Korean War
| Service # | AO-886120 |
|---|---|
| Unit | 8 FTR BOMB SQ 49 FTR BOMB GP |
| Rank | Captain U.S. Air Force |
| Date of Death | March 23 1951 |
| Status | Missing In Action |
| Memorialized |
Courts of the Missing
Court
8
Honolulu Memorial |
Air Medal
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Captain Van Riper was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Notes
Captain Van Riper was the pilot of a F-80C Shooting Star fighter interceptor with the 8th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 49th Fighter Bomber Group. On March 23, 1951, while on a combat mission, his aircraft received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed and burst into flames near Sunan, Korea. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on December 31, 1953. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.