William Fairfield Tripp III

Military
media-49020.jpeg UPL 49020 1LT William Fairfield Tripp III
Pilot
416th BG - 669th BS - 9th AF
A-26B-20-DL #41-39244

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Object Number - UPL 49020 - 1LT William Fairfield Tripp III Pilot 416th BG - 669th BS - 9th AF A-26B-20-DL #41-39244

William Tripp was born in Dedham, graduated from Dedham High School in 1939 and attended Northeastern University. During World War II he joined the First Corps of Cadets (Massachusetts National Guard). He then entered the Army Air Corps and became a pilot with the 9th Air Force flying the A-20 and A-26 in England and France. He was awarded many service honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters after flying 65 missions. He also received the European Theater of Operations, five Bronze Stars, the American Campaign Medal, the American Defense Medal for service in Pearl Harbor, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Following the war he joined American Airlines, where he worked in management for 30 years. He moved from Dedham to Brewster in 1979 and worked as a bartender for Eastward Ho! Country Club in Chatham for 12 years. He was a member of the Orleans Yacht Club, Van Guards of American Airlines, and was a founding member of the American Air Museum in Britain.

Connections

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Units served with

An A-26 Invader (F6-P, serial number 43-22330) nicknamed "For Pete's Sake" of the 416th Bomb Group prepares for take-off at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group . Written on slide casing: '416 BG Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 671st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32668142
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 669th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 669th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-26 Invader
  • Nicknames: Sugar Baby
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Pink Lady
  • Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Melun, Alsace

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Dedham, MA 20 March 1921

Enlisted

Boston, MA 16 September 1940

Other

First 416th BG Combat Mission

Gorenflos, France 2 June 1944

Other

Final 416th BG Combat Mission

Sindorf, Germany 26 February 1945

Died

Hyannis, MA 10 March 2004

Buried

Bourne, MA 14 March 2004 Massachusetts National Cemetery Bourne, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA

William Fairfield Tripp: Gallery (1 items)