Norman K. Billipp

Major Billipp attended Manheim High School in Lancaster, PA. While a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he participated in rugby in addition to being an active member of the NROTC Unit. He was awarded the Chicago Tribute gold medal for leadership as a Midshipman and also served as Battalion Commander during his senior year. Graduating in June, 1966, with a BS degree in Bacteriology, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Upon completion of the basic school at Quantico, VA, Major Billip reported to Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL for basic flight training with follow-on jet training at NAS Corpus Christi and Beeville, YX. Selected for the A-4 aircraft, he was assigned to VMA-214, MCAS, El Toro, CA and then to VMA-211 Quand Tri, Republic of Vietnam. Major Billip was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1968, Captain in 1970, and posthumously promoted to Major.

Major Billipp crashed in heavy weather, 25 km west-southwest of Lang Vei. He was declared missing in action on May 6, 1969. In 1976, the Marine Corps issued a presumptive finding of death. In early 1996, after 27 years, Major Billipp's remains were found, identified, and returned.