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AVIATION METALSMITH PAUL
E. CULBERTSON was born on September 26, 1920 to Edward L. and Mildred B.
Held Culbertson. The family lived at 1012 Stokes Avenue in Collingswood
NJ, where he attended Collingswood High
School as a member of the class of 1938. His father worked as a photo
engraver. Before
graduation, he
moved with his parents to Elkins Park PA. He was a graduate of the
Peddie Institute.
Paul Culbertson was living
in Rhode Island and attending Brown University when he enlisted in the Navy on June 22,
1942. He
underwent basic training at Newport, and was there until August 1, 1942, when
he was sent to Jacksonville FL to be trained as an aviation metalsmith.
In February of 1943, he completed this training, and served for the next
four months at Floyd Bennett
Airfield in Brooklyn NY. He then transferred to Quonsett Point RI to
train as an aerial gunner. Completing this training, he was assigned to
the new aircraft carrier
USS
Langley (CVL-27) in September 1943. After a shakedown trip to South
America, the Langley set off for the Pacific war zone in December of
1943. In January and February of 1944, the Langley saw combat in and
around the Marshall Islands.
Paul Culbertson was serving aboard the carrier USS
Langley, where he had recently qualified to serve as an aerial gunner,
when he was killed in an accidental fall on February 19, 1944. He was
buried at sea.
His family received notification on March 6, 1944.
Paul Culbertson was survived by his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Edward L. Culbertson, of Elkins Park PA, and an older sister, Mrs.
Elizabeth Culbertson Green. His death was
reported in the evening edition of the Camden Courier-Post on March 13,
1944.
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