World War II Honoree

Everet A. Coppage

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cripple Creek, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Second Lieutenant. Inducted into the United States Army December 18, 1941 at Denver, Colorado. Upon his graduation from recruit training, he was designated to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. As a graduate of the Aviation Cadet program, he accepted his commission and Bombardier Wings. He served as a B-17 ‘Flying-Fortress’ Bomber Bombardier, assigned to the 327th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomber Group, an element of the U.S. 8th Air Force ‘Mighty Eighth’ Army Air Forces. His unit was based at the Podington Royal Air Force Station Location: Bedfordshire, England. Saturday, April 17, 1943 he was killed in action, when his bomber was shot down by German Fighters, crashing near Hassel, Germany. His Bomber group was participating in a bomb run to the ball bearing factory Location: Schweinfurt, Germany. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the Neuville-en-Condroz Battlefield Cemetery, Liege, Belgium. In the post-war era, this Airman’s family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Ardennes American Cemetery Location: Neupre (Neuville-en-Condroz), Belgium. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal and the Purple Heart. The Air Medal was awarded to the Lieutenant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and the Purple Heart for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.