Ramor William Dippo
Military
Rear L-R: 1Lt Bruce S Corby, Capt James S Van Epps, 2Lt Chilton W Castle, 2Lt Ramor W Dippo.
Front L-R: Sgt David J Beck, S/Sgt Harry P Bonnikson Jr, S/Sgt Sidney B Hare.
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This is the lead crew of Capt James S. Van Epps in the 837th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, 8th U.S. Army Air Force, at Station 137, Lavenham, England. This photo was taken at the base near Lavenham on February 27, 1945.
Back Row (L to R): Bruce S. Corby (bombardier), James S. Van Epps (pilot), Chilton Wilson 'Cork' Castle (navigator), and Ramor William Dippo (radar operator – aka 'Mickey' Operator).
Front Row (L to R): David J. Beck (waist gunner), Harry Peter Bonnikson Jr (radio operator), and Sidney B. Hare (engineer).
Not in photo: William Thomas 'Bud' Searby Jr (copilot). He was attached to the 3d Scouting Force at Wormingford, England by December 25, 1944, and flew P-51 weather reconnaissance missions in support of the bomber force.
Flight Officer Ramor W. Dippo was shot down near Wittenberge, Germany (53°00'N, 11°45'E) with the Joseph D. Conwill Jr crew in B-17G 44-8746 on March 15, 1945, and became a prisoner of war (MACR 13089).
(Photo from the collection of Harry P. Bonnikson Jr, via Janet Stebbins, his daughter) Harry P. Bonnikson Jr Collection
See narrative and sources on the Find A Grave page of Harry Peter Bonnikson Jr
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123831648/harry-peter-bonnikson
and
U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 13089
Object Number - UPL 32581 - Lead crew 837BS, 487BG, 8th AF. Rear L-R: 1Lt Bruce S Corby, Capt James S Van Epps, 2Lt Chilton W Castle, 2Lt Ramor W Dippo. Front L-R: Sgt David...
Assigned to 837BS, 487BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Orannienburg 15-Mar-45 in B-17G 44-8746. Bailed out. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 13089.
Award: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 837th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39162667 / O-799342
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 487th Bomb Group 837th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Lavenham/Alpheton Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Oakland, California, USA | 29 September 1919 | |
|
Enlisted |
1759 Lewis Rd, Monterey, CA 93944, USA | 21 January 1942 | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 15 March 1945 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I. |
|
Other Baled out |
Wittenburg, Germany | 15 March 1945 | Failed to Return (FTR) Orannienburg 15-Mar-45 in B-17G 44-8746. Bailed out. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 13089. |
|
Died |
Contra Costa County, CA, USA | 10 June 1990 | |
|
Based |
Lavenham | 15 March 1945 | Assigned to 837BS, 487BG, 8AF USAAF. |
| Alameda County, CA, USA | |||
|
Buried |
1334 W Stuhr Rd, Newman, CA 95360, USA | Hills Ferry Cemetery Newman, Stanislaus County, CA |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13089 / MACR 13089, Unit Roster / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
