Francis P. Mulcahy

Infobox Military Person
name= Francis Patrick Mulcahy
born=
died= 1973
placeofbirth= Rochester, New York
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= Major General Francis P. Mulcahy
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=USMC
serviceyears= 1917-?
rank= Lieutenant General
commands= 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Allied Air Forces in the Solomons (Cactus Air Force), Tenth United States Army Tactical Air Force
unit=
battles= World War I World War II *Battle of Guadalcanal *Battle of Okinawa
awards= Distinguished Service Medal (3)
laterwork=

Francis Patrick Mulcahy 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.

Early 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.cite book
accessdate=2008-08-04
url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003135-00/sec2.htm#senior
chapter=Biographies: Senior Marine Commanders
title=The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa
series=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series
author=Alexander, Colonel Joseph H., USMC (Ret)
publisher=Marine Corps Historical Center, United States Marine Corps
location=Washington, D.C.
year=1996] 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.cite book
accessdate=2008-08-04
url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003135-00/sec2.htm#senior
chapter=Biographies: Senior Marine Commanders
title=The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa
series=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series
author=Alexander, Colonel Joseph H., USMC (Ret)
publisher=Marine Corps Historical Center, United States Marine Corps
location=Washington, D.C.
year=1996]

World War II

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. [Melson, p. 33.]

In September 1944, MajGen Mulcahy succeeded MajGen Ross E. Rowell, USMC, as the Commanding General o Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force.cite web|accessdate=2008-09-01
url=http://www.subsowespac.org/wordpress/archives/2007/02/25/cincpac-press-releases-september-1944/
title=CINCPAC Press Release No. 559
date=September 18, 1944]

Mulcahy volunteered to lead the Tenth United States Army Tactical Air Force in the Invasion of Okinawa.cite book
url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003135-00/sec2.htm
chapter=Countdown to 'Love-Day'
title=The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa
author=Alexander, Colonel Joseph H.
year=1996] 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 major general.cite web|accessdate=2008-09-01
url=http://asp6new.alexanderstreet.com/firp/firp.frame.aspx?alltermcode=lct0007827&sortorder=collection&simple=no&http=archives.nd.edu/findaids/ead/html/ZEC.htm&page=firp.result.collections.aspx&cit=%3CP%3E%3CI%3EBelow%20is%20the%20webpage%20of%20collection%20%20%3C/I%3E%3CB%3EFrancis%20P.%20Mulcahy%20Papers%3C/B%3E%3CI%3E%20at%20%3C/I%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_top%22%20href%3D%22http://www.nd.edu/~archives/%22%3E%3CB%3EUniversity%20of%20Notre%20Dame.%20Hesburgh%20Library.%20Archives%3C/B%3E%3C/A%3E
title=Francis P. Mulcahy Papers
publisher= Hesburgh Library Archives, University of Notre Dame]

Honors and death

For his accomplishments in France in 1918, the Solomons in 1942-43, and at Okinawa, Mulcahy received three Distinguished Service Medals. He died in 1973.

ee also

*List of Historically Important U.S. Marines

Notes

References

:Marine Corps;Web
*cite book
author=Alexander, Colonel Joseph H., USMC (Ret)
title=The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa
series=Marines in World War II Commemorative Series
publisher=Marine Corps Historical Center, United States Marine Corps
location=Washington, D.C.
year=1996
accessdate=2008-07-30
url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003135-00/index.htm

*cite book
last = Frank
first = Benis M.
coauthors = Henry I. Saw, Jr
year = 1968
url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/V/index.html#index
title = Volume V: Victory and Occupation
work = History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II
publisher=Historical Branch, United States Marine Corps
accessdate = 2008-07-30
*cite book
last = Johnson
first = Edward C.
year = 1977
url = http://www.usmc.mil/news/publications/Documents/Marine%20Corps%20Aviation%20The%20Early%20Years%201912-1940%20PCN%2019000316800.pdf
title = Marine Corps Aviation: The Early Years 1912-1940
publisher = History and Museums Division, U.S. Marine Corps
format = PDF
accessdate = 2008-07-30
*cite web
last = Melson
first = Charles D.
year = 1993
url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-CSol/index.html
title = Up the Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons
work = World War II Commemorative Series
page = 36
publisher = History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
language = English
accessmonthday = September 26
accessyear = 2006
*cite journal
last = Temple
first = L. Parker, III.
year = 1988
url = http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj88/fal88/temple.html
title = Of Autogyros and Dinosaurs
journal = Airpower Journal
publisher=United States Air Force
accessdate = 2008-07-30

;Print

*cite book
last = Willock
first = Roger
year = 1968
title = Unaccustomed to Fear - A Biography of the Late General Roy S. Geiger
publisher = Marine Corps Association
location =
id = ISBN 0-94032-805-4