Evening star., 1955-07-15
Maj. HippIer
Is old Man
OF JET Airnlen
Cos Co. Engineer, 80.
Is Oldest Such Pilot
In D. c. Air Guard
BY HARRY LEVER
Star STAN Correspondent

BY HARRY LEVER
Star stan Correspondent
TRAVIS FIELD, Ga, July Is.
When the young pilots of the
District Air National Guard
refer to "the old man" during
maneuvers here, they're not nec-
essarily referring to the COM
manding officer Of the 18th
Fighter -Interceptor Wing, but to
the oldest pilot on hand.
Age really hasn't caught up
to Maj. Harry L. Hippler, 80,
of Annandale, Va, whose 1000
hours in the air include about
$50 in Jet fighters. Maj. Hippler
can claim the distinction OF
being the oldest jetrnan in
the 121st Fighter -Interceptor
Squadron. Andrews Air Force
Base (Md0 unit Of the 18th.
"I1l be 40 in October" unused
Mai. Hippler. Flying is just
in my blood. even if it is a
young mans job. I'll be around
awhile yet"
Yesterday he took one of the
F-86 Sabrejets up to high alti-
tude, towing q target for a for
lmation to shoot at over the
Atlantic. On an earlier flight,
1.-THE target sleeve, 30-feet long,
broke away from his plane. He
had to come in to refuel, pick up
q new target and take off again.
Wartime Test Pilot
Maj. Hippler. who works in
1.-THE engineering department of
the Washington Gas Light Co.
is a big man. standing 6 feet 2
inches tall, and weighing 203
pounds. After graduation from
Virginia Polytechnical Institute,
he played fullback for the Rich
mond Arrows football team from
1887 to 1910. During the war,
he was a test pilot and instructor
on B-24 Liberators. He holds the
Air Medal with seven clusters.
Maj. Hippler and his wife Doro-
thy. have two daughters, jean
ette, II, and Cynthia, 9.
Yesterday the aerial gunnery
got under way in earnest, and
several of the pilots are looking
forward to qualifying in the
craftsmanship by Sunday. The
pilots, as well as Col. w. w.
Millikan. 18th commander, had
high praise for the various sup
port units, without which it
would be impossible to keep the
planes in the air for their null
Ititude Of missions.
Typical of these support units
is the 113th Communications
Squadron. 1t is commanded by
Maj. Rober s. Andrews Of 2245
Savannah Terrace Sc. in Wash
Iington. His operations officer is
First 1t. James v. Brown, 812
South Oak street. Arlington, Va,
and the telephone officer is 1t.
Paul Kemper of the 142d Fighter
Interceptor Squadron of Will
mington, DEL, which, with the
104th from Baltimore, complete
the wing. The wing commune
cations chief is Mai. Ford Kelley,
305 Hamilton avenue, Silver
Spring, Md.
Multitude of Supplies
The 113th Supply Squadron,
commanded by Maj. A. A. An
thony Of 4756 Homer avenue
Sc, Washington, also has its
hands full. This units task Is
to furnish all supplies during
the maneuver, and they are
varied and many. including such
items as bedding, Office equip
ment, airplane parts. housekeep-
ing supplies. fuel oil. motor We
hicle parts, mess equipment and
SO on.
Maj. Floyd w. Campbell, 42O7
Colchester drive, Kensington,
Md. commands the 18th Motor
Vehicle Squadron-the motor
pool" It contains 1872 vehicles
worth $2.5 million, and his
operation also runs "a hours a
day. There are trucks, pickup
vehicles, carry-alls and refueling
units. requiring the work also of
six dispatchers. Maintenance
facilities include a fully equipped
machine shop, a battery shop
and a washing rack.
The 113th Food Service Squad
ron has the job of filing the
stomachs Of the 1.700 officers
and airmen three times a day.
1t. James A. Coles of Washing
ton, says his squadron serves
5.100 meals daily.
No Trouble for Police
The 113th Air Police Squadron
Is having no trouble, with most
Of its efforts devoted to control
ing traffic. Discipline is good, sol
is internal security and security
of property. according to the pro-
vost marshal, Capt. John Palmer