HERBERT C. KNIPPLE, LTJG, USN

Herbert Knipple '52

Date of birth: August 5, 1929

Date of death: June 25, 1955

Age: 25

Lucky Bag

From the 1952 Lucky Bag:

Herbert Carl Knipple

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

"Happy Herb" received his appointment to the Naval Academy after spending a year at Marquette University. With his sights set on Navy jets, he found no difficulties with a few incidentals such as Steam and Skinny . . . managing to bring down his share of the 4.0's. Continuing his love of boxing, "Happy Herb" could be seen holding his own in the ring during the Intra-Brigade Boxing Matches. Although not a confirmed Red Mike, Herb preferred a more diversified existence at Navy Tech. He should experience little trouble in earning those Navy wings following graduation.

Herbert Carl Knipple

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

"Happy Herb" received his appointment to the Naval Academy after spending a year at Marquette University. With his sights set on Navy jets, he found no difficulties with a few incidentals such as Steam and Skinny . . . managing to bring down his share of the 4.0's. Continuing his love of boxing, "Happy Herb" could be seen holding his own in the ring during the Intra-Brigade Boxing Matches. Although not a confirmed Red Mike, Herb preferred a more diversified existence at Navy Tech. He should experience little trouble in earning those Navy wings following graduation.

Loss

Herb was lost in an aircraft crash at sea on June 25, 1955 while operating from USS Oriskany (CVA 34) in the Western Pacific. He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 192. (He had been stationed with that squadron since sometime prior to August 1954, per that issue of Shipmate.)

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In his youth, Herbert went by his middle name Carl. He graduated from Riverside High School in 1947. Freshman Project, Hall Patrol, Noon Hall Patrol, Study Hall Monitor, Football, Cross Country, President of Service Club, Homeroom President.
In 1940 his father Herbert was a bank clerk, mother Vera, and sister Vera.

The obituary of his wife, Ruth, talks about their time together:

They were married upon his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952. During their Naval Service, Carl became a Naval Aviator and they moved to NAS Moffett Field, Mountain View, Calif. By this time, they had a daughter, Susan Margaret. Carl's squadron was deployed to the Western Pacific, leaving Ruth at home and pregnant with their second daughter. This meant that she had to be taken to the hospital for her delivery of Carrie Jane by close friend, astronaut James Lovell. A sad note is that Carl was lost at sea in an aircraft accident and never got to hold Carrie in his arms. Published in Star-Telegram on June 19, 2016

She remarried a 1953 graduate in March 1956.