George M. Riggin
Rank: Ensign, U.S. Navy
Serial: O-176569
Unit: Torpedo Squadron VT-30, USS Monterey CVL-26
Entered service from: New Jersey
Missing in Action:
Declared Dead:
Memorial: Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines
Awards: Purple Heart
Biography
George M. Riggin
Ensign George M. Riggin was the son of Nutter and Phoebe Riggin, who lived at 1349 South 54th Street in Philadelphia PA in January of 1920. Nutter Riggin was then working as a refrigeration foreman. George Riggin was born in 1920. The family later moved to 304 Wyoming Avenue in Audubon NJ. George Riggin graduated from Audubon High School in 1937. George Riggin was an all-around athlete, playing football, soccer, and basketball while at Audubon High, and also played in the school orchestra. George Riggin won a scholarship to the University of Maryland to study natural sciences. He graduated in 1942, and enlisted in the Navy in April of 1942.
George Riggin received his initial training at Anacostia Air Field, near Washington DC. He won his wings and was commissioned as an Ensign at Pensacola FL on January 4, 1943. Trained as a fighter pilot, he had gone overseas that year, and was flying the Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat carrier-based fighter. Ensign Riggin was a member of Torpedo Squadron VT-30, which operated off of the aircraft carrier USS Monterey CVL-26. One of his shipmates was Lieutenant Gerald R. Ford, who went on to become President of the United States.
Ensign Riggin had shot down at least one Japanese aircraft before he was lost while taking part in a bombing mission against Kavieng, on the island of New Ireland, which lies north of New Guinea. Navy records record his plane as going missing on January 1, 1944. Ensign Riggin was reported as missing in action in the January 11, 1944 edition of the Camden Courier-Post.
Ensign George M. Riggin's body was never recovered. He was declared dead on January 14, 1946. He was survived by his parents, and sisters Ruth Riggin and Mrs. Margaret Walker.
Five members of Audubon High School's 1937 graduating class were also lost while serving in America's military during World War II. Besides George Riggin, the dead include Charles Adamson, Peter Albano, Edwin Klenk, and Charles Stevenson.
Audubon High School, Class of 1937
Audubon High School class photo, 1937
USS Monterey CVL-26
USS Monterey CVL-26 flight deck in the Gilbert Islands, November–December 1943
Audubon Air Hero Missing in Action
Camden Courier-Post —
AUDUBON AIR HERO MISSING IN ACTION
Ensign G. M. Riggin Wrote Ill Mother After Bagging First Jap
Ensign George M. Riggin, Navy Hellcat fighter pilot, wrote to his ill mother several weeks ago, “I kept my promise and shot down a Jap plane, now you keep yours and get well.”
Yesterday the mother, Mrs. Arlene Riggin, of 304 Wyoming avenue, Audubon, received word from the Navy Department that he is missing following action “in the performance of his duty.”
Ensign Riggin's mother was injured in an accident several months ago, requiring hospitalization. Her son's last message came shortly after she left the hospital, but while she was still ill.
The flier has been on active duty since his commissioning as an ensign at the Pensacola, Fla., Navy base, Jan. 4, 1943.
All-Around Athlete
Riggin was an all-around athlete at Audubon High school. He was graduated in 1937 after earning a scholarship and entered the University of Maryland to study natural sciences. He was graduated at the university in 1942 and enlisted in Naval Aviation in April, 1942.
While attending Audubon High school, Riggin played football, soccer and basketball and played in the school orchestra. After enlisting he received his preliminary training at Anacostia, D.C.
The 23-year-old flier's father Nutter Riggin, is a guard at the R. M. Hollingshead Company. He has two sisters, Miss Ruth Riggin, at home, and Mrs. Margaret Walker, of Philadelphia.
Audubon World War II Memorial
Audubon's Tribute to Those Who Served in WWII