World War II Honoree

William Lindsay 'Gup' Gupton, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fort Worth, Texas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

VOLUNTARILY ENLISTED IN THE RESERVE CORPS AUGUST 10, 1942. REPORTED FOR INDUCTION AND ENTRY ON ACTIVE DUTY AT DALLAS, TEXAS AS AN AVIATION CADET MARCH 22, 1943. SERVED INITIALLY IN THE AMERICAN THEATER. REPORTED TO SANTA ANA ARMY BASE, CALIFORNIA FOR INITIAL TRAINING. THEN TRAINED AT ARMY TECHNICAL SCHOOL AT ARMY AIRFIELD SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA IN MAY, 1943; AND ATTENDED RADIO-GUNNERY SCHOOL AT YUMA ARMY AIR BASE, ARIZONA IN NOVEMBER, 1943. RECEIVED FURTHER TRAINING AT BARKSDALE FIELD, SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA IN DECEMBER, 1943. THEN REPORTED TO 3RD AIR FORCE, 55TH WING, 335TH GROUP, 476TH SQUADRON. SUBSEQUENTLY SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER. BEGAN OVERSEAS SERVICE MAY 1, 1944 WITH ASSIGNMENTS IN BRAZIL AND NORTH AFRICA. ARRIVED SARDINIA JUNE 2, 1944 AND FLEW B-26 (MARAUDER BOMBER) MISSIONS OVER THE PO VALLEY IN ITALY. ARRIVED CORSICA NOVEMBER 26, 1944 AND FLEW B-25 (MITCHELL BOMBER) MISSIONS OVER ITALY. RETURNED TO THE USA JANUARY 25, 1945 FOR SERVICE AT BRADLEY FIELD, CONNECTICUT. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL DECEMBER 2, 1944; HIS UNIT, 319TH BOMB GROUP AWARDED TWO PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS, JUNE 23, 1944; HE AND HIS UNIT CITED AUGUST 8, 1944 BY GENERAL CHARLES DE GAULLE, PRESIDENT OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC WITH THE CROIX DE GUERRE AVEC PALME. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT SEPTEMBER 20, 1945 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS.