school. He also possessed many natural artistic abilities, especially drawing. His great sense of humor, combined with his mischievous sense of adventure, helped him form many close friendships. Dick grew up hunting and trapping to help earn money for his family during the Great Depression. Later in his teenage years, he joined his family in the concrete business. At the age of 17, Dick was introduced to a beautiful girl from a nearby dairy farm named Helen Scott. They soon began dating and fell in love. That same year, the unexpected Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor engaged the US in WWII, changing Dick’s future forever.
Dick voluntarily enlisted in the United States Army Air Force in 1943. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the 7th AF, 11th Bomb Group, and 26th Bombardment Squadron. Dick flew in the tail gunner position on a heavy bomber B-24 aircraft. The crew that Dick trained with was assigned to the Pacific Theater of War activities. This same crew all became great friends and continued to fly most of their missions together. By the end of the war, Dick received air medals for 35 missions, a Purple Heart, and an Asiatic Service Medal. One of his most successful missions was the total destruction of a large Japanese destroyer.
Another exciting mission occurred off Kita Island. Dick’s Liberator came in low to escape Japanese detection. In doing so, their wingtip narrowly missed the island’s 1,000-foot cliff. However, this approach caught the enemy’s largest ship by surprise, enabling them to bomb it out of the water. As they continued, Dick’s crew strafed all of the smaller companion boats while making their way to ultimately bomb ground installations on Haha Jima. The worst memory Dick has was his last mission in February 1945. His crew was assigned as the lead plane with orders to bomb Haha Jima. Just as they came over their target area with the bomb bay doors open at 16,000 feet, the plane was directly hit by anti-aircraft fire. This caused a huge fire in the fuel tanks, and the B-24 began to collapse into pieces before crashing into the ocean. At some point after being hit, but before the plane collapsed, Dick crawled out of his turret. He saw his best friend lifelessly bent over his waist gun with no signs of any other possible survivors, so he bailed out through the flames. He suffered severe burns (even his parachute and Mae West life jacket were on fire). He then hit the water so hard that the force of impact permanently fused together several bones in his neck. Now in the water, he was injured and alone. He soon found himself struggling to stay afloat. Miraculously, Dick received some very unexpected help. A dolphin appeared and began pushing him up. The dolphin not only helped Dick stay afloat, but it also kept sharks from attacking. It is widely believed that sharks are quite wary of dolphins because they have superior defensive skills and will, in turn, protect swimmers. Several hours later, a US PBY Catalina “Dumbo” seaplane arrived to rescue Dick. They encountered enemy fire and rough waters, but they successfully completed their rescue mission. Dick was the only survivor. The return trip faced its own set of challenges. The plane was not only critically low on fuel but also experienced an electrical fire in the waist area and a near loss of the port prop hub. They finally landed in Saipan, where they were met by an ambulance. Dick was immediately transferred to the hospital for treatment. It was a long and hard recovery. As soon as he was able to return to the U.S., Dick personally visited as many of the families of his crewmates as he could and made contact with the ones he couldn’t.
Once the war was over, Dick married the love of his life, Helen Scott. He began working in construction and made a successful career building homes, remodeling cabinetry, and designing custom-made woodwork items. Together Dick and Helen raised 2 beautiful daughters. As a veteran, Dick served for many years in Bemidji’s Civil Air Patrol and attended many events at the local VFW. He rarely spoke about his experiences in the war. Although proud of his service, he never wanted to be recognized for it and considered it his honor and duty. We lost my grandpa on October 18, 2015. He is dearly missed, but through this article, I feel his voice is still being heard. Dick commendably lived out his life with gratitude, grace, humility, and integrity. He will forever remain a hero to us all.
From The Hartford Courant January 5, 1945
Tolland Man Helps Blast Jap Shipping
Sgt. W.F. Caldwell, “Hit Parade” Gunner, Tells of Strafing Successes
Army Air Forces, Pacific Headquarters – Around a sheer-faced cliff on tiny Kita Island in the Bonins, a formation of Seventh Army Air Force Liberators roared 50 feet above the water to blast one large Japanese ship and strafe two others. One of the planes in the flight was the “Hit Parade,” of which Technical Sergeant William F. Caldwell of Tolland, Connecticut, is an engineer and top turret gunner. The Liberator came in low to escape Jap detection and, with a wing tip barely missing the 1000-foot cliff, caught the large enemy ship by surprise and bombed it out of the water. The huge plane then continued on course and strafed the smaller companion boats. As the “Hit Parade” finished its strafing run, two Jap Zeros came in at the same altitude. But the Seventh Army Air Force Liberator resorted to evasive action, and the enemy aircraft dove under and pulled out at water level to resume the attack. “After leveling off, they headed upstairs. Soon, they made a second pass, coming in from overhead. They fired at our nose and came in with full power,” Sergeant Caldwell said. “One of them dropped a phosphorous bomb, but his aim was off, and we weren’t hit. About that time, one of the gunners in the formation fired a burst, and as his shells poured into the cockpit, the fighter’s canopy was shot off.” With one Japanese fighter damaged, the two-plane interception stopped, and Sergeant Caldwell and his crew continued on their mission to bomb ground installations at Haha Jima. “That was an exciting mission,” Sergeant Caldwell declared. “But we accomplished more a few days later when we dropped bombs on the stern of a Jap destroyer in the harbor at Chichi Jima. The ship was severely damaged and hasn’t moved its position since.” Sergeant Caldwell is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Caldwell, P.O. Box 76, Tolland.
From The Hartford Courant on February 11, 1945
Webmaster Note: TSgt Caldwell died the day before this article went to print
Two Connecticut Men Commended For Bombing Japs
Two Connecticut men, members of the Eleventh Heavy Bombardment Group of the Seventh Army Air Forces, have been commended by Major General Robert W. Douglass Jr., commanding the Seventh Army Air Force, for their part “in campaigns which have taken a large section of the Pacific from the enemy’s hands,” according to a release from the Seventh Army Air Force Heavy Bomber Base in the Marianas. They are Lieutenant Stephen J. Coffey, 283 Laurel Street, and Technical Sergeant William F. Caldwell of Tolland. This unit, finishing its fifth year, is one of the oldest, most traveled heavy bomber outfits in the Pacific. Participating in almost every major move of the great offensive that has rolled the Japanese back more than 3000 miles, the Eleventh Group has strafed and bombed the enemy at points within 600 miles of the Japanese mainland, according to the release. Almost destroyed at Hickam Field in the Pearl Harbor attack, the release continued the group has precision-bombed northward through the Gilberts, the Marshalls, the Carolines, the Marianas, bringing such targets as Truk, Tarawa, and Guam within its bomb sights. Now, the Bonin and Volcano Islands are the targets for its attacks. Lieutenant Coffey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Coffey and husband of the former Florence Savicke, graduated from Hartford Public High School. He worked as a gauge grinder at Pratt and Whitney Division of Niles – Bement – Pond Company in West Hartford before entering the service in July 1942 and has been with the Seventh Army Air Force in the Pacific since January 1944. As a bombardier on a Liberator, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. A brother, Henry, is with the Medical Corps in England. Sergeant Caldwell, son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Caldwell, attended Manchester Trade School and worked as a machinist at the Hamilton Standard Propeller Company in East Hartford. Entering the Army in September 1942, he has been with the Seventh Army Air Force in the Pacific since May 1944. He is an engineer and top turret gunner on a Liberator. A brother, George, is a Sergeant with the Army Air Force in England.
Memorialized at the Courts of the Missing, Court 7, Memorial Drive, 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii. 4
Memorialized at the family gravesite in Grove Hill Cemetery, 22 Cemetery Avenue, Rockville, Connecticut; Section H, Lot 100. Photo contributed by Ray Carrier, President, Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation.
1 – 1930 census https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/
2 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
3 – https://fold3.com
4 – https://findagrave.com
5 – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238/
6 – DPAA: https://www.dpaa.mil/Portals/85/WWIIAccounting/wwii_una_ARMY%20AIR%20FORCES_20220128.pdf