Remarks:
He was a Solicitor and spent many years in general management. The companies in
which he served either as Director, Chief Executive and/or Chairman included
Platt Brothers & Co. Ltd., The Automotive Products Group, Tube Investments,
The Lindustries Group and The Monotype Corporation Ltd.
Lived at Woodford, Cheshire in 1939
Times Obituary:
Learning to fly before the war with Lancashire Aero Club, Peter Rippon joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve and, after a number of appointments as a flying instructor at RAF Shawbury, got on to operations as a flight commander with 166 Squadron in May 1944. As such, in August 1944 he flew on one of 166’s hazardous ‘gardening” (minelaying) raids to Danzig, 200 miles to the east of Berlin and one of the RAF’s most distant targets.
Taking off from Kirmington in Lincolnshire, the five Lancasters were sent via Sweden where, despite the advance apology sent, they encountered light flak. Over the target there was sterner opposition from enemy fighters, and two of the bombers were shot down.
As they neared home on the return trip, fog blanketed the East Coast of England, raising the uncomfortable possibility that Rippon might have to order his crew to abandon the aircraft. But he was able to make it to Lossiemouth, on the Moray Firth, with very little left in the tanks after a flight of
almost ten hours. Rippon was awarded the DFC for his skill and leadership.
Towards the end of the war Rippon was given command of 150 Squadron and took part in Operation Manna, dropping Food supplies for the starving population in parts of the Netherlands.
After the war he had a successful career in industry, and held senior appointments in a number of aerospace and automotive companies.
