World War II Honoree

Delbert B. Coulter

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942. SERVED AS AN AERIAL ENGINEER-TOP TURRET GUNNER ON B-24 'LIBERATOR' BOMBERS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 448TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 8TH AIR FORCE STATIONED IN ENGLAND. PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR OFFENSIVE-EUROPE CAMPAIGN. AS AN AERIAL ENGINEER, CHECKED THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE FLIGHT; MADE REPAIRS AND ADJUSTMENTS IN FLIGHT TO CORRECT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS; AND ASSISTED THE CO-PILOT OPERATE FLIGHT CONTROLS, POWER PLANT COMPONENTS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. ALSO SERVED AS AN AERIAL GUNNER WHEN UNDER ATTACK. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BY GERMAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY FIRE AS IT FLEW OVER BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, ON THE RETURN FLIGHT FROM A BOMBING MISSION OVER GOTHE, GERMANY. THE PLANE LOST 2 OF 4 ENGINES, CAUGHT FIRE AND STRUGGLED TO STAY IN THE AIR. WOUNDED IN ACTION BY SHRAPNEL FROM ENEMY FLAK AND BURNED BY FLAMES FROM ON-BOARD FIRES, HE AND OTHER CREW MEMBERS SCRAMBLED TO BAIL OUT OF THE BURNING AIRCRAFT. FIVE OF THE 10 CREW MEMBERS SURVIVED THE DAY. AFTER SUCCESSFULLY BAILING OUT, HE LANDED AND WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN AS A PRISONER OF WAR (POW) BY WAITING GERMAN TROOPS. HE SPENT THE NEXT 14 MONTHS AS A POW AND WAS REPATRIATED AT THE END OF THE WAR. IRONICALLY, HE HAD EXCHANGED PARACHUTES WITH ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CREW PRIOR TO TAKING OFF EARLIER THAT MORNING; THAT AIRMAN'S CHUTE FAILED TO OPEN AFTER HE BAILED OUT. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, AIR MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.