Russell Orval (Philpot) Philpit (1915 - 1992)

Born 29 Jun 1915 in Snover, Sanilac, Michigan, United States

Husband of Mary Tyack (Bricker) Philpit — married 1946 in New York, United States

Biography

Russell Orval Philpit was born June 29, 1915 in Snover, Sanilac, Michigan. He was the son of David Philpot.

Russell Orval Philpit married Mary Tyack Bricker in 1946 in New York.^[1]

He died January 27, 1992.^[2][3]

Military Service

2LT Russell (Philpot) Philpit was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

2LT Russell (Philpot) Philpit served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started:
Unit(s): 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force
Service ended:

Russell served in the US Army Air Corps/Forces during World War II. He suffered severe injuries when his plane was shot down over the Ruhr Valley in 1943. He was found by German civilians, who tended to his wounds and transported him to a German catholic hospital, where he remained for about two months. He was later taken away to Stalag Luft III, but the journey was long and he spent time in other internment camps along the way. He was returned to the US after five months in the stalag. ^[4]

Research Notes

• From "Fliers' Kin" - Mother, Lydia Smith, received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and three Oak Leaf Clusters for her son, Russell O. Philpit, who is captive in Germany. Durbin-702 18:04, 30 October 2016 (EDT)
• From "Former DIstrict Resident" - Russell O Philpit, son of Lydia Smith and the late David Philpit, has been named Buick agency dealer for Manhasset, Port Washington, and Roslyn Heights, New York. Has a brother, Earl, sisters Vera Kotesky and Eleanor Fitzpatrick. Was an AF pilot in WWII.
• From "Meet Lt Philpit." - He's from Detroit and his mother, Lydia Smith, lives in Sandusky. Tall, 26 years old. Worked as an accountant after he left University of Detroit in 1937. Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and 3 oak leaf clusters.
• From "The Service Parade" - Russell Philpit returned to the USA on the Gripsholm. "The first Yank Flying Fortress gunner to shoot down a Nazi plane in World War II." Repatriated from a Nazi prison camp. Had been captured when his flying fortress was shot down over Cologne last August. Has Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters.

Sources

1. ↑ The Port Huron Times-Herald, 12 Jan 1946, p. 2. news clipping.
2. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JL3H-5Z3 : 20 May 2014), Russell O Philpit, 27 Jan 1992; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
3. ↑ "Russell O. Philpit," The Palm Beach Daily News; 30 Jan 1992, p. 11, col. 2. Newspapers Clip: 127408058.
4. ↑ "Life in German Prison Camp Described By Returned Sandusky Fortress Pilot," The Port Huron Times Herald, 26 Mar 1944, p. 6, col. 1, Web (newspapers.com, accessed 1 Jul 2023) Newspapers Clip: 127407998.

See also:

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ78-Z21 : 14 December 2015), Russell O Philphot in household of David Philphot, Lamotte, Sanilac, Michigan, United States; citing sheet 1B, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,820,796.
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHMP-2M9 : accessed 11 September 2016), Russell O Philpit, Ward 4, Detroit, Detroit City, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 84-175, sheet 11B, family 335, 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 1845.
• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8GW-8PQ : 5 December 2014), Russell O Philpit, enlisted 08 Jan 1942, Detroit, Michigan, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 126323, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• United States, World War II Prisoners of War, 1941-1945, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29D-3KSC : 18 February 2016), Russell O Philpit, 12 Aug 1943; citing Military Service, Germany, NARA NAID 1263907 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• Old Ironsides Mission Report
• "Fliers' Kin Get Medals." The Detroit Free Press 7 Nov 1943: 11. Print.
• "Meet Lt. Philpit." The Adrian Daily Telegram 25 Mar 1944: 8. Print.
• "The Service Parade." The Detroit Free Press 6 Apr 1944: 17. Print.
• "Former District Resident Gets Car Agency In East." The Port Huron Times Herald 3 Oct 1951: 7. Print.
• Hell's Angels 303rd Bomb Group