Michael F. Mahoney
Aviation Chief Metalsmith’s Mate Michael F. Mahoney, Serial: 02563352, Bombing Squadron 144 (VB-144), U.S. Navy. He lived at 709 Morgan Street, Camden NJ. Memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Aviation Chief Metalsmith’s Mate Michael F. Mahoney was born in Camden in 1914. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Mahoney, and was one of six brothers who served in the armed forces during World War II. He had attended Camden Catholic High School, and played independent football with various Camden teams throughout the 1930s. Married to Anna Dabron Mahoney, he had enlisted in the United States Navy in early 1940, and was serving at Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 when the Japanese attacked.
Michael Mahoney saw action at Midway. He was able to return home on furlough in October of 1942. On December 7, 1942, he was interviewed as part of a nationwide radio broadcast on the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, as reported in the December 8, 1942 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. At this point he was ranked as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate First Class. He was later promoted to Chief Aviation Metalsmith’s Mate.
Chief Mahoney was declared missing in action on February 16, 1944 in an aircraft accident in performance of his duties. His body was not recovered, and he was declared dead by the Navy on February 17, 1945. He was survived by his father, of 709 Morgan Street, his wife, Anna Dabron Mahoney, of 1234 Jackson Street, and five brothers, all in the service at the time, Charles, James, William, Joseph, and John Mahoney. His death was reported in the February 17, 1944 evening edition of the Camden Courier-Post.
2 Men Join Brother in Service for U.S.
Camden Courier-Post —
Avenging Pearl Harbor
Joseph and Charles Mahoney Enter Army; Michael in Navy at Pearl Harbor
Caption: Three brothers, left to right, Joseph, Charles and Michael Mahoney, of 709 Morgan boulevard, who are serving Uncle Sam in different branches of the service. Michael was at Pearl Harbor when the Japs attacked on Dec. 7. Joseph and Charles joined the service to avenge that attack.
Three Camden brothers are in Uncle Sam’s fighting forces, two of them to avenge the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7 last.
Michael Mahoney, 27, son of James J. Mahoney, of 709 Morgan Street was in Pearl Harbor when the Japs made their dastardly attack. Michael is a first class petty officer in the aviation division of the Navy.
His brother Joseph, 22, enlisted four months ago, in the Army. Charles, 23, another brother, went in for parachute jumping in the Army. He is attending school at Fort Benning, GA. Charles recently wrote home he is going to drop behind the Jap lines and give them something to remember Pearl Harbor.
Michael attended Camden Catholic High School and played football with independent teams around Camden before he enlisted two years ago. Joseph attended Camden County Vocational School and he is in the “plotting division” of the Army. Charles attended Woodrow Wilson High School.
Back home rooting for the older brothers are three other brothers, William, John, and James and four sisters, Jeanette, Elaine, Charmaine, and June.
Mahoneys Nearly Miss Hearing Mike Tell of Pacific Battles
Camden Courier-Post —
Neighbor’s Call Sends Sailor’s Family to Listen to Broadcast
Pearl Harbor Day gave most of the members of the Mahoney family, 709 Morgan boulevard, a surprise at a thrill. But the clan Mahoney almost missed out on a nationwide radio broadcast last night. Michael P. Mahoney, aviation machinist’s mate first class, was one of the “stars” of the program. He told of life in the Navy and the Battle of Midway.
Michael attended Camden Catholic High School and played football with independent teams around Camden before he enlisted two years ago.
3 So. Jersey Men Missing in Action
Camden Courier-Post —
One of Six Camden Brothers in Service Unaccounted for in Pacific
A Camden sailor, one of six brothers in the armed forces, was today reported missing in action, while the War Department listed a local soldier and one from Westmont also as missing.
Michael Mahoney, 29, son of James Mahoney, of 709 Morgan boulevard, an aviation machinists mate, was reported missing in the South Pacific after an aircraft accident in the performance of his duty. He enlisted four years ago and was at Pearl Harbor when the Japs struck.
A former Camden Catholic High school student, Mahoney played independent football with Camden teams. His wife, Mrs. Anna Dabron Mahoney, lives at 1234 Jackson street.
Among his brothers in service, Charles, 22, is probably best known. As a paratrooper he was twice wounded in the Mediterranean area. One of his recent exploits was the rescue of a companion whose chute failed to open when they both jumped from a plane. Mahoney delayed pulling his own ripcord until he could grab his buddy, and both landed safely with one chute.
Ever ready to grapple with danger, Charles was saved from drowning in Newton creek in 1935, and from the Delaware river in 1938.
Other Mahoneys in the service are: James, 17, in the Navy and stationed at Sampson, N. Y.; William, 20, with the Seabees in the South Pacific; Joseph, with the Army in the Aleutians; and John, 26, in the Army but his whereabouts are unknown. Joseph attended Camden County Vocational school, while Charles is a former Woodrow Wilson High student.
Mass to Be Sung for 12 Dead Heroes
Camden Courier-Post —
Service to Take Place Tomorrow at Church Here
The men include a Bronze Star winner, the late Harold S. McLean, 28, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry McLean, Third and Chapel avenue, Merchantville, who was killed in France in June, 1944. He was awarded the decoration posthumously for meritorious service in combat.
One of the first South Jersey men to die in the war was Cpl. Frederick G. Corbett, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Corbett, 3725 King avenue, Pennsauken. Corbett was captured near Manila by the Japanese on Dec. 8, 1941. He died in an enemy prison camp in July, 1942. His parents recently were visited by Cpl. Herbert Black, Tutwiler, Miss., who was with Frederick at the prison camp and assisted in his burial.
Pvt. George D. Flynn, 36, of 18 South Sussex street, Gloucester, died in June, 1944, of wounds received during action in France after 29 months service.
Edward F. Keenan, 312 Broadway, Gloucester, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Keenan, was killed in Germany during November, 1944.
Pvt. Joseph V. Moore, 25, whose sister, Margaret, lives at 925 Penn street, was drowned in the Panama Canal.
Pvt. William McDonald, 34, son of Michael McDonald, 1110 Marion street, was killed in August, 1945, in France. His mother, Elizabeth, is living in Newfoundland.
Michael F. Mahoney, 30, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Mahoney, 709 Morgan boulevard, was killed on Tarawa when the bomber of which he was a crew member exploded during a take-off. His widow, Anna, lives at 1234 Jackson street.
Daniel Skain, 19, of 3 Troy avenue, Bellmawr, was lost in October, 1944, when his destroyer was torpedoed in the Pacific.
S/Sgt. William Mahoney, 26, son of Mrs. Phillip McDonald, 2244 East Monmouth street, was killed on Luzon in May, 1945.
John Keating, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Keating, 2998 Chatham street, was killed in January, 1945, while serving with the Rainbow Division in France.
Vincent Rotchford, 24, of 2994 Chatham street, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rotchford, was killed while serving with the Army in the Pacific. He was employed at the New York Shipyard.
Cpl. Raymond Welsh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Welsh, 2927 Weikel street, was killed in January, 1945, in Germany.