Irvin Kipper

Irvin Sylvan "Kip" Kipper, (November 13, 1916 – April 21, 2016) was a US Army Air Forces bomber pilot, prisoner of war, and the founder and namesake of Kip's Toyland, the oldest toy store in Los Angeles, located in the Farmer's Market since 1945.

Early life Irvin Kipper was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 13, 1916, and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1920. After they married, Kipper left for war, and it was the only time in their lives that the two were apart. At the time of his death, he had been married for 77 years.

Military service Kipper served with the 463rd Bombardment Group in the US Army Air Forces as a first lieutenant. He served with other units as well, including 15th Air Force and 772nd Bomb Squadron.

On his 26th mission, Kipper was shot down over Bologna, Italy where he was captured and spent more than seven months as a Nazi prisoner of war in the POW camps Stalag Luft III (celebrated in books, TV and film for "The Great Escape") and Stalag VII. Kipper's camp was liberated by troops of George S. Patton in August 1945.

Career When Kipper returned to Los Angeles after the war, he purchased a small store to sell flags. Part of the reason he chose to open a toy store was because after the trauma he experienced during the war, he wanted to bring joy to those around him.