James N. Cupp

James Norman Cupp (28 March 1921 – 2 June 2004) was a United States Marine Corps aviator during World War II. Cupp was a double flying ace with at least 12 aerial victories in the Solomon Islands during three months of World War II. He was a recipient of the Navy Cross, the navy's second highest military decoration for valor and was a four time recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Also a Korean War veteran, he retired as a colonel to Manassas, Virginia, in 1968.[1][2]

James N. Cupp
Cupp with his F4U Corsair, Daphne "C", June 1943
Nickname(s)Jim
Born(1921-03-28)28 March 1921
Corning, Iowa
Died2 June 2004(2004-06-02) (aged 83)
Manassas, Virginia
Buried
Stonewall Memory Gardens, Manassas, Virginia
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1941–1968
RankColonel
Service number0-9004
UnitVMF-213
Commands heldVMO-6
HQ Squadron, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
VMFT-10
Marine Air Control Squadron 1[1]
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsNavy Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (4)
Bronze Star Medal with "V"
Purple Heart
Navy Commendation Medal with "V"

Early life

James Norman Cupp was born in Corning, Iowa, on 28 March 1921. He graduated from high school in Red Oak, Iowa, in 1938.[1] He attended the University of Iowa for two years, taking his Sophomore finals two months early so he could join the Navy V-5 flight training program.[3] In college, Cupp was an avid swimmer and diver.[2] He was also a member of Dolphin Fraternity, a national honorary swimming organization.[4][5]

World War II

Cupp enlisted in the Navy on 15 May 1941 and entered the V-5 flight training program. He graduated at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas 9 January 1942[2] and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, 27 February 1942.[3] On 3 March 1942, he married Daphne Snider, of Fairfield, Iowa. Cupp then attended aerial photography training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.[2]

Cupp was attached to VMF-213, the Hell Hawks, in September 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa and later flew the Vought F4U Corsair. He had his crew paint Daphne "C", for his wife, on the engine cowling of his Corsair. He arrived at the Solomon Islands for his first combat tour on 3 April 1943.[1][2] Cupp scored his first aerial victory on 15 July 1943 and was an ace three days later. During his tour he was credited with 13 1/2[1] or 13[3] aerial victories based on reports by his wingmen. According to Guttman (2005), he was officially credited with 12 victories.[2][6]

On 20 September 1943, Captain Cupp was shot down north of Kolombangara by a G4M1 Betty with an improvised gun unexpectedly mounted in its bomb bay; he was severely burned.[2] He spent the next 18 months in hospitals, primarily Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. After that, he served as a Naval flight instructor. The war ended before he could return to the Pacific theater.[3]

Later career

Cupp served in the Korean War[1] and received his fourth Distinguished Flying Cross for service during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir where he was an air officer on the ground, responsible for directing close air support operations.[2]

After World War II, he served as commanding officer for VMO-6 in Tsingtao, China, HQ Squadron, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Tientsin, China, Marine Detachment (MARDET) Naval Air Station New Orleans, MARDET Naval Air Station Glenview, VMFT-10 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and Marine Air Control Squadron 1 in Taiwan.[1]

Colonel Cupp retired to Manassas, Virginia, in 1968,[1] selling real estate until 1973.[2] He died on 2 June 2004 and was buried at Stonewall Memory Gardens, Manassas, Virginia.[2][7]

Awards and honors

His decorations include the Navy Cross, four Distinguished Flying Cross awards,[2] Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with "V" Device, three Presidential Unit Citations and other campaign awards.[1]

  Naval Aviator Badge

Navy Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross with three 5⁄16" Gold Stars (USN)
Bronze Star with "V" device
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with "V" device
Navy Presidential Unit Citation with three award stars
China Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal with 'Japan' clasp
National Defense Service Medal with one service star
Korean War Service Medal with three bronze campaign stars
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
United Nations Service Medal
Korean War Service Medal
Navy Cross

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain James Norman Cupp, United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Division Leader and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron Two Hundred Thirteen (VMF-213), Marine Air Group Eleven (MAG-11), First Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area, on 18 September 1943. While leading his three-fighter division on a patrol over our base on Vella Lavella, Captain Cupp boldly intercepted an overwhelming force of fifteen hostile dive bombers and their fighter escorts threatening our installations. Promptly engaging the enemy, he personally blasted four bombers from the sky and assisted in the shooting down of another. By his superb skill, daring initiative and devotion to duty, Captain Cupp contributed to the success of his squadron and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[8]

— Commander South Pacific, 19 March 1947

Bibliography
  • Cupp, James N. (May 1958). "Our Friend the Helicopter". Marine Corps Gazette. ISSN 0025-3170.

See also

References
  1. Craig, Berry (1989). Chronolog, 1912–1954. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. pp. 86–87. ISBN 0-938021-39-7. OCLC 21866886.
  2. Guttman, Jon (October 2005). "A Hell Hawk in the Pacific". World War II. 20 (6): 50. ISSN 0898-4204.
  3. Hammell, Eric (2010). Aces Against Japan. Pacifica Military History. pp. 130–138. ISBN 1-890988-05-7.
  4. "Dolphin Fraternity". University of Iowa Hawkeye yearbook. Student Publications, Inc.: 216 1941.
  5. "Swimming Team". University of Iowa Hawkeye yearbook. Student Publications, Inc.: 160, 210 1942.
  6. "Hell Hawk No. 2 is Spokane man". Daily Chronicle. Spokane, WA. 30 November 1943.
  7. "James Norman Cupp tombstone". billiongraves.com. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  8. "James Norman Cupp". Military Times Hall of Honor. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
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