Memorial

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S/Sgt Donald D. Pippitt was the tail gunner aboard B-24H 42-7510, El Lobo. All reports agree that S/Sgt Pippitt's tail turret and the plane's starboard rudder were suddenly severed from the rest of the plane and that he fell to his death. The accounts differ, however, on what caused the tail turret to be cut off. An article in the 392nd's Group History file at the National Archives recounts that "With 45 minutes of flying time remaining before bombs away, a light jar was noticed by Lieutenant Peyton and the bomber's crew. Almost immediately, the engineer, from his post in the top turret, reported that nearly all the tail assembly had been sliced off by the propellers of another aircraft, which disappeared as mysteriously as it came." Pilot 2nd Lt Peyton was quoted as saying, "The right rudder and elevator were completely out. One rudder and about four and a half feet of control surface on the left elevator remained. The trim tabs did not respond to controls, and there was a slight tendency to skid on turns. But the ship fought on. Looking back now it seemed to me that I assumed El Lobo would keep on flying. I had no doubts about it. The controls were a little sluggish, but I had no difficulty in keeping the aircraft in formation. I was a little surprised at the extent of the damage when I reached the ground in view of the way El Lobo stayed in there and continued on our course."

S/Sgt Pippitt's body was found and identified the same day and buried the next day in the local cemetery of the village of Den Burg, The Netherlands.

He is remembered at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City, Kansas.