Leo Allan Zupan was born on July 19, 1918, in Price, Carbon County, Utah. He was the son of Michael Zupan and Mary Oppocher Zupan Krpan. He was married to Veda Velma Zupan. He worked as a salesman at Fortmiller’s Department Store before enlisting in the service. He served in the 20th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bomber Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-pilot of B-17 #42-107118 nicknamed 'Snafuperman' during World War II.

On August 29, 1944, the 15th Air Force dispatched the 2nd Bomb Group toward the Moravská Ostrava industrial and fuel complex (present-day Ostrava, Czech Republic) on what the Group designated Mission 263. Over the White Carpathian Mountains near the Czech–Slovak border, a large force of German fighters struck the rear formation, destroying the entire 20th Bomb Squadron in a fierce and rapid engagement now remembered as the Battle over the White Carpathians, which resulted in 41 American airmen killed in action, with 28 initially buried in a mass grave at Slavičín and others taken prisoner. Among the aircraft lost was “Snafuperman” (42-107118), a B-17G that came under intense fighter attack. Its No. 1 engine caught fire, the No. 2 supercharger failed, and the No. 3 engine was knocked out, leaving the bomber fatally crippled. It ultimately crashed between Metylovice and Frýdek-Místek in what is now the Czech Republic, resulting in two fatalities and eight crew members taken prisoner.

2Lt Zupan was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. He spent most of his professional life as a real estate broker. In 1965, he became a partner with Louise Myers and Bob Van Vleet, later purchasing Van Vleet & Associates with his son John in 1974, and affiliating the firm with Windermere in 1994. Active in his community, Leo was a member of B.P.O.E. #944, the Ashland Racquet Club, and Quiet Birds. He died on February 15, 2015, and is now buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon, USA.

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de, www.findagrave.com, www.wikitree.com