William L. McCulloh

William L. McCulloh, born in 1922 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He experienced a challenging upbringing that shaped his character and life path. At the age of 19, McCulloh lost his mother to illness, a traumatic event that motivated him to enlist in the military. This decision led him to a distinguished career as a Navigator in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, and later, to a successful career as an engineer.

McCulloh’s journey into the military began in 1942, when he initially joined the U.S. Signal Corps. However, after meeting with Army Air Forces recruiters, he transferred to the US Army Air Force and began the extensive training necessary for his new role. His training took him to several locations across the United States: from Camp Crowder, Missouri, where he began his service, to Laredo Army Airfield for Gunnery School, then Ellington Field in Houston Texas for Pre-flight and Navigator School, then B-17 Transition Training in Alexandria, Virginia, and to Clam Beach, California, where he tested for a variety of roles, including bomber, navigator, and pilot. Ultimately, his commander assigned him to the position of Navigator.

At gunnery school training in Laredo, Texas, McCulloh honed his marksmanship skills. At Ellington Field in Texas, he learned how to navigate without visual references, a crucial skill for flying into hostile territory. Further training in Alexandria, Virginia, prepared him for his eventual deployment with a B-17 bomber crew.

By 1945, McCulloh was deployed to England with his B-17 unit, having spent three years in training. He and his comrades felt well-prepared for the challenges ahead, even though they were aware that many of their peers had already experienced some of harshest bombing missions of the war.

The base in England provided McCulloh and his unit with relatively comfortable living conditions compared to those faced by other troops. They lived in Quonset huts, with up to twelve men per hut. The huts had potbelly stoves for heat and cooking. The soldiers would often spend their downtime riding bikes into town, visiting bars, and socializing with local women. The British civilians were warm and welcoming, frequently inviting them into their homes for meals.

Despite these moments of comfort, McCulloh and his fellow airmen knew that their missions could take them directly into danger. Their duties involved flying over German-occupied Europe to target critical infrastructure such as tankers, oil refineries, aircraft factories, and even a castle. The missions were grueling, with each lasting up to eight hours—four hours to reach the target and another four to return to base.

The German air force had been largely defeated by the time McCulloh’s unit began their missions, but anti-aircraft fire was still a significant threat. The constant danger, coupled with extreme cold (often 30 degrees below zero), created difficult and life-threatening conditions. McCulloh recalled the terror of watching one of his fellow crew members’ aircraft explode in midair—a memory that stayed with him for the rest of his life.

On the day of a mission, the B-17 crew would wake up at 3 a.m. for breakfast, followed by a briefing from their commander outlining the mission plan. After receiving additional details, including maps and weather reports, the crew would prepare to depart by dawn. Each crewmember had specific duties to ensure smooth communication and operations during the flight.

In preparation for their dangerous missions, McCulloh and his comrades wore a variety of protective gear: a flight helmet, suit, steel protection, heated flight suits for the high-altitude cold temperatures, oxygen masks, and emergency escape kits. They would also pack chocolate bars as a quick source of energy for the long hours in the air.

Despite the hardships, McCulloh remained positive, often praying for survival before each mission. He explained that while explosions were rare, they were always a possibility, and there were constant worries about malfunctioning equipment—particularly oxygen masks, which often failed in the freezing conditions, leading to frostbite.

McCulloh’s final mission came in late April 1945. Afterward, his unit flew over Germany to assess the damage caused by the bombings, and to help liberate prisoners of war. The destruction was overwhelming, and McCulloh recalled being shocked by the scale of the devastation. The prisoners, mostly British and a few Americans, were ecstatic to be freed, but the images of ruined towns and cities stayed with McCulloh long after the war ended. 

When the war in Europe came to a close, McCulloh and his comrades were uncertain whether they would be sent to Japan. However, with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the war in the Pacific soon ended, and McCulloh’s unit was told to return home.

After returning to the United States, McCulloh took advantage of the G.I. Bill to pursue higher education. He studied Electrical Engineering and worked for many years in the defense industry, producing radars and missile launchers for the military. McCulloh never returned to the base in England, though he heard from other veterans who had visited the site years later. They reported that the base had been abandoned, overrun by cow pastures with only remnants of the cement roads remaining.

McCulloh remained close friends with his co-pilot and continued to stay in touch with him over the years. He became a member of the 381st Memorial Bomber Group.

William L. McCulloh’s life is a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and the bonds forged in the face of adversity. From his challenging childhood to his service in World War II and later career in engineering, McCulloh’s journey reflects the impact of war on individuals and the strength required to rebuild and thrive afterward. His story offers valuable insight into the human cost of war and the enduring legacy of those who served.

On June 15, 2010, William L. “Mac” McCulloh passed away at age 88 at the University Medical Center at Princeton, New Jersey.

Additional Resources:

• American Air Museum in Britain – 381st Bomb Group 
• 381st Bombardment Group Memorial Association