Maurice E. "Mickey" McCall 1915-1942

MCCALL

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/5/2010 at 21:25:46

Tragedy Comes to Estherville From the Air
Local Boy Dies in Bomber
Maurice McCall, 26, Was Navigator on Ill Fated Army Plane; Falls Near Hastings, Michigan

Second Lieutenant Maurice E. McCall, son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. McCall, farmers near Dolliver, was killed Saturday [August 15, 1942] morning in the crash of a multi-motored army air force bomber in a corn field near Hastings, Michigan. Nine officers and crew members, all stationed at Ypsilanti, Mich., were killed in the accident.

The plane, which is said to have been on routine operation, was navigated by McCall.

McCall had just recently been transferred to Ypsilanti for training with a bomber squadron.

Troops from Fort Custer guarding the scene where the big plane, reported to be attached to a heavy bombardment group from the Willow Run bomber plant near Detroit, fell.

Army ambulances removed the bodies of the crew to Kellogg field for identification.

No official statement concerning the crash has been forthcoming. Many witnesses who saw the plane pass over Hastings said it appeared to be in difficulty then.

McCall joined the army in April, 1941, and was at Camp Claiborne, La., with the 136 medical regiment for nine months. He also was a member of the regimental band, and was sent to Camp Dix, N.J. He was transferred to Maxwell Field, Ala., in January, 1942, to take training in aviation after passing examinations for entrance into the army air corps.

In April he was transferred to Turner Field, Albany, Ca., for a 15 week training course. He had received his commission and been transferred to the bomber base at Ypsilanti for further training.

No word has been received by the family relative to the arrival here of the remains of the young man. Funeral arrangements cannot be made until official word comes. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, August 18, 1942)

Memorial Service for Maurice McCall Today
Legion in Charge of Rites
Air Crash Victim Laid to Rest In Oak Hill Cemetery
Community Mourns His Passing

A military funeral was held this afternoon for Lieutenant Maurice McCall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Grover McCall of Dolliver.

Lieutenant McCall was killed in the crash of an army bomber Saturday near Hastings, Mich.

Services were held at 2 o’clock in the McCall home and at 2:30 at the Baptist church. The Rev. Fred Sawyer had charge of the services.

Legion men from Emmet county met at the Legion club rooms at 2 o’clock and went to the church in a group. A few of the Legionnaires went out to the McCall home. The Legion Auxiliary met at the church and were seated in a group.

Lieutenant McCall’s body arrived yesterday morning on the Rock Island. The body arrived without an escort. A group of local Legion men escorted the body from the train to the Sternborg funeral home and from there to the home of his parents.

Lieutenant Orris Warrington who is stationed at the air corps gunnery school at Las Vegas, Nevada, arrived here this morning to attend the funeral. He will remain here until Tuesday. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, August 20, 1942)

Lieut. McCall, Victim of Bomber Crash, Was Known in Charles City
Charles City – Lieut. Maurice (Mickey) McCall, 26, who was one of nine killed in the crash of an army bomber near Hastings, Mich., Friday, had many Charles City acquaintances. For more than a year he played in Rollow Sissel’s dance band and helped finance his trips.

He joined the army in April, 1941, and went to Camp Claiborne, La., where he was made a bandsman. Then he was transferred to Maxwell Field, Ala., for air training and later to Turner Field, Ga., where he recently received his commission. At the time of his death he was stationed at Willow Run airport near Ypsilanti, Mich.

Lieutenant McCall was graduated from the Estherville, Iowa, high school and attended junior college there. He played basketball and was a trackman and a member of the school band. (Mason City Globe-Gazette, Mason City, IA, August 20, 1942)