World War II Honoree

Paul Michael Costello

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Fort Madison, Iowa

Honored By

P. L. Costello

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED JANUARY 1942 AND COMPLETED INITIAL TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION. THEN COMPLETED FOUR MONTHS TRAINING IN RADIO THEORY, RADIO PROCEDURE AND CODE ABOARD THE USS DESPATCH, A CRUISER, AT YERBA BUENA ISLAND IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY, CALIFORNIA. JANUARY 1943 TO SEPTEMBER 1944, SERVED AS RADIOMAN-TAIL GUNNER, FLYING SBD-4 DAUNTLESS AND OS2N KINGFISHER AIRCRAFT IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC FROM EFATE, NEW HEBRIDES (VANUATU). MISSIONS INCLUDED SUBMARINE PATROLS, AIR COVER FOR SHIPS AT SEA AND INTERCEPTION OF JAPANESE RADIO MESSAGES. RADAR FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AT NAVAL AIR STATION CECIL FIELD, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA FROM OCTOBER 1944 UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1945.