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Personal info

Full name
NIPPERT, Clifton Walter
Date of birth
11 August 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
St. Charles, St. Charles County, Missouri
Hometown
St. Charles, St. Charles County, Missouri

Military service

Service number
T-005230
Rank
Flight Officer
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
849th Bombardment Squadron,
490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
17 March 1945
Place of death
Bad Camberg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
E 14 18

Immediate family

Members
Arthur H.G. Nippert (father)
Adela A. (Paul) Nippert (mother)
Wilbert C. Nippert (brother)
Adelle R. Nippert (sister)
Paul A. Nippert (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38046
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bitterfeld, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 13080

More information

En route to the target 43-38046 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17G 43-38071. 43-38046 was seen to break up in the air and no parachutes were observed.
It was reported that the formation was flying through some bumpy air during which it was believed that 43-38046, flying below 43-38071, drifted upwards and the two aircraft collided. 43-38071 was seen falling out of formation and heading toward Allied territory with a severely damaged nose section. The aircraft carried out an emergency landing at Sint Truiden (also known as Brustem airfield (A-92)) in Belgium. The crew survived the collision and the landing. However, as a result of the collision the body of Sgt. George V. Devlin from 43-38046 was found lodged in the nose of the aircraft.

The entire crew of nine men of 43-38046 was killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ww2incolor.com, MACR 13080 www.ancestry.com Kracke-Helmstatt Family Tree

Photo source: Michel Beckers