The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES SHIPLEY
______
HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a great man who served his country valiantly during World War II. Mr. James Shipley sadly passed away on July 21st at the age of 99. At only 19 years of age, Mr. Shipley made the decision to go to his local recruiting station and serve his country during a time of war. Little did Mr. Shipley know this decision would have him in one of the most respected military organizations from World War II which would pave the way for African Americans service in the armed forces.
Prior to his enlistment Mr. Shipley had worked as a mechanic. With that experience he was selected to serve as a mechanic for military aircraft. He completed his basic training at the Tuskegee Institute, the exact site selected to train the primarily black squadrons that would later be known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
Once his preparatory training had completed, he and the rest of his squadron boarded ships bound for overseas service. In January of 1944, Mr. Shipley was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group based in Italy. For 21 months, he and his fellow mechanics kept many aircrafts such as the P-39s, P-40s, P-47s, and P-51s in top condition. During this time the Tuskegee Pilots flew nearly twice as many missions as their fellow pilots due to the shortage of pilots in the 332nd Fighter Group. The group escorted over 200 bombing missions and during that time they logged over 15,500 sorties which destroyed over 400 enemy aircraft and ammunition sites.
After the Surrender of Germany, Mr. Shipley would soon return home to Tipton, Missouri where he spent time at various jobs until he became a mechanic for a local electric cooperative until he retired in 1985. In 2007, he, alongside other Tuskegee Airmen received their replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal for their valiant efforts in defeating the Axis powers in World War II.
Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring an American hero, Mr. James Shipley, for the life he lived and the thousands of lives he changed.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 126(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 126(2)
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