THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MAy 9, 2025 Page 3 The legacy of Lt. Phillip McCullough remembering a late World War ii hero from Saugus 50 By Janice K. Jarosz Y oung Ph illip Mc - Cullough, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. McCullough, was born in Saugus, Mass., on May 26, 1916, at 137 Main Street. He attended local elementary schools, graduated from Saugus High School in 1941 and enrolled in college. Shortly after he learned of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he left school and on January 14, 1942, enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet. He then went on to become a pilot of the famous fighter P-47, Thunderbolt. During his career First Lieutenant McCullough engaged in a number of dogfights around a crippled U.S. Fortress plane and downed planes when they attacked it. Lt. Cullough stated: “The Fort was staggering along, out of formation and down pretty low when the Jerries attacked it. My wingman and I dropped them from above and had dogfights all around the Fort. I got two and my wingman got one and we were able to drive the others away.” In 1944, his commanding officer awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross medal at an air base in England for his flights over enemy territory, according to an announcement from Major General Will E. Kepner, Command General of the Eighth Fighter Command. McCullough was a veteran of many air missions and was awarded a Medal for “meritorious service” in aerial flights and the completion of 10 operational sorties over enemy-occupied Europe. A former General Electric employee and member of the G.E. Flying Club, he was a pilot before entering the Army Air Force, having 95 solo hours to his credit. On March 20, 1944, the War Department notified his parA VETERAN OF MANY AIR MISSIONS: Saugus native Phillip McCullough was a highly decorated fighter pilot during World War II. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) ents that Phillip was missing in action. Ironically, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry in action just three days before he was reported missing. (He sent a letter to his parents three months later.) Here’s a report from Senior American Officer Darr H. Alkire, dated April 2, 1948, on Lt. Phillip E. McCullough, which was sent to the War Department. “To Whom it May Concern: “I met with Lt. Phillip E. McCullough, USAAF at a German POW interrogation center at Frankfurt, Germany April of 1944. I was with him constantly from that time until we were liberated at Stalag VII, [Moosburg] Germany on April 29, 1945. “When I first met him, he was in poor condition as a direct result of imprisonment in Belgium, where he had been kept in solitary confinement for a protracted period. That meant starvation and unbelievably filthy living conditions. “From Frankfurt we were transferred to Stalag III, Sagan Germany on April 27, 1944. There, conditions at the camp grew steadily worse. By December 1944, we were on quarter rations, terribly overcrowded and with little or no heat, despite the bitter cold. “Lt. McCullough soon developed a severe chest cold and was bedridden for weeks. He occupied the bunk above mine, and I can personally attest to the facts that he was a very sick man. Because of the approaching Russian armies, we were forced to evacuate the camp in January of 1945. Still sick, he collapsed on the march and was taken to the REMEMBERING | SEE PAGE 4 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $11.00 Price includes Roller Skates 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required Private Parties Private Parties 4-8 p.m. $10.00 8:30-11 p.m. $11. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required 12-9 p.m. $10.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com
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