Colgan family letters


Descriptive Summary
Title: Colgan family letters
Creator: Colgan, William B.
Creator: Colgan, Jack
Inclusive Dates: 1942-1946
Language(s): English
Extent: 2 folder(s)
Collection Number: ms3150
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

William B. "Bill" Colgan (1920- ), native of Waycross, Georgia. A career officer with the U.S. Air Force, his last assignment before retiring as a Colonel was as Commander, 326th Air Division in Hawaii.

For more information, see the article Col. William B. Colgan in the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame website.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of letters written by brothers Bill and Jack Colgan to their family in Waycross, Georgia, 1942-1946. The majority of the letters (written by Bill) are addressed to Mrs. W. W. Phillips, and begin in San Antonio, Texas where Bill was in pre-flight school. Bill mentions schooling, physical training, meals, sports, entertainment, types of planes, and the details of his daily life as a soldier. A letter dated May 17, 1945 gives some information about his career as a fighter-bomber pilot in the 79th Fighter Group, 87th Squadron and the 86th Fighter Group, 525th Fighter Squadron, and ends the letter with "P.S. Only 3 of the 1000 guys made it." Jack Colgan wrote from Fort McPherson (Atlanta, GA) and Abilene, Texas.