BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM GROVER HIPPS

William Grover Hipps was born in Lumber City, Pa., in 1912. He graduated from Curwensville High School, Curwensville, Pa., in 1930; attended Millards Preparatory School, Washington, D.C. in 1931; graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and was commissioned a second lieutenant, Cavalry, June 12, 1937. He attended Primary Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas, and Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, graduated and was transferred to the Air Corps in 1938.

General Hipps was first assigned as a pilot with the Third Attack Group at Barksdale Field, La., and in September 1940 was assigned as commander of the 16th Dive Bomb Squadron, 27th Bomb Group, at Hunter Field, Ga., which later moved to the Philippine Islands. He remained in the Pacific until January 1943, serving as operations officer, Far East Air Forces, in the Philippine Islands; in Netherlands East Indies, as U.S. Planning Staff Officer with ABDACOM; in Australia as United States operations officer with Australian-U.S. Joint Command; and in New Guinea as operations officer, advanced echelon, Fifth Air Force.

From 1943 to 1945 he served as staff officer, Operations Division on the War Department General Staff, in Washington D.C., and upon completion of this tour of duty in June 1945, returned to the Pacific for duty as plans officer and later operations officer with the Far East Forces, remaining with the occupation forces until April 1946.

General Hipps was then assigned to the Strategic Air Command, at Bolling and Andrews Field, Washington, D.C., as plans officer.

In August 1948 he entered the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and graduated in June 1949. He remained there as an instructor until June 1951.

He was then designated executive assistant to the secretary of the Air Force at Air Force headquarters, Washington, D.C. He joined the Far East Air Forces Aug. 28, 1955, as commander of 313th Air Division with Headquarters at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.

In February 1958, General Hipps assumed the duties of deputy readiness and materiel inspection, the Inspector General, U.S. Air Force, at Norton Air Force Base, Calif. On Aug. 1, 1958, he was assigned as director, Readiness and Materiel Inspection, which organization was redesignated as Systems Inspection as of July 1, 1961. On that date, General Hipps was assigned additional duty as assistant deputy inspector general for inspection, U.S. Air Force.

His decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. He is rated a command pilot.

(Current as of July 1962)