Lippett, Richard Albert James

Date of birth:: October 24th, 1899 (Wales)
Service number:: 60576
Nationality:: British

Biography

Richard Lippett served in the Royal Engineers until 1924, after which he became a reservist. He joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in December 1940 and was stationed with the West African Section. He played a key role in preparing Operation Postmaster, including taking aerial photographs.

?: Lieutenant
?: Captain

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Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE, Military Division)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Captain
Unit:: W Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:: July 28th, 1942
Awarded for:: Operation Postmaster

"Captain R.A.J. Lippett R.E., was sent to Fernando Po in the capacity of a Civil Engineer charged with the repair of Messrs. John Holt's buldings. Over a period of months he maintained his cover while making extremely valuable reconnaissances.

His share in the operation was to ensure that as many as possible of the officers and crew of the ships were on sore. In this he was very successful.

It was on him that Spanish suspicion fell. he was refused permission to leave the island and subjected to intensive grilling by police who, however, failed to extract any information from him. Subsequently on his own initiative he took the decision t leave the mainland. After eluding the police supervisors for twenty-four hours he had to knock out two policemen in making good his escape. After a dangerous journey of some fifteen hours duration in a small native canoe, he reached the mainland.

His escape to the mainland prevented further enquiry in his direction and relieved a very embarrassing situation."