Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Paul
Mudge
Lipscomb
June 20, 1920

–

April 4, 2006

Born:

Ranger

, 

Texas

Home:

Fort Worth

, 

Texas

Buried: 

Fort Worth

, 

Texas

Cemetery:

Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum

Major William A. Shomo received the Medal of Honor for his own actions during the mission in which Paul Lipscomb earned the DSC, in which Shomo shot down SEVEN enemy aircraft in a single day and Lipscomb shot down three. Only three of the thirteen aircraft attacked by Lieutenant Lipscomb and Major Shomo were able to evade and escape. Major Lipscomb himself was credited with shooting down THREE enemy aircraft, which was his total victory score for the war.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    82d Reconnaissance Squadron

    Regiment:

    71st Reconnaissance Group

    Division:

    5th Air Force

    Action Date:

    January 11, 1945
    Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 34 (February 18, 1945)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Paul Mudge Lipscomb (ASN: 0-671667), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 82d Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Reconnaissance Group, FIFTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 11 January 1945, in the Southwest Pacific Area. On that date First Lieutenant Lipscomb was wing-man for Major William Shomo, assigned together with an armed photographic and staffing mission against the Apari and Laoag airdromes. En route to their objective, Major Shomo observed an enemy twin-engine bomber, protected by twelve fighters, flying at 2,500 feet above him and, despite the odds of 13 to 2, ordered an attack. First Lieutenant Lipscomb engaged the enemy fighters along with Major Shomo and personally shot down three of the enemy aircraft. First Lieutenant Lipscomb’s unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.