RECENT GRADUATE
PFC Donald G. Kopf, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Kopf, of Muscatine, was graduated earlier this week from the army air forces flexible gunnery school at Fort Myers, Fla. Now qualified as an aerial gunner, he will become a member of the thousands of bomber crews to be sent overseas. He will receive his crew training at the operational training field in this country. PFC Kopf, in the Army three months, was a wood worker in civilian life.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, April 1, 1943
WILL GRADUATE
PFC Donald Gerald Kopf, 434 Pond street, will be graduated as aerial gunner at the army air forces technical training command school at Lowry Field, Colo., on June 15. A graduate of the Lone Tree high school, he entered the service at Camp Dodge on Jan. 6, 1943, was trained at Miami Beach and at the Buckingham Gunnery school at Ft. Myers, Fla., before being sent to Lowry Field. Before entering service he was employed as a woodworker at the Huttig Manufacturing company.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, June 14, 1943
Sgt. Kopf Is Given Air Medal For Achievement
An Eighth AAF Bomber Station, England—The Air Medal has been awarded Sgt. Donald G. Kopf, 424 Pond street, Muscatine, Flying Fortress waist gunner, for “meritorious achievement” on five combat missions over enemy Europe.
The citation accompanying the award read in part: “The courage, coolness and skill displayed by this enlisted man upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.”
Sgt. Kopf, 21 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kopf, was a machinist for the Huttig Manufacturing company before entering the service Dec. 30, 1942.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, April 10, 1944 (photo included)
OAK LEAF CLUSTER AWARD PRESENTED TO SGT. KOPF
An Eighth AAF Bomber Station, England—An Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal has been awarded Sgt. Donald G. Kopf, of Muscatine, Flying Fortress waist gunner, for “meritorious achievement” on 10 combat missions over enemy Europe.
The citation accompanying the award read in part: “The courage, coolness and skill displayed by this enlisted man upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.”
Sgt. Kopf, 21 years old, was a machinist for the Huttig Manufacturing company before entering the service in December, 1942. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kopf, 424 Pond street.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, April 29, 1944
Sgt. Kopf Fails To Return From Air Raid On Germany
Staff Sgt. Donald G. Kopf, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kopf, 424 Pond street, has been missing in action over Germany since May 27, according to a message received from the adjutant general late Thursday afternoon by the parents.
Sgt. Kopf was a waist gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress and had completed more than a score of missions. His parents received a letter from him Thursday, dated May 21, telling them he was in good health and believed he was through with combat missions for a time.
He enlisted in the Army on Dec. 30, 1942, and had been a machinist at the Huttig Mfg. co. here before his enlistment. The Kopfs have another son, Mearl Kopf, in the service stationed at McComb, Ill., with the military police.
Sgt. Kopf was presented a third oak leaf cluster to the air medal just recently, according to word received here, for “meritorious achievement” on bomber attacks on enemy Europe.
The citation accompanying the award read in part: “The courage, coolness and skill displayed by this enlisted man upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.”
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, June 9, 1944 (photo included)
OFFICIAL RECORD REPORTS TWO ON MISSING LISTS
Two men from the Muscatine area where officially reported by the War Department as missing in action, the Associated Press announced today in a message from Washington. They are Sgt. Donald G. Kopf, Muscatine, missing in the European area, and Second Lt. Russell J. Bell, Nichols, in the Mediterranean theater.
Staff Sgt. John J. Chuck, Brighton, was also reported missing in the European area.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, July 10, 1944
LIST OF MISSING IN ACTION GREW IN 1944
Staff Sgt. Donald G. Kopf—Son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kopf, 424 Pond street. S/Sgt. Donald G. Kopf was reported as missing in action over Germany since May 27, 1944. He was a waist gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He enlisted on Dec. 30, 1942, and had been presented a third Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, December 29, 1944
Sgt. D. Kopf, B-17 Gunner, Said Killed
Staff Sgt. Donald G. Kopf, 22, who was listed as being missing over Germany since May 27, 1944, is now listed as having been killed in action on that date, according to a message from the War Department received Thursday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kopf, 424 Pond street.
In June of last year Mr. and Mrs. Kopf received the message saying their son was missing in action after a raid over Germany on May 27. He was a waist gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress and had completed more than 20 missions at that time.
He enlisted in the Army on Dec. 30, 1942, and had been a machinist at the Huttig Mfg. Co. prior to that time. He was presented a third Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal just shortly before he failed to return from his last mission, the citation reading “for meritorious achievement on bomber attacks on enemy Europe.”
Sgt. Kopf was born in Muscatine on Oct. 29, 1922, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kopf and had made his home on a farm with his parents near here.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kopf; two brothers, one in the service, Mearl Kopf, stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., and Fred Kopf, Davenport; six sisters, Mrs. Gustie Kintzle, Davenport; Mrs. Rebecca Howe, Rock Island; Mrs. Ada Baars, Muscatine; Mrs. Florence Bierman, route 6; Mrs. Marie Beckman, Muscatine; and Mrs. Irene Hanson, Muscatine.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, February 2, 1945 (photo included)
Tribute to Memory Of 7 Servicemen Planned
Seven Muscatine county servicemen whose deaths have been reported between Jan. 20 and Feb. 17 will be honored at the February community memorial rites at the high school auditorium at 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon, officials in charge have announced.
The program followed for the services will again include the memorial ritual of the American Legion with other patriotic organizations in the county participating. Leonard Plessy will be soloist and Miss Catherine Flannery, organist.
Dr. Henry C. Schneider, Legion post chaplain, will offer the eulogy.
The servicemen to be honored include:
Pvt. Fred Hintermeister, killed in action in Luxembourg, Dec. 23, 1944.
Lt. Phillip Fagan, killed in action in Belgium, Jan. 14.
Tech. Sgt. Karle E. Kolmerer, killed in action over Germany, Sept. 10, 1944.
Pvt. Roy E. Bond, killed in action in Belgium, Jan. 3.
Staff Sgt. Donald G. Kopf, killed in action over Germany May 27, 1944.
Pfc. Wesley Samuel Hagens killed in action in France, Dec. 23, 1944.
Pvt. Marvin G. Daufeldt killed in action in France, Jan. 25.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, February 21, 1945
140 Have Made Supreme Sacrifice in Muscatine Area In War Against Axis Powers; Many Reported Wounded
Staff Sgt. Donald G. Kopf, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kopf, 424 Pond street, killed in action May 27, 1944, over Germany.
Source: Muscatine Journal, Victory in Europe Edition, May 7, 1945
Sgt. Donald G. Kopf is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Muscatine, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
