mndoss Posted August 21, 2019 Share #1 Posted August 21, 2019 I recently acquired this uniform grouping belonging to 1stLt William Patrick Cullen who flew C-47s and C-46s for the 29th Troop Carrier Squadron. The grouping is in overall great shaped. The Ike jacket and trousers are named to him. If I’m not mistaken the jacket is British made. I need to get a crusher cap and some wings and ribbons to complete it. In doing some research on him I found the below listed articles from the Dayton Daily News, one of which has a video interview with him! The articles state that he flew during Operation Varsity. The seller I got this from had his four pocket tunic also listed for sale but I didn’t get that one. That one had his ribbons on it has well as a Distinguished Unit Citation with oak leaf. Assuming those are correct to his uniform that means he flew during Operation Husky and Overlord, the only two operations the 29th Troop Carrier Squadron received the DUC for. The other jacket had ribbons for an Air Medal, American Campaign Medal, EAME Theater Medal, and WWII Victory Medal. I’ll be doing more research when I get the time as well as reaching out to Golden Arrow Research to see what NARA has, assuming anything of his survived the fire. Any other help would be appreciated also!https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local-military/ohioans-played-key-roles-wwii-battles/XhjAIszp8b05FolpbkJdnK/https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/area-veterans-who-have-inspired-with-their-experiences/POBgF30hr33Q2Hhm6JuOeM/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mndoss Posted August 21, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted August 21, 2019 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mndoss Posted August 21, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted August 21, 2019 Copies of two photos of him that came with the uniform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted August 21, 2019 Share #4 Posted August 21, 2019 I was watching the uniform your referring to. The guy that bought the coat of his may sell it to you if you want it? I didn't see him post this uniform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted August 21, 2019 Share #5 Posted August 21, 2019 To bad it got split up, hopefully it will get reunited. Awesome group Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mndoss Posted August 22, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted August 22, 2019 Yeah, it was sad to see everything get split up. I'm not a fan when sellers do that, though usually they can make more money that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mndoss Posted August 22, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted August 22, 2019 I was watching the uniform your referring to. The guy that bought the coat of his may sell it to you if you want it? I didn't see him post this uniform. I might be interested in purchasing the coat. I saw it on a site after it had sold when I was doing some research on Lt. Cullen. Send me a PM on the details and I'll let you know if I'm interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightdriver Posted August 29, 2019 Share #8 Posted August 29, 2019 I have Patrick Cullen, as flying as a Co- Pilot on Operation Varsity. Chalk32 Curtiss Commando 44-77586. This aircraft returned from taking part in Op Varsity with just a small hole in the right flap and aileron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted August 29, 2019 Share #9 Posted August 29, 2019 I have Patrick Cullen, as flying as a Co- Pilot on Operation Varsity. Chalk32 Curtiss Commando 44-77586. This aircraft returned from taking part in Op Varsity with just a small hole in the right flap and aileron. I'm curious, is that the only mission he flew? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightdriver Posted August 30, 2019 Share #10 Posted August 30, 2019 From looking at the records I have it looks that Operation Varsity was the only combat operation Patrick Cullen took part in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mndoss Posted December 18, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted December 18, 2019 I received from Geoff at Golden Arrow Research the file on Lt Cullen a little while ago and am finally now getting around to posting some pics of it here. I got lucky on this one as it survived the fire. All in all there were 311 pages of documents! Using these I was able to restore his uniform with the appropriate ribbons he rated. It was interesting reading through it. Lt Cullen started off training to be a fighter pilot but failed out of that. Instead he was transferred to twin-engine training where he served in an operation capacity overseas. He was also qualified as a glider pilot! Here are his DD-214, Air Medal award, and Separation Qualification Record. Sorry for all of the small pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mndoss Posted December 18, 2019 Author Share #12 Posted December 18, 2019 Here is his glider pilot certification and the paperwork from the board disqualifying him from fighter training due to poor fighter gunnery skills. It's good to see that he still ended up getting his pilot's wings in the end and was able to fly, even if it was C-47s and C-46s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mndoss Posted December 18, 2019 Author Share #13 Posted December 18, 2019 Finally here is some more paperwork. This was from after he was transferred to the USAF Reserves after the war and when it became an independent service. One interesting thing about these documents are that they list him receiving the American Campaign Medal, which was not originally on his DD-214 when he was discharged from active duty after the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishLegion Posted January 29, 2020 Share #14 Posted January 29, 2020 Great uniform! Glad you were able to find period documents to help with your research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted January 29, 2020 Share #15 Posted January 29, 2020 Very nice! The document copies add a ton to the historical value of your uniform. Geoff did a great job there! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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