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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 36th FS |
Pilot Lt. Col Grattan "Grant" Mahony (KIA, BR) OR Crashed January 3, 1945 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 422-6221 Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38L-5-LO Lightning serial number 44-25217. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 36th Fighter Squadron (36th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 3, 1945 took off from San Jose Airfield on Mindoro piloted by Lt. Col Grattan "Grant" Mahony on a mission to escort A-20 Havocs over Puerta Princessa on Palawan Island. Over the target, he spotted a Japanese seaplane near shore and told his formation to continue escorting the A-20s while he dove down to strafe the seaplane, claiming it destroyed but he was hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire in his wing, caught fire and was observed to disappear across the shore and crash in the jungle beyond. At the time of his death, according to his 201 File, "Mahony had flown more combat hours than any other pursuit pilot in the AAF." Search Aboard a cruiser offshore, Col. Allison, who witnessed the crash from the deck of a cruiser offshore initiated a search as soon as possible. Wreckage Later, the wreckage of his aircraft was found, but Mahony’s body was not inside the wreckage. Recovery of Remains Later, his body was recovered (details unknown) and transported to Manila for permanent burial. Memorials Mahony was buried in Manila American Cemetery at plot J row 4 grave 26. Relatives Tod Mahony (grandson of Mahony) "Grant died when my father, Dan Grant Mahony, was only six months old." Megan Mahony (granddaughter of Mahony) "My name is Megan Mahony and I am Grant's granddaughter. My brother is Tod Mahony. I have moved into my late father's house (Dan Grant Mahony, Grant's son) and have found some of Grant's items. I am trying to gather information about my grandfather." Patrick S. Mahony (cousin of Mahony) "My name is Patrick S. Mahony and Grant Mahony was my first cousin. His uncle Patrick S. Mahony Sr. was my father. He was a ship captain for Standard Oil of New Jersey and was killed July 7, 1942 when torpedoed off Key West, Florida. I was 2 yrs old at the time. I would like to know if Dan mMhony, my second cousin, is alive and I would like to get in touch with Tod Mahony." Marilyn Hall Jacobson (goddaughter of Mahony) "I’m Marilyn Hall Jacobson, the daughter of Fred Lee Hall and Dorothy Fenenga Hall, formerly of Vallejo, Califorina. My parents were good friends of Grattin Mahony, Vallejo’s first ace pilot during WWII. Mahony was my godfather. I may still have a locket given to me by Grattin." Dave O’Keeffe (relative of Mahony) "My grandmother, Johanna O’Brien O’Keeffe, was a sister of Grattan Mahoney’s grandmother. Hannah lived in Santa Cruz and died in 1934. When Grattan (Grant) returned to Vallejo CA in I believe 1943, Vallejo had a large parade followed by a reception at his parents home. I was 11-12 and met Grant and saw all the medals he had been awarded. If I recall, he was a Lt. Colonel at the time. There is a park in Vallejo named after him." Seeking Relatives & Additional Information Do you have additional information on Mahony? Are you a relative of Mahony? References Note: some website references incorrectly spell his surname "Mahoney" [sic Mahony]. U.S. Army 201 File - Grattan "Grant" Mahony USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38L-5-LO Lightning 44-25217 USAAF 5th Air Force Loss List - January 3, 1945 via Edward Rogers "P-38L-6 #44-25217 36th Squadron "Hit while strafing" CL [complete loss - not repaired]" Doomed From The Start covers his Philippines service in 1941-1942 pages 34 (photo), 136-137, 145, 150-151, 153, 154, 159, 165, 167, 442 (note 5), 443 (note 1), 453 (n. 11), 454 (n. 12) Attack and Conquer page 136 "Appendix V : Unit Losses: January 3, 1945: Col. Grant Mahoney [sic] (HQ). P-38. He tagged along on a strafing mission to Puerta Princesa on Palawan, P.I. Lieutenant George Lynch (35th Sq) offered to yield the lead and go along as wingman. Col. Mahoney [sic] saw a floatplane in the harbor near the airfield and, even though Lynch warned him that the thing was probably a dummy zeroed in by anti-aircraft, decided to attack. On the way down Lynch could see the flashes of guns on the ground, and silenced some of them with strafing fire, but not before Mahoney [sic] was hit and went straight into the ground. Mahoney [sic] was a hero of the China-Burma-India theater and Lynch's impression of the brief time that he knew the Colonel was that he was a fine officer." Air Force Magazine "Crusade in the Pacific" by John L. Frisbee, Vol. 68, No. 10 October 1985 FindAGrave - LtCol Grant Mahony (photos) Thanks to Edward Rogers and William Bartsch for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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