Douglas Mulcahy was born on January 16, 1918, in New York City. After attending Denison University and Carnegie Institute of Technology, he entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Navy on October 11, 1940, and was commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator on June 3, 1941. His first assignment was as a flight instructor with VN-3 at NAS Pensacola, Florida, from August 1941 to September 1943, followed by service as an F6F Hellcat pilot with VF-51 from September 1943 to January 1944. Lt Mulcahy next served as an F6F pilot with VF-31 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Cabot (CVL-28) from January to November 1944, and during this time he was credited with the destruction of 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 damaged in the air. After returning to the United States, he served with VF-95 before leaving active duty and joining the Naval Reserve on August 13, 1946. CDR Mulcahy remained in the reserves and served as Commanding Officer of VF-51E at NAS Floyd Bennett Field, New York, from August 1946 to September 1947, and then as Commanding Officer of VF-95A at NAS New York from September 1947 to September 1948. His next assignment was as Air Group Commander for CVG-95 at NAS New York from October 1948 to July 1949, and then as Commanding Officer of VF-841 at NAS New York from July 1949 until his retirement from the Naval Reserve on March 1, 1956. Douglas Mulcahy died on November 17, 1999.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron THIRTY-ONE, attached to the U.S.S. CABOT, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, September 21, 1944. Skilled and aggressive in combat, Lieutenant (then Lieutenant, Junior Grade) Mulcahy boldly led his division in the first fighter sweep against an important enemy-held airfield. Encountering a formation of five enemy planes, he attacked fearlessly and with deadly accuracy to shoot down three of them without damage to his own plane. Fighting his plane with skill and courage, he damaged and drove another enemy off the tail of one of our own planes and assisted in shooting down a fifth hostile plane. His expert airmanship, inspiring leadership and conscientious devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.