Memorial

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Frank L. Pipher graduated from Stroudsburg High School.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 20 March 1942. He was sent overseas in July 1943.

Statement from 1st Lt Vernon A. Burroughs, who flew in the same mission: “'A' Flight was coming out over an overcast and all were low on gasoline. So Capt Olson let on down through a hole as six Bogies to the North approached us. We came out at about 15,000 feet, south of Antwerp. We were fired at by flak from Ghent. We flew evasive, and Capt Olson thought it best to hit the deck because of accuracy of ground flak. We came out south of Ostende, between Dunkirk and Ostende. Ground defenses were firing at us with light and heavy arms. We were indicating 450 to 500 m.p.h. as we swept over the beach at about 10 to 20 feet. Ground emplacements opened on us, and light flak positions also. Lt Pipher was about 10 feet over water within 1,000 yards of the beach when machine gun fire came up his rear and hit him, and almost instantly his nose dropped, and he hit the water at over 450 m.p.h.
"I watched and saw wing fragments and wheel fly up out of the spray. The remaining three got out safely.”