Name: Crippen, Lieutenant Willis Dale
Burial Date: 1942, 04/30
Age at Death: 22
Plot Location: 718 H Cremains
Notes: husband of Shirley Mae(Barnes)
Lieut. US Army Air Corps. Killed in Action
War: WW2 
NARA records list this soldiers Home of Record as Rice County, Kansas…Died Non-Battle…Your service and sacrifice must never be forgotten.
– Eric Ackerman
Added: May. 16, 2016
Willis Dale Crippen was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, December 8, 1919, and departed this life, March 24, 1942, at Las Vegas, Nev. With his parents, he came to Sterling at the age of five years. Here he received his education in the Sterling schools and college. He, also, attended Washburn College at Topeka, and Warrensburg College, at Warrensburg, MO.
On June 4, 1941, Dale enlisted in the air corps and completed his primary and basic training at Ontario, Calif. From there, he was sent to Stockton, Calif, where he graduated on January 9, 1942, with the class of “42”, at which time he received the coveted ‘wings’, emblematic of all military air pilots, and a commission as lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Willis Dale united with the Methodist church in Sterling at the age of nine years, under the pastorate of Rev. A.M. Smith. In his younger years, he was a Boy Scout and a member of the DeMolay order. He was deeply devoted to his home and friends. In one of his recent letters, he said that he realized and appreciated the sacrifices that had been made for him, and hoped that someday he could show his appreciation by something more than words.
On January 31, 1942, Dale was united in marriage with Miss Shirley Mae Barnes, of Riverside, Calif. He leaves to mourn his untimely death, his wife, Shirley Mae Crippen, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Darius Crippen; one sister, Ardice Marie Crippen, of Sterling; also his wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Barnes and her sister Velma, of Riverside, Calif., and a host of friends. One baby sister preceded him in death on April 9, 1915.
| Birth: | Dec. 8, 1919 Reno County Kansas, USA |
| Death: | Mar. 25, 1942 Las Vegas Clark County Nevada, USA |
 Dale Crippen enlisted in the air corps on June 4, 1941. He completed his primary and basic training at Ontario, CA, then went to Stockton CA where he graduated January 9, 1942. On March 25, 1942, Lt. Crippen took off for a night flight with seven other planes. Shortly after taking off, he was caught in a storm, and his plane crashed.Family links: Parents: Dareus Elmer Crippen (1891 – 1960) Lydia Ethel (Case) Crippen (1892 – 1955)
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| Burial: Sterling Cemetery Sterling Rice County Kansas, USA Plot: 718 H Crems |
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| Maintained by: susan j Originally Created by: Phillip H. Pitzer Record added: Jun 17, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 38436103 |
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