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Ernest Shipman (pilot)

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WWII Ace Fighter Pilot
Major
Ernest Shipman
Birth nameErnest Shipman
Nickname(s)Ernie
Born(1923-04-06)April 6, 1923
Jackson Heights, Long Island, New York
Allegiance United States
Service / branchU.S. Army Air Force
Years of service1944-1957
RankMajor
Unit307th FS 31st FG
Awards
  • Congressional Gold Medal
  • Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 oak leaf clusters
  • Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters (2 silver, 1 bronze)
  • American Campaign Medal
  • American Defense Medal
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • National Defense Service Medal
  • Prisoner of War Medal
  • Silver Star
  • World War II Victory Medal
  • Air Force Commendation Medal
  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 bronze stars
Alma materColumbia College, New York

Maj Ernest 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.

Career

Photo of a WW II P-51

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. 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.

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.

Awards

See also

References

  1. ^ Hammel, eric (1998). Aces In Combat: The American Aces Speak: Volume V. Pacifica, california: Eric Hammel. p. 187. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Ernest Shipman". Military times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  3. ^ 113th Congress. "H.R.685 - American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 22 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Ernest Shipman". American Air Museum in Britain. IWM Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. Hammel, Eric (1998). Aces In Combat: The American Aces Speak: Volume V. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. p. 181. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  6. Hammel, Eric (1994). Air War Europa Chronology. Pacifica, California: Eric Hammel. p. 532. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  7. Jablonski, Edward (1979). Airwar Volumes 1-4. Michigan: Doubleday. p. 87. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  8. "Ernest Shipman". The Wall of Valor Project. The Wall of Valor Project. Retrieved 8 October 2021.

Further reading

  • Hammel, Eric (2010) . Aces Against Japan. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 9781890988081.
  • Hammel, Eric (1998). Aces in Combat: The American Aces Speak. Vol. 5. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 0935553614.

Notes

  1. His Silver Star citation cites his bravery as a fighter pilot of the 307th Squadron. His in air combat without regard for his own life.
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