Wendell Deward Copeland was the son of John William Copeland and “Nora” Nancy Lenora Disney. He married Theodosia Fonville Snyder in July 8, 1944 at Delray Beach in Florida, when he was stationed at the Army Air Corps at Boca Raton Field in Florida.
Aircraft B-29 with serial number 44-70132 departed from West Field, Tinian on a combat mission to Osaka, Japan.
Statement of Lt. Nick J. Soulis, Co-Pilot of A/C 662:
A/C No. 44-70132, piloted by Lt. Seymoure was flying in number three position of Lt. Lacy´s formation. A/C 132 was hit by flak one minute before bombs away at 0321Z, altitude 19,450 – Plane immediately broke in two pieces. No one seen from front end of plane – three men seen to clear plane from rear – one chute opened, man looked O.K. – second man completely relaxed, had chute on, not seen to open – third man had knees doubled up and arms at thrust, no chute opened. Both parts of plane were seen to land in Osaka Bay Area.
Crew members:
Pilot, 1st Lt Robert Y. Seymoure
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt James R. Price
Navigator, 1st Lt Wendell D. Copeland
Bombardier, 1st Lt Willard L. Hinzman
Engineer, 1st Lt Walter L. Wilson
Radar Operator, Cpl George M. LeCroy
Radio Operator, Cpl Kenneth L. Harris
Top Turret Gunner, Cpl Arthur R. MacBeth
Right Gunner, Cpl Lawrence L. Lattizori
Left Gunner, Cpl Adrian H. Wissman
Tail Gunner, Cpl Philip Sagona
See the article “Wartime Memento” below published in the May 2024 issue of The Numismatist for an excellent account of the story of Lieutenant Copeland and the I-rupee note.
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 21 July 1916
- Date of death: 24 July 1945
- County: Campbell
- Hometown: Block
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 677th Bomber Squadron, 444th Bomber Group
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Japan Liberation
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Lynnhurst Cemetery, Knoxville, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VII, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Wendell D. Copeland
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
