William T. Kopp
Bill Kopp BombGp: 344 Squadron: 495 Years: 3 yrs. 5 mos. Sgt. Kopp, a charter member of the 344 B.G., was a power turret -gun sight specialist & substitute gunner, assigned to the armament division. He flew in the early B26A’s at Homestead & Tampa bases, Florida during the early 1942. One a day in the ‘bay saga. He participated in all of the six European campaigns, namely the Air Offensive Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes Offensive & Central Europe. From Feb. 4 to Oct. ’45, he was stationed at Stansted, England; Cormeilles, France; Florennes/Juzaine, Belgium and Schleissheim, Germany.
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Date: 8/26/2002
Time: 9:35:43 PM
Bill Kopp BombGp: 344 Squadron: 495 Years: 3yrs 5mos. This is actually Bill Kopp’s daughter writing. My dad passed away just 5 months ago. He spoke so proudly of the years he served w/ “Sexy Sal”… or was it “Sexy Sal II”? My mother, brothers and I cherished his stories. I know that Bill Royal of his Squad was asking for him – it’s a shame, Bill, that you missed each other – I’m sure he would have loved to have talked to you.
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Date: 4/30/2002
Time: 11:53:20 AM
Bill Royal BombGp: 344 Squadron: 495 Years: 1942-1945 Location: Buckley Field, Colo.10-42. I was reading from the www.b26.com guestbook the other day and ran across the name of an old buddy from away back. Bill Kopp. I could tell many stories about Bill, but the one that I cherish the most is the time that he and I chipped in seven pounds apiece and bought an ancient English moyorcycle to use as transportation from the squadron area to the flight line. We wore that thing out thru England and France but I can’remember if it ever made it to Belgium. Bill, if you get to see this, I will be in Reading, Pa. June 7,8.9, for the Mid-Atlantic War Museum Weekend.
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Date: 5/27/2002
Time: 4:42:35 PM
Bill Royal BombGp: 344 Squadron: 495 Years: 42-45. Mike—I was browsing today to see what I could find and brought up b26.com/photo and saw a picture of the plane which I was the assigned armorer. The name of the plane was “Shopworn Angel”. The nose art was done by George Hoagland of the armament dept at the request of the assigned pilot, Henry Woodrum who, at the time of this picture, was on leave in London. The pilot of the 26 at the time this picture was taken was Lucius Clay who was, I believe , a captain at the time.It is hard to believe that the plane would be repaired and go on to fly several more missions before being shot down with Lt. Woodrum and his crew. I know that Woody was saved by the French and eventually made it back to Stansted. I never heard what happened to the rest of the guys.
