Francis P. Mulcahy

Francis Patrick Mulcahy
File:FrancisP.Mulcahy.jpg Major General Francis P. Mulcahy
Born	March 9, 1894 Rochester, New York
Died	December 11, 1973
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1917–1946
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Allied Air Forces in the Solomons (Cactus Air Force), Tenth United States Army Tactical Air Force
Battles/wars	World War I World War II *Battle of Guadalcanal *Battle of Okinawa
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3)

Francis Patrick Mulcahy (March 9, 1894 – December 11, 1973) was a general and commander in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Mulcahy commanded the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the Cactus Air Force, and the Tenth United States Army Tactical Air Force.

Military career

Mulcahy, a native of Rochester, New York, graduated from Notre Dame University in 1914. In 1917, he was commissioned and attended naval flight school, becoming a naval aviator. Like Roy S. Geiger, Mulcahy flew bombing missions in France during World War I. He became one of the Marine Corps pioneers of close air support to ground operations during the inter-war years of expeditionary campaigns in the Caribbean and Central America.

File:MulcahyMunda.jpg

Brigadier General Francis P. Mulcahy (right) at his headquarters at Munda Point, New Georgia, 14 August 1943.

At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Mulcahy was serving as an observer with the British Western Desert Air Force in North Africa. He deployed to the Pacific in command of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. In the closing months of the Guadalcanal campaign, Mulcahy served in command of Allied Air Forces in the Solomon Islands, also known as the Cactus Air Force.

In August 1943, Mulcahy moved from Guadalcanal to New Georgia to command air units operating out of the newly captured airfield at Munda Point.

In September 1944, Mulcahy succeeded Major General Ross E. Rowell, USMC, as the Commanding General of Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force.

Mulcahy volunteered to lead the Tenth United States Army Tactical Air Force in the Invasion of Okinawa. He was deployed ashore early to the freshly captured air fields at Yontan and Kadena, and worked to coordinate the combat deployment of his joint-service aviators against the kamikaze threat to the fleet and in support of the Tenth Army in its protracted inland campaign. On June 11, 1945, he was relieved by Louis E. Woods because of poor health. Upon his retirement he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

He died on December 11, 1973.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=59550989

Awards

Mulcahy was the recipient of the following awards:

Naval Aviator Badge
	Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ 2 award stars	Legion of Merit
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal w/ 2 service stars	World War I Victory Medal w/ 2 service stars	Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1933)	American Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star
American Campaign Medal	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 2 service stars	World War II Victory Medal

See also

• List of Historically Important U.S. Marines

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

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