F/L Arthur L Vipan RAF – 103 Squadron - 1937/40 – Pilot - Later S/L
Joined 103 Squadron in 1937 – Battle of France – Training Command ? – Requested a return to operational duties - Killed in flying accident at 12 OTU - 16th October 1944.
Arthur Vipan has always been a chap of interest to me. He figures prominently with the Squadron from 1937 to the end of the Battle of France in 1940 when the Squadron returned to the UK and seems to have spent some time with Training Command thereafter. He has one very interesting claim to fame in RAF history in WW2 which is not well known but should be.
Vipan was born in 1914 in India and joined the RAF in 1936 as Pilot Officer.
He qualified as a pilot April 1937 and trained at Prestwick I believe with another notable 103 Squadron personality, Tony Ingram. See pic below. Arthur Vipan on the left
They were both posted to 103 Squadron at Usworth in 30th June 1937. At this time the Squadron flew Hawker Hinds.
On the 25th May 1938 Vipan was made Flying Officer. In 1938 the Hinds were replaced with Fairey Battles.
In early August 1939 he was involved in a nasty accident with another 103 Squadron Battle. See page - 103 Squadron Nottingham Collision - 6/8/39
The 103 Squadron was transferred to France in September 1939.
On the 27th September 1939 Vipan he was involved in another incident over the Franco German border which resulted in the death of his navigator. See page - 103 Squadron Maginot Combat - 27/9/39
Vipan does not appear to have flown much after that although 103 Squadron records are very sparse during their time in France. He is pictured at Rheges in early June 1940 with a bandage over his left eye which probably has something to do with it. See pic below. Arthur Vipan on left with Roy Max and Harold Lee
During the final stages of the withdrawal from France Vipan was in charge of ground party when they made their most difficult evacuation from Souge to Brest. On return to the UK he was mentioned in dispatches for this.
9th September 1940 Vipan left 103 Squadron left for St Athan for a 10 weeks Navigation Course and that is the last time he is mentioned in the 103 Squadron records.
He was married in 1941 and the couple had a daughter in 1943.
Chorley mentions that Vipan left the service for a while but I have no knowledge of this. I was told he spent the rest of the war in Training Command until he applied for a return to operational flying.
Arthur was killed in a training accident on the 16th October 1944 whilst with 12 OTU and is buried at Cambridge City Cemetery.
S/L Arthur Lushington Vipan RAF – Pilot – 12 OTU – Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
Item written by David Fell with thanks to Iain for some of the background. The photos are from my own archive
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