One of two New Zealanders who were taken to Buchenwald Contentration Camp, Ettersberg, Germany. Cullen later wrote about his experiences in Twelve Months Story, held by the Kauri Museum.

"He enlisted as a WOp/AG u/t but, unusually, was later remustered as an airman pilot u/t, completing his training in Canada, having left New Zealand on the Matsonia on 2 Oct 1942. Shot down by flak over Picquigny, France, during a Typhoon attack by 257 Squadron on a ground target in the Oisement/Ferviere area 24 May 1944." Errol Martyn AWMM