William J Cullerton
Military
Personal files
Object Number - UPL 81352 - Captain William J. 'Bill' Cullerton
Assigned to 357FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. Credited with 5 kills and 21 [Ground]. Hit by flak strafing Ansbach A/D baled out near Ansbach on 8-Apr-45 in P-51D 44-64011 'Miss Steve'.
Awards: DSC, SS, DFC (4OLC), AM (8OLC), POW, PH, Croix de Guerre (Palm), WWII Victory, US Campaign, EAME (3 Battle stars), OCC.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 355th Fighter Group 357th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35258302
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Crew Chief
Aircraft
Places
![P-51 Mustangs of the 355th Fighter Group break formation, ready for landing, over the ground support vehicles and control tower of Steeple Morden Airfield. Image signed on reverse with the approval of station censor. Handwritten caption on reverse: '355 FG Steeple Morden, Control Tower, read crew + P41 [sic] group peeling off for landing.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377141.jpg.webp?itok=zxxvSLfB)
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Chicago, IL, USA | 2 June 1923 | |
|
Enlisted |
Chicago, IL | 11 September 1942 | |
|
Based |
Steeple Morden | 12 June 1944 - 8 April 1945 | Assigned to 357FS, 355FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Promotion |
Steeple Morden, UK | 4 August 1944 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
|
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) (1) |
4 November 1944 | Ended First Tour of Duty (ETD). | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
feuchtwagen, Germany | 8 April 1945 - 20 April 1945 | Prisoner of War (POW). Hospitalised after being gut shot and left for dead by SS. |
|
Other Baled out |
Ansbach, Germany | 8 April 1945 | Shot down strafing Ansbach A/D. Engine quit and baled out. Captured by SS and shot in gut, left to die. |
|
Other Evaded Returned (EVD:R) |
Feuchtwangen, Germany | 20 April 1945 | Escaped hospital and evaded re-capture till 12th Armored column passed his hiding place. |
|
Died Promoted |
Downers Grove, IL, USA | 12 January 2013 | |
|
Buried |
Bronswood Cemetery, IL | 15 January 2013 | Bronswood Cemetery Oak Brook, DuPage County, IL |
| Chicago, IL, USA |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/record/527480330-william-j-cullerton
https://www.fold3.com/record/84407492-william-j-cullerton
https://www.fold3.com/image/29436218?terms=William%20Cullerton
http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=106
https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cm…
The Last Dragon of Steeple Morden By John J. Kevil
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120790487/william-j.-cullerton
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166443002/william-j-cullerton
https://www.fold3.com/record/527480330-william-j-cullerton
https://www.fold3.com/record/84407492-william-j-cullerton
https://www.fold3.com/image/29436218?terms=William%20Cullerton
http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=106
https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cm…
The Last Dragon of Steeple Morden By John J. Kevil
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120790487/william-j.-cullerton
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166443002/william-j-cullerton
Added Birth, death & burial info per Find-a-grave MEMORIAL IDs 166443002 & 120790487.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13959 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / The Mighty Eighth by Roger Freeman MACR 13959
