Butch Recalls the Amazing Tribbett Brothers

  On a few occasions when I was a youngster, I accompanied my Dad when he visited Wesley “Wes” Tribbett, who lived in a little house on Madison street in Darlington. Wes was the town’s superintendent of power and light, and had great knowledge of electricity, machinery, tools, etc. Dad often sought his advice concerning a problem at our house and farm. As they spoke, I noticed a model of an airplane that sat on the desk in Wes’s living room. Like my Dad, Wes was a member of the local American Legion. Dad had served in the army during WWII, and later on I found out that Wes had also served our country in the war. When I taught history at Darlington school in the 1970s, I invited WWII veterans to speak to my classes . . . Wes Tribbett was my first speaker. I was amazed at the story of Wes and his three brothers during the war.

   In 1942, at the age of 21, Wes enlisted for flight training in the Army Air Corps, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He became a B-29 command pilot and was assigned to the Pacific theater of operations, based on Saipan in the Mariana Islands, with the 20th Air Force, 73rd Bomber Wing. During the war, he flew 29 combat missions and two prisoner-of-war missions over Japan, separating from military service after the war with the rank of Captain. The students asked Wes many questions, and as he related his war adventures, the kids and I listened with intent concentration.

   Wes also told us that all three of his brothers were pilots and served in WWII. Frank Tribbett enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942, and was assigned to the European theater of operations. As a Captain, he flew P-51 Mustang fighter planes in North Africa, Sicily, Corsica and over southern Europe. All told, Frank flew 87 combat missions and was credited with shooting down five enemy planes and damaging five more.

   Another brother, Everett, enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 and was assigned to the 8th Air Force in England. He flew B-17 “Flying Fortress” bombers over Europe. During one mission Everett and his crew shot down three German fighter planes, but his B-17 was badly damaged and began a nosedive at 10,000 feet. With great skill and perhaps a miracle, Everett was able to bring his plane under control at 2,000 feet, and he made it back to England. It was discovered that his plane had over 1,600 bullet holes in it! One month later, Capt. Everett Tribbett and his crew were shot down over Germany. He was captured by the Nazis, and was held as a prisoner of war in Stalag #3 for 26 months, but he survived and was finally set free when Germany surrendered in 1945.

   Oldest brother Louis Tribbett was a graduate of the Purdue School of Engineering and was working as an aeronautical engineer when WWII began. As a Lieutenant, he served in the military for three years in the Central Pacific theater of operation as a member of the 7th Air Force. Although Louis was a trained pilot, he did not fly any missions, as his specialty was designing planes and their structures. He served in the Air Force for the next 20 years, and eventually helped with the U.S. space program.

   All four brothers, the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Tribbett, grew up on a farm, and graduated from Darlington High School during the Great Depression years. Like others from that era, they were patriotic and wanted to serve their country. After the war, they returned to their families, raised their children, and became contributing members of their communities. And like most WWII veterans, they rarely spoke of their war deeds and exploits. It would be interesting to know why four farm boys decided to become airplane pilots. I should have asked that question when these men were still around . . .

   I can still picture that model of a B-29 plane on the desk. I’m certain it held a lot of memories for Wesley Tribbett . . . town electrician, handyman, WWII bomber pilot . . . and like his three brothers . . . a true American hero.

John “Butch” Dale is a retired teacher and County Sheriff. He has also been the librarian at Darlington the past 36 years, and is a well-known artist and author of local history.