Gerald McCallum
Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces

Gerald McCallum served as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps and completed Class 40-A at the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, TX, on 23 March 1940. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps with the rating of Pilot.

On 25 February 1942, then-First Lieutenant Gerald McCallum was serving as Pilot of a P-40 Warhawk Fighter Plane in the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, Far East Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, 1LT McCallum’s unit was in aerial combat against Japanese forces over Surabaya, Java. While leading a flight to intercept enemy airplanes at Surabaya, 1LT McCallum encountered 54 Japanese bombers, protected by 36 fighters. Although the Japanese had the advantage of both numbers and altitude, 1LT McCallum unhesitatingly led his flight in an attack. During the engagement, when 1LT McCallum saw that one of his pilots was being hard-pressed and in serious danger from an enemy fighter, he attacked and drove off the Japanese plane, but in doing so lost his own life. 1LT McCallum’s selfless, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

McCallum received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Captain.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Gerald McCallum (ASN: 0-388622), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, FAR EAST Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 25 February 1942, over Surabaya, Java. When leading a flight to intercept enemy airplanes at Surabaya, Lieutenant McCallum encountered 54 enemy bombers, protected by 36 fighters. In spite of the fact that the enemy had the advantage of both numbers and altitude, he unhesitatingly led his flight in an attack. During the engagement, when he saw that one of his pilots was being hard-pressed and in serious danger from an enemy fighter, he attacked with total disregard for his own safety, and drove off the enemy airplane, but in doing so lost his own life. First Lieutenant McCallum's unquestionable valor in aerial combat, at the cost of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Memorialization

The remains of Captain Gerald McCallum have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56761997/gerald-mccallum