Robert C. Calef,
Aviation Pioneer
Arlington national Cemetery will be the last resting place, Wednesday, of Robert C. Calef, 77, RR 2, New Richmond, one of America's military aviation pioneers and son of a man credited with firing the first Union gun at Gettysburg. Mr. Calef, ill only three days, died Friday in Deaconess Hospital.
Mr. Calef's father (uncle), Maj. Gen. John H. Calef, USA, is buried at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. As a young lieutenant, members of his family said , he was credited in writings of Bruce Catton, historian, with issuing the command fire which opened the action at Gettysburg.
Mr. Calef, who qualified as a military aviator in the aeronautical division of the Army Signal Corps in 1915, served as an instructor in Spads and Nieuports at two fields in Texas during World War 1. after the war, he engaged in barnstorming, interrupting this for a time about 1920, to assist in development and flight testing of a plane designed by an Episcopal minister named Christmas at Houston - a plane that gained fair prominence at the time as the "Christmas Bullet."
Mr. Calef returned to uniform and the cockpit to fly again in World war II in the European Theater where two sons, Richard and Robert C. Jr. also were flying. Richard was to survive and eventually to serve as personal pilot to General Mark Clark. Robert was killed over Bremerhaven, Germany, while flying a B-17 on his 35th bombing mission - after receiving orders, his family said Saturday, to return to the United States.
Following separation from World War II service, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, the elder Mr. Calef engaged in the general contracting business from which he retired in 1954.
Besides his son, Richard, who resides at 1433 Wolfangle Rd., Mr. Calef is survived by his wife, Mrs. Winifred Calef; a brother John, Cambridge, N.Y., a sister Miss Margaret Calef, East Orange, N.J., and a grand-daughter.
Arrangements are in charge of the George H. Rhode Memorial Funeral Home, Mt. Washington.
There will be no visitation.
Certificate of Service documents indicated Major Calef earned the European-African-Middle eastern Service Medal
Note: Major John Haskell Calef was Robert Chamber Calef's uncle, not father as the obituary states.
New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ3Z-X3J : 14 February 2020), Robert Calif, 1889.
Name Robert Calif
Sex Male
Christening Date 19 May 1889
Christening Place Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Christening Place (Original) Our Lady of The Valley-Catholic, Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Birth Date 12 Apr 1889
Father's Name Benjamin H. Calif
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Mary Ann Chambers
Mother's Sex Female
Event Type Christening
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Robert Calef
Age: 11
Birth Date: Apr 1889
Birthplace: New Jersey, USA
Home in 1900: East Orange Ward 3, Essex, New Jersey
Ward of City: 3
Street: Halsted Street
House Number: 43
Sheet Number: 8
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 122
Family Number: 161
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Benjamin H Calef
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts, USA
Mother's Name: Mary C Calef
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio, USA
Occupation: At School
Attended School: 10
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship
Benjamin H Calef
45 Head
Mary C Calef
39 Wife
Margaret Calef
12 Daughter
Robert Calef 11 Son
John Calef
6 Son
Lottie Vailes
40 Servant
Aviation Pioneer
Arlington national Cemetery will be the last resting place, Wednesday, of Robert C. Calef, 77, RR 2, New Richmond, one of America's military aviation pioneers and son of a man credited with firing the first Union gun at Gettysburg. Mr. Calef, ill only three days, died Friday in Deaconess Hospital.
Mr. Calef's father (uncle), Maj. Gen. John H. Calef, USA, is buried at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. As a young lieutenant, members of his family said , he was credited in writings of Bruce Catton, historian, with issuing the command fire which opened the action at Gettysburg.
Mr. Calef, who qualified as a military aviator in the aeronautical division of the Army Signal Corps in 1915, served as an instructor in Spads and Nieuports at two fields in Texas during World War 1. after the war, he engaged in barnstorming, interrupting this for a time about 1920, to assist in development and flight testing of a plane designed by an Episcopal minister named Christmas at Houston - a plane that gained fair prominence at the time as the "Christmas Bullet."
Mr. Calef returned to uniform and the cockpit to fly again in World war II in the European Theater where two sons, Richard and Robert C. Jr. also were flying. Richard was to survive and eventually to serve as personal pilot to General Mark Clark. Robert was killed over Bremerhaven, Germany, while flying a B-17 on his 35th bombing mission - after receiving orders, his family said Saturday, to return to the United States.
Following separation from World War II service, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, the elder Mr. Calef engaged in the general contracting business from which he retired in 1954.
Besides his son, Richard, who resides at 1433 Wolfangle Rd., Mr. Calef is survived by his wife, Mrs. Winifred Calef; a brother John, Cambridge, N.Y., a sister Miss Margaret Calef, East Orange, N.J., and a grand-daughter.
Arrangements are in charge of the George H. Rhode Memorial Funeral Home, Mt. Washington.
There will be no visitation.
Certificate of Service documents indicated Major Calef earned the European-African-Middle eastern Service Medal
Note: Major John Haskell Calef was Robert Chamber Calef's uncle, not father as the obituary states.
New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ3Z-X3J : 14 February 2020), Robert Calif, 1889.
Name Robert Calif
Sex Male
Christening Date 19 May 1889
Christening Place Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Christening Place (Original) Our Lady of The Valley-Catholic, Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Birth Date 12 Apr 1889
Father's Name Benjamin H. Calif
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Mary Ann Chambers
Mother's Sex Female
Event Type Christening
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Robert Calef
Age: 11
Birth Date: Apr 1889
Birthplace: New Jersey, USA
Home in 1900: East Orange Ward 3, Essex, New Jersey
Ward of City: 3
Street: Halsted Street
House Number: 43
Sheet Number: 8
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 122
Family Number: 161
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Benjamin H Calef
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts, USA
Mother's Name: Mary C Calef
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio, USA
Occupation: At School
Attended School: 10
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship
Benjamin H Calef
45 Head
Mary C Calef
39 Wife
Margaret Calef
12 Daughter
Robert Calef 11 Son
John Calef
6 Son
Lottie Vailes
40 Servant
Robert C. Calef,
Aviation Pioneer
Arlington national Cemetery will be the last resting place, Wednesday, of Robert C. Calef, 77, RR 2, New Richmond, one of America's military aviation pioneers and son of a man credited with firing the first Union gun at Gettysburg. Mr. Calef, ill only three days, died Friday in Deaconess Hospital.
Mr. Calef's father (uncle), Maj. Gen. John H. Calef, USA, is buried at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. As a young lieutenant, members of his family said , he was credited in writings of Bruce Catton, historian, with issuing the command fire which opened the action at Gettysburg.
Mr. Calef, who qualified as a military aviator in the aeronautical division of the Army Signal Corps in 1915, served as an instructor in Spads and Nieuports at two fields in Texas during World War 1. after the war, he engaged in barnstorming, interrupting this for a time about 1920, to assist in development and flight testing of a plane designed by an Episcopal minister named Christmas at Houston - a plane that gained fair prominence at the time as the "Christmas Bullet."
Mr. Calef returned to uniform and the cockpit to fly again in World war II in the European Theater where two sons, Richard and Robert C. Jr. also were flying. Richard was to survive and eventually to serve as personal pilot to General Mark Clark. Robert was killed over Bremerhaven, Germany, while flying a B-17 on his 35th bombing mission - after receiving orders, his family said Saturday, to return to the United States.
Following separation from World War II service, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, the elder Mr. Calef engaged in the general contracting business from which he retired in 1954.
Besides his son, Richard, who resides at 1433 Wolfangle Rd., Mr. Calef is survived by his wife, Mrs. Winifred Calef; a brother John, Cambridge, N.Y., a sister Miss Margaret Calef, East Orange, N.J., and a grand-daughter.
Arrangements are in charge of the George H. Rhode Memorial Funeral Home, Mt. Washington.
There will be no visitation.
Certificate of Service documents indicated Major Calef earned the European-African-Middle eastern Service Medal
Note: Major John Haskell Calef was Robert Chamber Calef's uncle, not father as the obituary states.
New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ3Z-X3J : 14 February 2020), Robert Calif, 1889.
Name Robert Calif
Sex Male
Christening Date 19 May 1889
Christening Place Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Christening Place (Original) Our Lady of The Valley-Catholic, Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Birth Date 12 Apr 1889
Father's Name Benjamin H. Calif
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Mary Ann Chambers
Mother's Sex Female
Event Type Christening
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Robert Calef
Age: 11
Birth Date: Apr 1889
Birthplace: New Jersey, USA
Home in 1900: East Orange Ward 3, Essex, New Jersey
Ward of City: 3
Street: Halsted Street
House Number: 43
Sheet Number: 8
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 122
Family Number: 161
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Benjamin H Calef
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts, USA
Mother's Name: Mary C Calef
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio, USA
Occupation: At School
Attended School: 10
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship
Benjamin H Calef
45 Head
Mary C Calef
39 Wife
Margaret Calef
12 Daughter
Robert Calef 11 Son
John Calef
6 Son
Lottie Vailes
40 Servant
Aviation Pioneer
Arlington national Cemetery will be the last resting place, Wednesday, of Robert C. Calef, 77, RR 2, New Richmond, one of America's military aviation pioneers and son of a man credited with firing the first Union gun at Gettysburg. Mr. Calef, ill only three days, died Friday in Deaconess Hospital.
Mr. Calef's father (uncle), Maj. Gen. John H. Calef, USA, is buried at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. As a young lieutenant, members of his family said , he was credited in writings of Bruce Catton, historian, with issuing the command fire which opened the action at Gettysburg.
Mr. Calef, who qualified as a military aviator in the aeronautical division of the Army Signal Corps in 1915, served as an instructor in Spads and Nieuports at two fields in Texas during World War 1. after the war, he engaged in barnstorming, interrupting this for a time about 1920, to assist in development and flight testing of a plane designed by an Episcopal minister named Christmas at Houston - a plane that gained fair prominence at the time as the "Christmas Bullet."
Mr. Calef returned to uniform and the cockpit to fly again in World war II in the European Theater where two sons, Richard and Robert C. Jr. also were flying. Richard was to survive and eventually to serve as personal pilot to General Mark Clark. Robert was killed over Bremerhaven, Germany, while flying a B-17 on his 35th bombing mission - after receiving orders, his family said Saturday, to return to the United States.
Following separation from World War II service, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, the elder Mr. Calef engaged in the general contracting business from which he retired in 1954.
Besides his son, Richard, who resides at 1433 Wolfangle Rd., Mr. Calef is survived by his wife, Mrs. Winifred Calef; a brother John, Cambridge, N.Y., a sister Miss Margaret Calef, East Orange, N.J., and a grand-daughter.
Arrangements are in charge of the George H. Rhode Memorial Funeral Home, Mt. Washington.
There will be no visitation.
Certificate of Service documents indicated Major Calef earned the European-African-Middle eastern Service Medal
Note: Major John Haskell Calef was Robert Chamber Calef's uncle, not father as the obituary states.
New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ3Z-X3J : 14 February 2020), Robert Calif, 1889.
Name Robert Calif
Sex Male
Christening Date 19 May 1889
Christening Place Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Christening Place (Original) Our Lady of The Valley-Catholic, Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States
Birth Date 12 Apr 1889
Father's Name Benjamin H. Calif
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Mary Ann Chambers
Mother's Sex Female
Event Type Christening
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Robert Calef
Age: 11
Birth Date: Apr 1889
Birthplace: New Jersey, USA
Home in 1900: East Orange Ward 3, Essex, New Jersey
Ward of City: 3
Street: Halsted Street
House Number: 43
Sheet Number: 8
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 122
Family Number: 161
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Benjamin H Calef
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts, USA
Mother's Name: Mary C Calef
Mother's Birthplace: Ohio, USA
Occupation: At School
Attended School: 10
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members Age Relationship
Benjamin H Calef
45 Head
Mary C Calef
39 Wife
Margaret Calef
12 Daughter
Robert Calef 11 Son
John Calef
6 Son
Lottie Vailes
40 Servant
Inscription
Lieutenant Colonel
U.S. Air Force
World War I & II
Gravesite Details
LT COL MAJ US ARMY
