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Elwood T. Lippincott (May 8, 1916-November 10, 2001) was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Air Forces in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a B-24 squadron commander, and instrumental in the pioneering of ultra-long range bombing over open ocean. During his storied military career, Lippincott was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses and an Air Medal with 6 battle stars. One of these missions, the bombing of Nauru is on permanent exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. Lippincott later went on to lead a career as an commercial airline pilot for Eastern Air Lines which spanned 30 years.

Early life
Elwood Lippincott was born in Neptune, New Jersey born on May 8, 1916, the son of Joseph Haulings Lippincott and Helen Katherine (Devlin) Lippincott, and was raised on the Locust Hill Farm on West Jumping Brook Road in Asbury Park, New Jersey. From his earliest age Lippincott loved flying. He was a member of the Aero Club at Neptune High School [2] After graduating from high school he attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he studied Political science [3] While at Miami University he secured his private pilot’s license [4] and enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1939.

Military Career
Lippincott completed basic flight training at Randolph Field, Texas and advanced flight training at Kelly Field, Texas, where he received his “wings”. [5] On May 5, 1941 Lippincott received his Instrument rating at Gunter Field, Montgomery, Alabama. [6] He served as flight instructor at Randolph, Maxwell, Gunter, and Cochran Fields, and later as commander of a squadron at Shaw Field. [7]

World War II
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Admiral Chester Nimitz designated the 371st and 372nd Squadrons of the 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), as Task Force 12. Their mission was to operate against the enemy in the Gilbert Islands. [8] Lippincott was first assigned to the 371st Bombardment Squadron of the 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), which was a part of the 13th Air Force at its inception in 1942. The 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Geiger Field, in Spokane Washington on April 15, 1942. [9]

Aircraft and crews were assembled and on May 28, 1942 the group moved operations to Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington to begin full scale 24 hour-a-day training. Captain Lippincott was one of the pilots listed among the original nine crews there. [10]On August 17, 1942 Lippincott was assigned as flight commander for the 371st Squadron and would later become the squadron commander for the 372nd Squadron in 1943. [11] On September 25, 1942 the 307th moved to Sioux City Air Base, Iowa and resumed training. A few weeks later the group was ordered to pack for overseas duty and staged at Hamilton Field, Novato California. On the night of October 27, 1942 Lippincott led a flight of thirteen B-24's to the Hawaiian Islands. All aircraft and crews reached Oahu and Lippincott’s squadron was assigned to Wheeler Field, Oahu. [12] [13][14] On December 21, 1942 Captain Lippincott led his squadron of B-24's to Midway Island to stage a bombing run against Wake Island. He had his first taste of combat on December 24, 1942 when he led a 14 1/2 hour night bombing mission against Wake Island, 1,260 miles from Midway, in what was to be a record setting mission. [15]The enemy was taken by surprise during the predawn raid. Before Japanese units responded with anti-aircraft fire, the bombers had dropped approximately 60,000 of bombs on the Wake stronghold. The raid was very successful and demonstrated that ultra-long range bombing over open ocean was possible. [16]



The 307th Bombardment Group became known as "the Long Rangers" and aircraft in the 307th bore a distinctive “LR” logo. [Chris: insert pic “LR logo” near this text]

On January 1, 1943 the story of the raid was made public. In a ceremony held on the ramp at Hickam Field the participants were decorated by Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Lippincott was awarded the Air Medal. [17][18][19]



On February 15, 1943, Lippincott was promoted from Captain to Major. At age 26, he was one of the youngest ever to achieve that rank. [20]

On April 17, 1943 ten B-24's, including one commanded by Major Lippincott, lifted off for Funafuti in the Ellice Islands to stage even longer range missions against the Japanese-held islands of Nauru and Tarawa. Three days later Lippincott led the 372nd bombardment squadron 1,620 miles from Funafuti to bomb the phosphate mining operations on Nauru. [21]

During the initial run, the bombs on Lippincott’s aircraft would not release due to a malfunctioning selector bar. After this first attempt they headed for home under attack from 15 enemy fighters and heavy ground-based anti-aircraft fire. Lippincott decided to turn back and try dropping the bombs again. His three plane element returned to the island and this time made a successful bombing run.

About three minutes after the bombs were dropped Lippincott's tail gunner informed him that Lt. Jake Jacobs’ plane was out of control and under heavy enemy attack. Lippincott turned back again to help Lt. Jacobs in his fight with the enemy pilots. About a minute later a Zero pilot made a pass at Lippincott's airplane and scored with a 20mm shell in the waist, injuring the gunner. [22]

An account of this mission with pictures taken over the burning target appeared in the July 5, 1943 issue of Life Magazine. The iconic picture capturing this image, part of a permanent exhibit describing this historic bombing mission, is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. The photograph was taken by the left waist gunner on Lippincott’s B-24. [23]

The squadron’s sense of victory was short lived. Japanese aircraft struck the long, pencil-shaped island in the early morning hours of April 22, 1943, bombing the narrow island heavily. With no foxholes or bomb shelters for protection, casualties were significant. Still shell-shocked, Lippincott was ordered a few hours later to lead a bombing mission to Tarawa, some 1,300 miles away. The mission was successful. [24]

For the bombings of Nauru and Tarawa, Major Lippincott was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, which reads:

CITATION:

“For heroism and extraordinary achievement as Commander of a heavy Bombardment Squadron during aerial attacks against the strongly held enemy bases on Nauru Island and the Tarawa Islands, April 20-23, 1943. Leading his squadron in a daring flight over enemy-controlled territory, Major Lippincott participated in a brilliantly executed bombing attack upon securely fortified enemy positions and succeeded in inflicting severe damage upon Japanese personnel and material. His forceful and inspiring leadership throughout a vital and hazardous mission, and his superior airmanship combined with the galant fighting spirit of his command reflect great credit upon the United States Armed Services.”

Major Lippincott joined the 372d Bombardment Squadron as its commander and led numerous missions in the Solomon Islands, including the bombings of Kahili and Vila. [25]

After the Solomons campaign Lippincott skillfully and efficiently oversaw efforts to assure the readiness and deployment of air units, and to plan all of the related logistics in his service as Assistant Plans Officer at headquarters of Commander Aircraft South Pacific Theater (December 1943-June 1944) and Assistant for Operations of Headquarters, 13th Air Force (June 1944-Septemebr 1944). From December 1944-July 1945 he served as director of Senior Officer’s Course at Air Force School, Orlando, Florida and Instructor in “Command and Employment of Air Power”.

Post War Life
Lippincott remained in the reserves and entered active reserve service from July 1946-March 1949. [26] As of May 11, 1947 held a lieutenant colonel’s commission in the reserve corps. [27]

On June 15, 1951 Lippincott reentered active service in the Air Force Reserves. In August and September 1951, he undertook pilot training in C-124 Globemaster aircraft at McChord AFB, southest of Tacoma, Washington. The balance of his reserve duty was served in occupied West Germany. He was released from active duty as Lieutenant Colonel on January 9, 1953. [28][29]

3. On October 1, 1949 Lippincott married Margaret “Peggy” Lockwood of Lansing, Michigan and moved to Miami, Florida. They raised four daughters and a son while Lippincott served as a pilot for Eastern Air Lines, from which he retired after in 1976, after 30 years. Lippincott is honored at the Eastern Air Lines Pilot Memorial in the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

4. [Chris: insert award and decoration icons and a table naming them here: DFC, Air Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal, WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, Occupation Medal (Germany). [30]

Legacy and awards

 * USAAF Decorations

Books
Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001), wrote a biography of Zamperini. The book, entitled Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (2010) and published by Random House, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. It was named the top nonfiction book of 2010 by Time Magazine.