Preston Piper

Military
Lieutenant-Colonel Preston Piper of the 385th Bomb Group reports to intelligence officer First Lieutenant John Murray after a mission. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication [illegible] Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292906.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO THE HEROIC FLYERS OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE. So many American flyers of the Eighth Air Force here achieved many high distinctions that the presentation of medals and awards ha media-380169.jpg FRE 1415 Lieutenant-Colonel Preston Piper of the 385th Bomb Group reports to intelligence officer First Lieutenant John Murray after a mission.

Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication [illegible] Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292906.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO THE HEROIC FLYERS OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE. So many American flyers of the Eighth Air Force here achieved many high distinctions that the presentation of medals and awards has become a "big business" in England. One of them is Lt Col Preston Piper, 27 year old Fortress pilot and Deputy Group Commander of Santa Ana, California. Col Piper, a filing station attendant and department store clark in civilian life, became a fighter pilot three years ago, and was transferred to Forts about a year and a half ago. Leader on numerous highly successful missions against the Nazi. Col Piper has already been presented the Air Medal and the Soldiers medal. US Pool/SG/Hel. Keystone. Photo shows: Col Piper (left) back from the mission, reports to an intelligence officer, 1/Lt John Murray, 354-91st Street, Brooklyn, New York, at the interrogation that follows all operational missions. Lt Murray makes his report to the awards officer 1/Lt Adelbert Wagner, of Cleveland, Ohio.' Roger Freeman Collection

Improved legibility of caption and disassociated record for John Murray who was a sergeant with 493rd Bomb Group.

Object Number - FRE 1415 - Lieutenant-Colonel Preston Piper of the 385th Bomb Group reports to intelligence officer First Lieutenant John Murray after a mission. Image...

More than anything, he loved to fly. In high school in Santa Ana, he was part of a club that built a glider plane. I have home movies he made flying over the orange groves in Santa Ana, California in the mid-1930's. Shot down 24 August 1943 in B-17 #42-30187 'Lulu Belle'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 56th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'First Lieutenant Hub Zemke, US Army Air Corps, 8th Pursuit Group, Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York. Taken just before dispersal to England as an Observer to the Royal Air Force.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 479th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group Headquarters (479th Fighter Group) Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-022353
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Commander

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lulu Belle
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Lady Jane
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Crashed

Epfenbach, Germany 12 May 1944 Crashed in P-47 #42-74750

Other

Prisoner of War

68-100 Zagan, Poland 12 May 1944 - 7 June 1945 Stalag VIIA

Died

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA 16 October 1992

Other

Returned (RTD)

North Sea 24 August 1943

Born

Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Revisions

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Contributoracbernstein1
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AAMB Media Archives

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Contributoracbernstein1
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Contributed courtesy of the 385th BG Association.  https://www.385thbga.com/wp-content/uploads/May-1978_OCR_Optimize.pdf

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Contributorclairepiper
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I am his daughter

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Contributorclairepiper
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Personal Info

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ContributorJenny
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Information from duplicate record amalgamated into this one. Sources for extra information: Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4805 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Also, POW record information from http://www.ww2pow.info/index.php?page=directory&rec=103796

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Contributorclairepiper
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I am Preston Piper's daughter

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Contributorclairepiper
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I am Preston Piper's daughter

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Contributorclairepiper
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I am Preston Piper's daughter

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 961 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Preston Piper: Gallery (7 items)