V. Chipman

[d. moore]

Hello this is my first post My wifes father was Vance chipman Pilot Bradwell Bay 605th raf I have recieved his oringal log book and am trying to find out some more info on some of his missions. On April 25 1944 Vance departed Bradwell Bay with navagater h. Morrison in Mosquito UL G HJ767 on an intruder mission to juvincourt he noted that he attacked a JU88 and beleaved the Ju88 was destroyed can anyone help me with this.

Thank you Derrell

[Frank Olynyk]

T/Sgt Vance J Chipman (USAAF) was credited with an u/i TE a/c damaged on Feb 20, 1944 at 0505 hours, at Munster/Handorf A/F, in Mosquito VI UP-G. The CR is on microfilm Air 50/169-32.

On Mar 2, at 0419 hours he was credited with an Me-110? damaged (ie, identity uncertain) at an A/F NE of Paris, in Mosquito VI UP-F. The CR is on microfilm Air 50/169-33.

On April 26 at 0153 he was credited with an u/i TE a/c destroyed, at Laon/Athies A/F in a Mosquito VI (codes not specified). The CR is on microfilm Air 50/169-34.

His R/O on all three occasions was F/Sgt Hugh Victor Morrison (RNZAF, serial 427221).

For my records can you tell me Vince's middle name, and his service number? A check with the 605 Sqn website says that it's squadron code during the war was UP not UL. Is the aircraft in the Feb claim the same as that in April? And what is the aircraft serial number from the March claim?

I am always interested in USAAF personnel credited with victories while in the RAF/RCAF, etc. These are frequently not credited by the USAF today.

Enjoy!

Frank Olynyk.
Historian, American Fighter Aces Association.

[d. moore]

you are correct it is UP i did a typo.
vance john chipman is his full name, 0-1995872
the aircraft on march 2 was a mossie UP F his log says he beleaved the downed ac to be an me 110.
his april victory was in mossie UP G
their is a second service number in his paperwork 1 as an nco and 1 as a lt.

Vance was shot down and became a pow in nov 44 i have the report of this event how do i get the cr reports if i might ask.

thanks tons derrell

[Frank Olynyk]

Derrell,
I would appreciate it if you could supply his enlisted service number also. That would correspond to his rank at the time of the claims.

With regard to getting copies of the combat reports, the originals are held by the National Archives/Public Record Office in Kew, England. They are no longer available to researchers however, since they have all been copied to microfilm. The microfilm can be viewed at Kew; it can also be purchased, although that is possibly a bit expensive since you only need three images. I gave the references in my earlier post; Air 50 is (most of) the existing combat reports for the RAF in WW2. Air 50/169 consists of the reports for 605 Sqn, and the three frames of interest are 32,33, and 34. It may also be possible to order a digital copy on CD of Air 50/169 (I assume you are in the US, so digital would certainly be cheaper than flying there). The PRO website is at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm It looks like it may be possible to search for the records and download individual pages, for a fee.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[d. moore]

see if this number is correct for his time in the 605th R137292 rank sgt this is the number on his discharge from the raf to join the usaaf dates august 30, 1943, i donot have a list of any awards during his time with the raf but it looks like more than 50 combat missions in his log i will research it some more soon

vance completed 2 tours with the raf and 1/2 tour with the usaaf

he recieved the air medal EAME ribbon with 1 bronze star purple heart for flack wound to the face and hands
when he was shot down near schraudenrach - arnstein, on 1 nov 44

i have a few photos from his training forward and i beleave an original photo of mossie L UP Dz716 in flight also an American red cross map of london from the war its perty cool.

thanks for your help let me know if the number is correct
Derrell

[Frank Olynyk]

Derrell,

R137292 (for which thanks) is actually an RCAF enlisted serial number, which indicates that he joined the RCAF not the RAF. His USAAF enlisted serial number would be an eight digit number, without any letters, frequently written as xx xxx xxx, or similar. And I might note that his USAAF officer's service number is O1995872 and starts with the letter O, not a digit 0. Whether it is written with a - after the O does not seem to be consistent; I have seen it both ways.

If you want further information on his time in the RCAF, at least while he was in Canada, you can write to the Public Archives of Canada, and ask for a copy of his records, noting that you are next of kin. Those records don't seem to follow the individual after they leave Canada.

Enjoy!

Frank.