Ernest Shipman | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ernest Shipman |
| Nickname(s) | Ernie [1] |
| Born | April 6, 1923 Jackson Heights, Long Island, New York |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ | U.S. Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1944-1957 [2] |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 307th FS 31st FG |
| Awards |
|
| Alma mater | Columbia College, New York |
MajErnest Shipman U.S. Army Air Force (April 6, 1923 - ) from Saginaw, Michigan was an American World War II Ace pilot who shot down seven aircraft in the Mediterranean theatre of World War II. [4] [2]
On May 5, 1944, Shipman shot down his first enemy aircraft: an Italian Air Force Fiat G50 over Ploesti, Romania. On June 13, 1944, he shot down a Me-210 twin engine over Landshut, Austria. He shot down several more planes in June and July 1944, and reached Ace status on July 21, 1944, when he destroyed an Bf 109 over Budapest. [5] [6] Shipman was flying a P-51 when he was shot down on July 30, 1944, Budapest by a P-38 and captured. He became a prisoner of was until the end of World War II. [7] [1]
After the war he earned a Bachelor's degree (1948) and Master's degree from Columbia College, New York (1950). Shipman stayed in service with the New York Air National Guard until he retired as a Major in 1957. [1]
Eric M. Hammel was a military historian, with a focus on the military campaigns of the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific War, and other military action in World War II as well as military conflicts including the Vietnam War and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Hammel wrote a series of books about World War II Flying Aces but his most influential book was The Root : The Marines in Beirut, August 1982-February 1984 on the subject of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings.
Clarence Emil "Bud" Anderson is a retired officer in the United States Air Force, a triple ace of World War II, and the highest scoring living American fighter ace. During the war he was the highest scoring flying ace in his P-51 Mustang squadron. Towards the end of Anderson's two combat tours in Europe in 1944 he was promoted to major at 22, a young age even for a highly effective officer in wartime. After the war Anderson became a well regarded fighter test pilot, and a fighter squadron and wing commander. He served his wing commander tour in combat in the Vietnam War. He retired as a full colonel in 1972, after which he worked in flight test management for McDonnell Douglas. A member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Anderson has remained a sought-after speaker at aviation and military events well into his 90s.
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