Helmut Lipfert

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Helmut Lipfert
Helmut Lipfert.jpg
Helmut Lipfert
Born(1916-08-06)6 August 1916
Lippelsdorf, Saxe-Meiningen, German Empire
Died10 August 1990(1990-08-10) (aged 74)
Einbeck, West Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchArmy (1937–41)
Luftwaffe (1941–45)
Years of service1937–45
RankHauptmann (Captain)
Unit1st Panzer Division
JG 52, JG 53
Commands held4./JG 52, 6./JG 52, I./JG 53
Battles/wars
See battles
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Other workschool teacher

Helmut Lipfert (6 August 1916 – 10 August 1990) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Lipfert ranks as the world's thirteenth fighter ace.[1] Lipfert was credited with 203 victories achieved in 687 combat missions. All his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front and included a P-51 Mustang, 41 Yakovlev Yak-1, 41 Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters, two four-engine bombers and 39 Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. He was shot down fifteen times, without being injured.

Early life and career[]

Lipfert was born on 6 August 1916 in Lippelsdorf, present-day a borough of Gräfenthal, at the time in Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, as part of the German Empire. Following the compulsory labour service (Reichsarbeitsdienst), Lipfert joined the military service with Nachrichten-Abteilung 37 (37th Signals Battalion), a unit of 1st Panzer Division on 3 November 1937.[2]

World War II[]

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. Lipfert, who held the rank of Unteroffizier (sergeant), participated in the Invasion of Poland and in the Battle of France as a member of the 1st Panzer Division. In early 1941, he transferred to the Luftwaffe where he trained as a fighter pilot.[Note 1] He was promoted to Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel (officer cadet) on 16 June 1942 and to Leutnant (second lientenant) on 1 August 1942.[2]

Lipfert was then posted to the Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group, East) based at Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France and then via the Frontleitstelle Krakau, front dispatch center based at Krakau, to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on 16 December 1942.[Note 2] At the time, JG 52 was based on the southern sector of the Eastern Front in the vicinity of Stalingrad.[2] His 6. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Rudolf Resch and subordinated to II. Gruppe (4th group) of JG 52 headed by Hauptmann Johannes Steinhoff.[3] The Gruppe was based at an airfield near Morozovsk and fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad.[4]

Eastern Front[]

On 18 December 1942, on one of his first combat missions, Lipfert made a forced landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummber 14154—factory number) due to engine failure.[5] He is remembered by contemporaries as a consistent, professional pilot and leader. He withdrew often from squadron mates into long periods of contemplation.[1] On 22 January 1943, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Rostov-on-Don.[6] There, Lipfert claimed his first aerial victory over a Lavochkin La-5, a radial engined fighter aircraft, on the 30 January, near Malaya Balabinka, approximately 80 km (50 mi) east of Rostov-on-Don.[7]

On 20 March 1943, Lipfert was appointed acting Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 52. He replaced Leutnant Wolf-Dieter von Coester in this capacity who had been killed in action that day. Following the death of Oberleutnant Karl Ritzenberger on 24 May, Lipfert was transferred to take command of 6. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 52. He was succeeded by Leutnant Heinrich Sturm as commander of 4. Staffel.[8]

On 8 October, he shot down five Russian aircraft (kills 30 to 34). Four more are shot down on 5 December and his score raises to 72. By the end of 1943 his victories total had reached 80. On 5 April 1944, his 90th air victory had won him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). Six days later, 11 April 1944, an "all-white Sturmovik" provided him with his 100th aerial victory.[9][10] He was the 69th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[11]

The last Germans had to evacuate from Crimea in May, retiring to Kherson. There, the Luftwaffe Gruppen were subjected to near-constant Soviet bombing raids, and Lipfert's 6./JG 52, in particular, lost a number of aircraft.[9] On 11 June 1944 he destroyed his first United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) four engined bomber, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress north-northwest of Tătăruși, his 127th aerial victory.[12] Two weeks later, on the 24 of June, he downed a Consolidated B-24 Liberator over Ștefănești in the historical Romanian region of Moldavia ("victim" number 128). His 150th claim came on 24 October 1944: a Yakovlev Yak-7 over Feherto, Hungary.

Group commander[]

Lipfert was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) on 15 February 1945.[13] He thus replace Hauptmann Erich Hartmann who had briefly led the Gruppe after its former commander, Major Jürgen Harder, was transferred.[14] At the time, the Gruppe was based in Veszprém and had been fighting in the siege of Budapest, where German forces had surrendered on 13 February. The Gruppe then supported German forces in Operation Southwind, eliminating the Soviet bridgehead on the west bank of the river Hron, predominantly fighting over Esztergom.[15] On 20 February, Lipfert was ordered to move the Gruppe to Piešťany, located approximately 75 kilometers (47 miles) northeast of Vienna, where they arrived the following day.[16] The following day, I. Gruppe again flew combat air patrols over Esztergom. That day, Lipfert claimed his first two aerial victories with JG 53 when he shot down a La-5 and Yak-3 fighter, taking his total to 181.[13][17] By 25 February, German forces had eliminated the Soviet bridgehead west of the Hron. That day, I. Gruppe flew combat missions to Zvolen (Altsohl). On a morning mission, Lipfert claimed a Yak-9 fighter shot down.[18]

On 26 February, water from the Váh started flooding the airfield at Piešťany. The airfield had to be abandoned and I. Gruppe first moved to Pápa before returning to Veszprém on 28 February. [19] Lipfert claimed his 183rd aerial victory, an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, on 8 March. The following day, German forces attacked Soviet position on both sides of Lake Balaton during Operation Spring Awakening.[20] Supporting this operation, I. Gruppe flew many missions to the combat areas near Zvolen and Székesfehérvár (Stuhlweißenburg). On 11 March, Lipfert shot down a Yak-3 fighter near Sárbogárd and another Yak-3 near Siófok. From 12 to 17 March, I. Gruppe continued fighting in the vicinity of Székesfehérvár. In this timeframe, Lipfert claimed his 186th aerial victory on 13 March, his 187th and 188th on 14 March, and his 189th on 17 March.[21] On 20 March, with Soviet forces advancing, ground combat shifted to the area north of Lake Velence and to Székesfehérvár. Flying his second mission of the day, Lipfert shot down two Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, the first near Székesfehérvár, the second near Várpalota.[22] On 22 March, the airfield Veszprém was taken by Soviet forces and the Gruppe relocated to Pápa where they were joined by the Stab (headquarters unit) of Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing).[23]

On 5 April, I. Gruppe moved from Fels am Wagram to Brno.[24] Three days later, Lipfert claimed his 200th aerial victory in the vicinity of Hainburg an der Donau, west of Bratislava.[25] He flew his last and 687th combat mission on 16 April, claiming a Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter shot down, taking his total to 203 aerial victories. The next day, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). He was the 837th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. The presentation was made by Generalleutnant Paul Deichmann, commanding general of I. Fliegerkorps (1st Air Corps), on 17 April.[26][27]

After the dissolution of I./JG 53, Lipfert was transferred to 7./JG 52, until the end of the conflict. He claimed 27 unconfirmed victories. After the end of the war he was not turned over to the Soviet forces.

Later life[]

After the war, Lipfert became a school teacher, and was seldom seen by his war comrades. He died on 10 August 1990 in Einbeck.[26]

Summary of career[]

Aerial victory claims[]

According to Spick, Lipfert was credited with 203 aerial victories claimed in approximately 700 combat missions. All of his aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front and includes two USAAF four-engine bombers claimed over Romania.[28] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 200 aerial victory claims, plus six further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes 198 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and two on the Western Front, including one four-engined bomber.[29]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 08693". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 × 4 km in size.[30]

Awards[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.
  2. ^ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations, see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c According to Matthews and Foreman claimed with 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52.[37]
  5. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 10:44.[39]
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-11.[39]
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c According to Matthews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[47]
  8. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-7.[39]
  9. ^ According to Obermaier on 14 November 1943.[66]
  10. ^ According to Scherzer as Leutnant (war officer).[69]
  11. ^ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann (war officer).[69]

Publications[]

  • Lipfert, Helmut; Girbig, Werner (1993). The War Diary of Hauptmann Helmut Lipfert – JG 52 on the Russian Front 1943–1945. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-446-7.

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Toliver & Constable 1996, p. 250.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Stockert 2011, p. 98.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 475.
  4. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 111.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 506.
  6. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 114.
  7. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 340.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2012, pp. 374.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Weal 2002, p. 83.
  10. ^ Bergström 2008, p. 48.
  11. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Barbas 2005, p. 367.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b Shores 1983, p. 107.
  14. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1653.
  15. ^ Prien 1991, pp. 1223–1224.
  16. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1226.
  17. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1227.
  18. ^ Prien 1991, pp. 1228–1229.
  19. ^ Prien 1991, pp. 1230–1231.
  20. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1232.
  21. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1233.
  22. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1237.
  23. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1239.
  24. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1246.
  25. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1248.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Stockert 2011, p. 100.
  27. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1251.
  28. ^ Spick 1996, p. 228.
  29. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 758–762.
  30. ^ Planquadrat.
  31. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 758–761.
  32. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 498.
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Barbas 2005, p. 362.
  34. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 379.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Barbas 2005, p. 363.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 380.
  37. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 758.
  38. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 385.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b c Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 760.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Barbas 2005, p. 364.
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Barbas 2005, p. 365.
  42. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 386.
  43. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 388.
  44. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 389.
  45. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2012, p. 390.
  46. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Barbas 2005, p. 366.
  47. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 759–760.
  48. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 391.
  49. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien et al. 2012, p. 392.
  50. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Barbas 2005, p. 368.
  51. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Barbas 2005, p. 369.
  52. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2012, p. 393.
  53. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m Barbas 2005, p. 370.
  54. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2012, p. 394.
  55. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 395.
  56. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m Barbas 2005, p. 371.
  57. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Barbas 2005, p. 358.
  58. ^ Jump up to: a b Barbas 2005, p. 359.
  59. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 361.
  60. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 761–762.
  61. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Prien 1991, p. 1682.
  62. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Prien 1991, p. 1683.
  63. ^ Jump up to: a b c MacLean 2007, p. 220.
  64. ^ Jump up to: a b Thomas 1998, p. 30.
  65. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 136.
  66. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 76.
  67. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 281.
  68. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 293, 496.
  69. ^ Jump up to: a b Scherzer 2007, p. 509.
  70. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 102.

Bibliography[]

  • Barbas, Bernd (2005). Die Geschichte der II. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of 2nd Group of Fighter Wing 52] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-71-7.
  • Bergström, Christer (2008). Bagration to Berlin—The Final Air Battles in the East: 1944–1945. Burgess Hill: Classic Publications. ISBN 978-1-903223-91-8.
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • MacLean, French L (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-2657-8.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen (1991). Pik-As: Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 53 — 3 — Das Ende in Italien 1944, Rumänien, Ungarn 1944/45, Einsatz zur Verteidigung des Reiches 1943–1945 [Ace of Spades: History of the Fighter Wing 53 — 3 — The End in Italy 1944, Romania, Hungary 1944/45, Defense of the Reich 1943–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-16-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Shores, Christopher (1983). Air Aces. Greenwich, CT: Bison Books. ISBN 978-0-86124-104-0.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
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  • Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
  • Toliver, Raymond F.; Constable, Trevor J. (1996). Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-909-7.
  • Weal, John (2002). German Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-620-1.
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