Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
TIPPET, Paul Staley
Date of birth
6 January 1919
Age
24
Place of birth
Spokane County, Washington
Hometown
Parsons, Labette County, Kansas

Military service

Service number
O-885591
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
2 October 1943
Place of death
North Sea, off the coast of Denmark

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Lawrence W. Tippet (father)
Grace M. (Oaks) Tippet (mother)
Vineta M. Tippet (sister)
David C. Tippet (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5260
Data
Nickname: Yardbird II
Type: B-17F
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 738

More information

The aircraft was hit by gunfire from two ME-109's immediately after the formation left the target. The ship peeled off, went down out of control, and exploded above the overcast. One parachute was observed coming out it went out of sight.

In addition to the crew of ten, a photographer, Sgt Carney C. Rhodes Jr., was on board. All were killed. Only the body of Hugh F. Gigney Jr. was recovered when it washed ashore at Esbjerg, whre he was initally buried on 3 December 1942. He is now interred at Ardennes Cemetery.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, 303rd Bomb Group, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - R.Walton Family Tree

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Wendy Lensink, 303rd Bomb Group, http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=183976, Roger Caelen