World War II Honoree

William H. Copeland

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Louis, Missouri

Honored By

Alex William Moore

Relationship

Grandson

JOINED THE ARMY AIR FORCE 2/12/43; TRAINED AS A PILOT OF B-17 AND B-29 AIRCRAFT; BECAME A CELESTIAL NAVIGATOR USING BOTH RADAR AND STARS TO GUIDE PLANES. SENT TO THE PACIFIC ON 5/7/45 EVENTUALLY FLYING MISSIONS OUT OF TINIAN. FLEW 18 BOMBING MISSIONS OVER JAPAN AND 3 SEA RESCUE MISSIONS ALONG THE COAST OF JAPAN. JAPAN SURRENDERED ON 9/2/45. THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE ON THE BATTLESHIP USS MISSOURI IN TOKYO BAY. HE AND HIS CREW WERE ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF U.S. PLANES FLYING OVER TOKYO THAT DAY. HE RETURNED HOME TO SCOTT AIR FIELD ON 12/11/45.