Frank L. Pipher, Jr was born on December 24, 1922, was a graduate of Stroudsburg High School and enlisted on 20 March 1942 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Frank L. and Elsie F., he had one sister. After an extensive period of flight training, he flew to England, arriving there in July, 1943. Flight reports sent to his parents indicate he participated in about forty-six missions.

"Flight was coming out over an overcast and all were low on gasoline so Captain Olson let on down throught a hole as six Bogies to the North approached us, we came out at about 15,000 feet South of Antwerp. We were fired at by flak from Ghent. We flew evasive and Captain Olson thought it best to hit the deck because of accuracy of ground flak. We came out South of Ostende between Dunkirk and Ostende. Ground defenses were firing at us with light and heavy arms. We were indicating 450 to 500 m.p.h. as we swept over the beach at about 10 to 20 feet. Ground emplacements opened on us and light flak positions also. Lt Pipher was about 10 feet over water within 1,000 yards of the beach when machine gun fire came up his rear and hit him, and almost instantly his nose dropped and he hit the water at over 450 m.p.h.

I watched and saw wing fragments and wheel fly up out of the spray. The remaining three got out safely."
Statement from Vernon A. Burroughs, 1st Lt, Air Corps.

He is Missing in Action and commemorated on Tablets of the Missing, Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium.

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - The Morning Call, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File / 1930 Census