William Vinson Bibb (1926 - 1955)

Born 6 May 1926 in Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Charlotte (Coleman) Harrison — married 9 Jul 1953 in Cook, Illinois, United States

Died 5 Feb 1955 at age 28 in Taiwan

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Biography

William Bibb is Notable.

2nd Lt. William Bibb served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 4 Sep 1943
Unit(s): 477th Bombardment Group
Service ended: 6 Dec 1946

Captain William Vinson Bibb served as a US military pilot during World War II, one of the “Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen.” The Tuskegee Airmen were known for heroic combat service in support of Allied Forces in the European Theater. Bibb was one of twelve Airmen from Iowa.^[1]

William Vinson Bibb was born 6 May 1926 in Ottumwa, Iowa. His parents were William Ambrose Bibb, 37, an auto mechanic, and Lorene Vinson, 35, a housewife.^[2] In 1930, he was an only child, age 3, living with them in Ottumwa.^[3] By 1940, his father had died, and William and his widowed mother still lived in Ottumwa.^[4]

According to his military record, he'd completed a year of college when he enlisted in the military during World War II on 4 September 1943.^[5][6] William served with the 477th Bombardment Group (Medium), later called the 477th Composite Group,^[7] after his training and post-War graduation as a Cadet Pilot on 20 November 1945, where he is listed as 2nd Lieutenant William V. Bibb, member of Graduating Cadet Class - Twin Engine Section - TE-45-H,^[8] until his post-War discharge on 6 December 1946.^[6]

He went home and graduated with distinction in Engineering from Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State now offers the William Vinson Bibb Endowed Scholarship for Engineering.^[9]

In 1953, he married Charlotte Ann Coleman.^[10][11] They had a daughter, and he had a stepson from his wife's previous marriage.^[12]

He reenlisted during the Korean War. He was 29 years old when he was killed in action on 5 February 1955 above the island of Formosa (now Taiwan), in a midair collision with a Chinese jet.^[11][12][13] He was buried in the Ottumwa Cemetery in Wapello County, Iowa.^[14]

Research Notes

Although his birth record has the last name spelled as Bibbs, this is believed to be a transcription error. No one in the family used this spelling.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ "List of pilot graduates" Tuskegee University
2. ↑ "Iowa, Birth Records, 1921-1942," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP8V-SDXD : 29 October 2019), William Vinson Bibbs, 6 May 1926; citing Birth, Center Township, Wapello, Iowa, United States, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMKW-8Z6 : accessed 19 December 2020), William V Bibb in household of William A Bibb, Ottumwa, Wapello, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 9, sheet 9B, line 88, family 255, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 685; FHL microfilm 2,340,420.

   William A Bibb Head Male 41 Illinois

   Lorene Bibb Wife Female 39 Iowa

   William V Bibb Son Male 3 Iowa

4. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KM1S-M7J : 16 May 2020), William Bibbs in household of Lorene Bibbs, Ottumwa, Center Township, Wapello, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 90-17, sheet 15A, line 4, family 338, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1209.

   Lorene Bibbs Head Female 49 Iowa

   William Bibbs Son Male 13 Iowa

5. ↑ "Iowa, Military Discharge Records, ca.1862 - ca.1976", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZSX-RFF9 : 5 March 2021), William V Bibb, 1945.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954," Robert Vinson Bibb, Service no 0-843352, Claim no 63575 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8825 #447 with attached Image (accessed 1 December 2021)
7. ↑ Rickard, J (18 December 2015), 477th Composite Group (http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/USAAF/477th_Composite_Group.html : accessed 1 December 2021).
8. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Tuskegee_Airmen_Cadet_Pilot_Graduation_Classes&oldid=1078753453 (accessed April 11, 2022).
9. ↑ Current Endowed Scholarships for Iowa State.
10. ↑ * 1953 Marriage: "Cook County, Illinois Marriage Index, 1930-1960"
    Ancestry Record 1500 #5177680 (accessed 11 May 2022)
    William V Bibb marriage to Charlotte Ann Rector on 9 Jul 1953.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "Iowa, Armed Forces Grave Registrations, ca. 1835-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QV-CJBM : 11 February 2019), William Vincent Bibb, 5 Feb 1955; citing Formosa, Argentina[sic], The State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 2,167,127.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} "Iowa Pilot Dies in Formosa Crash", Des Moines Register, (6 February 1955) p. 13.
13. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JT95-TX3 : 4 December 2020), William Bibb, Feb 1955; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
14. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images: accessed 19 December 2020), memorial page for Capt William Vinson Bibb (6 May 1926–5 Feb 1955), Find A Grave: Memorial #66720895, citing Ottumwa Cemetery, Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, USA; Maintained by Sara Corbett Cross (contributor 47403768). Biography, photos, and newspaper clipping included.
15. ↑ Information from the daughter of William Bibb on 30 November 2021 via a private message to the US Black Heritage Project.

See also:

• 1949 Bomb - Iowa State College Yearbook, p. 215, members of Tau Beta Pi
• William V. Bibb CAF Rise Above, citing WikiTree.
• highschool graduation photos of him and fellow student and airman Robert Wayland Williams.
• https://www.132dwing.ang.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/2501276/remembering-iowas-tuskegee-airmen/