Albert E. Cahill
Rank: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force
Serial: 12132293
Unit: 414th Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group (Heavy)
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Awards: Purple Heart
Buried: Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, New Jersey
Biography
Staff Sergeant Albert E. Cahill was born in 1923 to Mr. and Mrs. Albert T. Cahill. His early years were spent in Camden, New Jersey, where the family, in 1930, rented a home at 3020 Porter Road in the Yorkship Square section of Camden. His father worked as a toolmaker at the RCA-Victor plant in Camden. The family later moved to 213 First Avenue in Haddon Heights, New Jersey.
After enlisting in the United States Army, Albert Cahill qualified for flight duty and trained as a tail-gunner on a bomber. He was killed in action on September 7, 1943, when his B-17F, serial number 41-24907, known as “Stinky Jr.,” was lost over Italy. His death was reported in the October 20, 1943 edition of the Camden Courier-Post.
At war’s end, a local sportsmen’s club named its new archery field in the memory of Albert Cahill, on October 21, 1945. In time, his body was returned to the United States, and he was buried at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden, New Jersey. Albert E. Cahill was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert T. Cahill, of 213 First Avenue, Haddon Heights; his sister, Irene; and an uncle, Milton Cahill, who was a Camden police officer.
Dead Flier Honored With Archery Field
Camden Courier-Post —
Square-Circle Club Unveils Plaque at Gibbsboro Naming Sgt. Cahill
More than 300 persons witnessed the dedication of a new archery field of the Square-Circle Sportsmen’s Club yesterday at Gibbsboro, in honor of Sgt. Albert E. Cahill, of Haddon Heights, who was killed in combat over Italy, Sept. 7, 1943.
A large wooden plaque was unveiled by Miss Irene Cahill, sister of the soldier, bearing a legend which relates the field is named in Cahill’s honor. The surrounding ground was landscaped to make the setting more attractive.
Attending the ceremony were Mr. and Mrs. Albert T. Cahill, of 22 First avenue, Haddon Heights, parents of the dead flier and Lt. Carleton R. Rouh, of Lindenwold, holder of the Congressional Medal of Honor, who is a member of the club.
Music was furnished by the Westmont American Legion Post band. Rev. J. Courtney Hayward, pastor of Asbury Methodist church, asked the invocation and pronounced the benediction. A passage of scripture was read by Robert G. Middleton, club secretary while introductory remarks were made by William Blattner, chairman of the club’s archery committee. The dedication speech was made by Charles Tharp, club president. As a climax to the ceremony archer members of the club shot the first arrows into targets arranged on the field.
The club has a 47 acre tract of land on which a lodge has been erected. A nine acre lake also is part of the layout. There are 100 active members and 32 club members have been in the service.