William Tipton
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant William Dolley Tipton (sometimes erroneously referred to as William Duncan Tipton) began his military career as a World War I
Sopwith Camel pilot. The U.S. Air Force officially credits him with four aerial victories during the war, although other sources claim he had five, and thus was a flying ace
. He was one of the founding officers of what would become the Maryland Air National Guard
. As a member of the Maryland National Guard, he was mobilized during World War II
. He rose to the rank of colonel during the war. He died on December 12, 1945 in an aircraft accident. Tipton Airport (formerly Tipton Army Airfield) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is named in his honor.
for advanced training and combat seasoning.
According to some sources, he won his first two air battles in May 1918, while attached to the British No. 3 Squadron
. Rejoining the American 17th Aero Squadron on 21 June, he became a balloon buster
on 22 August 1918. Four days later, he destroyed two Fokker D.VII
in a late afternoon dogfight, but was also wounded and shot down, most probably by Leutnant Hermann Frommherz
. Tipton spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of the Germans. He was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross during the war
The U.S. Air Force aerial victory credit register does not include the two alleged victories from May. Instead, it includes a single aerial victory on 7 June 1918. The register does corroborate Tipton's last three victories. Tipton flew his first combat missions in May 1918, so it is possible that he did indeed score the two victories the U.S. Air Force does not credit to him. It is also possible (speculation) that these victories were attributed to the wrong "William D. Tipton," especially given that the sources that credit him with these victories frequently misidentify him as "William Duncan Tipton."
, the original unit of the Maryland Air National Guard
(MDANG). At the time the unit was organized in 1921, Tipton was a captain and held the position of flight leader. From 1924 to 1929, he served as the squadron commander. He later rose to the position of Division Air Officer for the 29th Infantry Division, of which the 104th was a part.
During the interwar period, Tipton played an influential role in the development of aviation in Maryland. He worked as the "staff aviator" for the Baltimore Sun newspaper, where he not only wrote a column devoted to aviation, but used an aircraft to gather news. This is believed to be the first time a newspaper employed an aircraft for newsgathering purposes. In addition, he served on the state aviation commission from 1921 to 1928, and leased and ran the Curtiss-Wright aviation facility northwest of Baltimore in the 1930s and 40s.
, then-Adjutant General of Maryland. The airfield was transferred to civilian control in 1995 and following a period of environmental remediation, became active as Tipton Airport
in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Sopwith Camel pilot. The U.S. Air Force officially credits him with four aerial victories during the war, although other sources claim he had five, and thus was a flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. He was one of the founding officers of what would become the Maryland Air National Guard
Maryland Air National Guard
The Maryland Air National Guard is the air force component of the militia of the U.S. state of Maryland. As a dual-status organization, it is also considered a reserve component of the United States Air Force.-Mission:...
. As a member of the Maryland National Guard, he was mobilized during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He rose to the rank of colonel during the war. He died on December 12, 1945 in an aircraft accident. Tipton Airport (formerly Tipton Army Airfield) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, is named in his honor.
World War I
Tipton joined the U.S. Army Air Service on June 5, 1917, as a flying cadet. He was commissioned on March 9, 1918, and was one of the American pilots forwarded to the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
for advanced training and combat seasoning.
According to some sources, he won his first two air battles in May 1918, while attached to the British No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAF
No 3 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2, FGR4 and T3 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.No 3 Squadron, which celebrated its 95th anniversary over the weekend of 11-13 May 2007, is unique in the RAF for having two official crests....
. Rejoining the American 17th Aero Squadron on 21 June, he became a balloon buster
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
on 22 August 1918. Four days later, he destroyed two Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
in a late afternoon dogfight, but was also wounded and shot down, most probably by Leutnant Hermann Frommherz
Hermann Frommherz
Generalmajor Hermann Frommherz Military Order of St. Henry, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross of the Karl-Friedrich Order of Military Merit, began his military career in World War I as an ace fighter pilot. He was credited with 32 victories...
. Tipton spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of the Germans. He was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross during the war
The U.S. Air Force aerial victory credit register does not include the two alleged victories from May. Instead, it includes a single aerial victory on 7 June 1918. The register does corroborate Tipton's last three victories. Tipton flew his first combat missions in May 1918, so it is possible that he did indeed score the two victories the U.S. Air Force does not credit to him. It is also possible (speculation) that these victories were attributed to the wrong "William D. Tipton," especially given that the sources that credit him with these victories frequently misidentify him as "William Duncan Tipton."
Interwar Years
Tipton was one of the founding members of the 104th Observation Squadron104th Fighter Squadron
The 104th Fighter Squadron is an attack squadron equipped with the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a unit of the Maryland Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 175th Wing.-Mission:...
, the original unit of the Maryland Air National Guard
Maryland Air National Guard
The Maryland Air National Guard is the air force component of the militia of the U.S. state of Maryland. As a dual-status organization, it is also considered a reserve component of the United States Air Force.-Mission:...
(MDANG). At the time the unit was organized in 1921, Tipton was a captain and held the position of flight leader. From 1924 to 1929, he served as the squadron commander. He later rose to the position of Division Air Officer for the 29th Infantry Division, of which the 104th was a part.
During the interwar period, Tipton played an influential role in the development of aviation in Maryland. He worked as the "staff aviator" for the Baltimore Sun newspaper, where he not only wrote a column devoted to aviation, but used an aircraft to gather news. This is believed to be the first time a newspaper employed an aircraft for newsgathering purposes. In addition, he served on the state aviation commission from 1921 to 1928, and leased and ran the Curtiss-Wright aviation facility northwest of Baltimore in the 1930s and 40s.
World War II
By the time Maryland National Guard was mobilized for World War II, Tipton had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel. During the war he rose to the rank of full colonel and commanded the 204th Army Air Force Base Unit. He was killed on December 12, 1945, when the P-47N he was piloting crashed near Adena, Ohio, as he was flying home to be released from active duty.Memorialization
In 1962, Tipton Army Air Field at Fort Meade, Maryland, was named in his honor at the suggestion of Major General Milton ReckordMilton Reckord
Milton Atchison Reckord was an important figure in the history of the National Guard of the United States. He also served as Adjutant General of the State of Maryland-Early life and family:...
, then-Adjutant General of Maryland. The airfield was transferred to civilian control in 1995 and following a period of environmental remediation, became active as Tipton Airport
Tipton Airport
Tipton Airport is a public airport located just south of Fort George G. Meade in Odenton, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The facility is bordered by Fort Meade, the National Security Agency, and the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. This airport opened in 1999 on the site of a former United...
in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.