Barry County History Portal - Hosted by Hastings Public Library

James P. Dibble: A Life in Pictures

Young James Dibble in Grand Rapids, MI, age 2 or so

James Dibble (right) and his brother Bill, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

James (2nd from left, front row) and classmates at the Kellogsville School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Date unknown.

12 year old James with his dog.

James (back row, 3rd from right, #1) in his high school football team photo. 1936.

James' Senior Photo from Hastings High School, Hastings, Michigan. 1939.

James Dibble in his Schultz bakery uniform. 1940.

James Dibble in Chicago, IL at night. 1941.

James Dibble in uniform. date unknown, likely mid-1942.

Air Cadet James Dibble at Luke Field, CA. 1942.

James Dibble's Air Corps training graduation photograph. 1942-12-03

James and Maxine less than two months after being married. 2022-01-18

James Dibble with his 3rd P-38 Lightning. Note the two swastikas on the nose indicating confirmed enemy planes shot down. His wife's name is also painted on but misspelled. It should be "Micky".

This is only 4 days before he would be shot down over Padula, Italy.

James Dibble's Monument in Padula, Italy. May, 2000.

Pictures tell a lot about someone. Look through this selection covering James Dibble's life and see what impression you get of him.

You'll see a young boy grow into adulthood, full of promise and dreams like most.

You'll see confidence and pride in training to serve his country.

You'll see a loving husband.

You'll see someone who then made the ultimate sacrifice and died a hero.

More pictures are available on the full collection pages about James. Browse them at any time:

James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot

Be sure to browse through the entire exhibit as well which highlights the entire collection and includes dozens of letters, mission reports from 1943, personal accounts of air battles, the Dibble family's search for answers and so much more.

All content in this exhibit was donated to the Hastings Public Library by Jim Dibble, nephew of fighter pilot James P. Dibble. We are proud to display it for others to learn of James' sacrifice, the one so many men and women made in World War II.