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Earle Phillips “Red” McGraw (born 1925)

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Earle Phillips "Red" McGraw (born 1925)

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    1941 LHS football squad    		 Placeholder
    1942 LHS junior class
This January 27, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, columns 2-3:
    Earle P. McGraw, son of the Phil McGraws, stationed with the air corps at Santa Ana, Calif., has successfully passed his tests and received his appointment as a navigator, according to word received by his parents last week. He will now take pre-flight training. "Red" wrote that his grandfather, Fred Tanner, and his uncle, Forrest Tanner, both former Lowellites, now living at Santa Monica, Calif., had paid him a visit a few days before.
This Lowell Tribune article was found in the May 11, 1944, issue (page 2, column 2):
    A/C Earle McGraw phoned his parents, the James P. McGraws on Friday that he was being transferred to Kingman, Arizona, where he would attend gunnery school. "Red" said he was feeling fine.
The following June 29, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 3:

    Stops Off Enroute to Texas

    Earle McGraw, A/C, who has been attending aviation school at Kingman, Ariz., arrived home last Friday for a 3-day visit with his parents, the Phil McGraws, and sister, Miss Mildred. He left Sunday for Hondo, Texas, where he will attend navigation school.
The following October 19, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4 column 3:

    Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

    Earle (Red) McGraw, son of the Phillip McGraws, who graduated from navigator's school at Hondo, Texas, last week, received his commission at Second Lieutenant. He arrived home last week-end on furlough before being assigned to duty.
This October 26, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, columns 2-4:

    Wins Silver Wings

    Hondo Army Air Field, Hondo, Texas, Oct. 20 -- A record class of skilled combat navigators won silver wings and AAF commissions this week as this huge navigation airbase of the AAF training command continued its vital program of supplying replacements for America's victorious bomber fleets.

    Members of the new class have absorbed hundreds of hours of instruction, both in the air and in ground classrooms, from veteran navigators who themselves experienced months of rugged combat against the enemy during the earlier days of the war.

    After 16 weeks of intensive training involving 15,000 miles of practice combat flight in twin-engined training craft, these young men are thoroughly qualified to chart long-distance bombing routes for the AAF's B-19's, B-24's, and other big "B's."

    By day or night, in fair or inclement weather, the AAF combat navigator is adept with the tools of navigation. He is trained to arrive over the target with split-second accuracy. The stars, terrain, landmarks, radio beams, and "blind flying" instruments are the all-purpose "skeleton keys" with which he unlocks the doors to Axis nerve centers.

    Among those graduating was 2nd Lt. Earle P. McGraw, 19, son of Mr. Phillip McGraw, Lowell.

This Lowell Tribune article was found in the February 22, 1945, issue (page 2, column 1):
    Lt. Earle (Red) McGraw, bomber navigator, informed his parents, the J.P. McGraws of Lowell, by cablegram Monday, that he had arrived safely in England with his crew, flying their bomber across the Atlantic. He said he was feeling fine after the trip.
This April 5, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    An Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England -- 2nd Lt. Earle P. McGraw, son of Mr. and Mrs. James P. McGraw, Lowell, has joined the veteran 457th Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force, commanded by Col. Harris E. Rogner.
    Lt. McGraw is a navigator of a B-17 Flying Fortress and has spent many months training for the part he will play in the huge daylight precision bombing assaults of the 8th Air Force.
    He is a graduate of Lowell high school, where he took an active part in the sports program as a member of the football and basketball teams
This April 26, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 3:
    A letter received by the C.U. Ragons from their son, Sgt. John [Ragon], stationed with the ground crew of the U.S. air forces in England, says he experienced a pleasant surprise when Lieut. Earle McGraw, navigator with the air corps, walked in on him. The boys spent two days together and really had a fine time talking over happenings in the old home town. John has been in England nearly two years and this is the first person he has met in that time that he knew before entering the service. Earle has been overseas since February and, according to the last letter to his parents, had been on eight missions over Germany. Both boys were well at the time John wrote.
This May 17, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 5, columns 1-2:
    An eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England -- 2nd Lt. Earle P. McGraw, 20-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. James P. McGraw, of Lowell, has been decorated with the Air Medal, it was announced recently by the commmanding general, Eighth Air Force.
    The citation accompanying the award read: "For meritorious achievement while participating as a navigator of a B-17 flying fortress, in sustained bomber combat operations over Germany and Nazi occupied Europe. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by Lieutenant McGraw upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States."
    Prior to his entry into the army air forces on August 20, 1943, he was graduated from Lowell high school, where he took an active part in the sports program as a member of the football and basketball teams.
This June 21, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    Lt. Earl McGraw, navigator on a B-17 bomber, arrived home from overseas duty last Friday, for a 30-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James P. McGraw, and sister, Miss Mildred. "Red," who went overseas last fall, had made 10 missions in the final weeks of the war with Germany, serving as lead navigator for his squadron. He will spend his furlough at home and later report at Camp Atterbury for re-assignment.
This October 4, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:
    Lt. Earl McGraw, stationed with the air corps at San Marcos, Texas, had been here the past week visiting his parents, the Phil McGraws, and his sister Miss Mildred.
This November 15, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:
    Scott Field, Illinois -- After serving more than two years military service, 2nd Lt. Earle P. McGraw, 20, of Lowell, has been honorably discharged from active duty with the army air force at the Separation Base of Scott Field, Ill., parent radio school of the AAF training command. Retaining his rank and commission, he is still subject to recall at any time during the present emergency.
    Lt. McGraw entered the army air forces in August, 1943. He formerly was stationed at San Marcos AAF.
    He spent four months overseas in the European theatre, returning to this country in June, 1945.
    The released officer wears the ETO ribbon with 3 clusters, and Air Medal.
    He is a son of the J.P. McGraws, Lowell. Before he entered the service, he attended Lowell high school.
Last updated on January 18, 2012.

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