World War II Honoree

William Lee Cupp

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tipton, Iowa

Honored By

William L. Cupp

Relationship

Self

ENLISTED JULY 1942. CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY, JANUARY 1943. TRAINING ENDED WITH BEING ASSIGNED AS BALL TURRET GUNNER ON B-24 BOMBER. ARRIVED AT 493RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP AIR BASE AT DEBACH, ENGLAND IN MAY 1944. FIRST MISSION ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944. THIRD MISSION ON JUNE 14, 1944. PLANE SHOT DOWN OVER BELGIUM. AFTER EVADING FOR 11 WEEKS, WAS CAPTURED BY GERMANS ON AUGUST 29, 1944 AT PONTOISE, NEAR PARIS. AFTER 3 WEEKS ON A TRUCK WITH RETREATING GERMAN SOLDIERS, PLUS ONE WEEK OF INTERROGATION AND PROCESSING, ARRIVED AT STALAG LUFT IV ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1944. IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM BEING LIBERATED BY RUSSIANS, THE GERMANS MARCHED THE ENTIRE CAMP WEST FOR 500 MILES FROM FEBRUARY 6 TO APRIL 26, 1945, THE DAY HE WAS LIBERATED AT BITTERFELD, GERMANY.