James W. Cullinan, 28, Binghamton boy, recorded the last chapter of his life as chief mechanist's mate aboard the Shenandoah, the giant naval dirigible, which crashed to earth near Cambridge, Ohio, early Thursday morning during a
terrific electric storm. His death ended a career of many thrilling experiences and narrow escapes while in the naval air service.
He enlisted at the Binghamton recruiting station in 1917, serving during the World War and retaining his connection until the time of his death. Practically all of the time he had been associated with crews' building and manning dirigibles.
Last summer, he obtained a leave of absence and came to Binghamton with his wife and daughter, Sadie, five. He passed an examination for a job as motor vehicle inspector from the Syracuse office. But life as an inspector was too tame for
Cullinan.
"I want to get up in the air," he said. "I want the thrills that go with the dirigible. This inspector's life is too dull for me."
So, last June, he returned to the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, N.J. His leave of absence had expired and he was granted permission to return to the crew of the Shenandoah. He made his home at Beachwood, N.J., not far from the spot where the
Shenandoah awaited its next flight. His wife and daughter are now at Beachwood.