Long, Grady M.

Leroy "Sully" Sullivan was a University of Chattanooga student who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941 and was killed in action in 1943. He quickly rose to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and was a commanding officer of his squadron during a portion of his time in Africa. He was the only American member of the Punjab Squadron. He was killed after his plane malfunctioned at takeoff on the runway of the Martlesham Heath Airdrome near Ipswich, Suffolk England on November 7, 1943 and was laid to rest in the Brookwood cemetery near London in the Canadian section. He was a month shy of his 22nd birthday. His collection includes several letters to a friend and 3 diaries. The diaries and letters detail his enlistment with the RCAF and his subsequent years in service. Much of the material is about military life (very little on military action) and most especially the many ways that he and his fellow soldiers found to occupy their free time.

Author and librarian at University of Chattanooga.