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Wolfgang Lippert (pilot)
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Lippert was a World War II
Luftwaffe
Flying ace
. Lippert was credited with 29 victories, five of which were scored in the Spanish Civil War.
Lippert was part of a group of German pilots that joined the Condor Legion
. The war gave the pilots valuable combat experience.
During the Battle of France
he destroyed eight aircraft Allied aircraft, (a 9th was scored against a French bomber in 1939, during the Phoney War period). During the Battle of Britain
which "officially" lasted until October 31, 1940, a further seven kills were added, including the RAF ace Archie McKellar
flying a Hurricane, who Lippert shot down on 2 November 1940. Although most historians consider the actual end date of the Battle of Britain much later than October 31, technically, McKellar was killed in the engagement after the (official dates of) Battle of Britain, and not during the Battle of Britain. For this reason, perhaps, the Scottish Ace is not listed in the official Battle of Britain Memorial for pilots killed during the Battle of Britain. McKellar was the top RAF ace of the Battle of Britain with 21 kills. He also was one of only 25 RAF pilots during World War II to accomplish "ace in a day" status, and he did this during the BOB on 7 Oct, 1940 shooting down 5 Bf109's without assistance. .
In 1941 Lippert participated in Operation Barbarossa
scoring four victories against Soviet aircraft. Later than year he was transferred to North Africa where he destroyed a further five RAF aircraft.
over Allied lines. As Lippert bailed out of his Bf 109, Werk-Nr. 8469, he hit the tailplane. He was hospitalised, and his legs amputated. However his legs were infected by gangerene and he died 10 days later.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. Lippert was credited with 29 victories, five of which were scored in the Spanish Civil War.
Luftwaffe career
During the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
Lippert was part of a group of German pilots that joined the Condor Legion
Condor Legion
The Condor Legion was a unit composed of volunteers from the German Air Force and from the German Army which served with the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War of July 1936 to March 1939. The Condor Legion developed methods of terror bombing which were used widely in the Second World War...
. The war gave the pilots valuable combat experience.
During the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
he destroyed eight aircraft Allied aircraft, (a 9th was scored against a French bomber in 1939, during the Phoney War period). During the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
which "officially" lasted until October 31, 1940, a further seven kills were added, including the RAF ace Archie McKellar
Archie McKellar
Flight Lieutenant Archibald Ashmore McKellar DSO DFC & Bar , was a top fighter ace of the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain in World War II .Most of McKellar's victories were scored in the Hawker Hurricane....
flying a Hurricane, who Lippert shot down on 2 November 1940. Although most historians consider the actual end date of the Battle of Britain much later than October 31, technically, McKellar was killed in the engagement after the (official dates of) Battle of Britain, and not during the Battle of Britain. For this reason, perhaps, the Scottish Ace is not listed in the official Battle of Britain Memorial for pilots killed during the Battle of Britain. McKellar was the top RAF ace of the Battle of Britain with 21 kills. He also was one of only 25 RAF pilots during World War II to accomplish "ace in a day" status, and he did this during the BOB on 7 Oct, 1940 shooting down 5 Bf109's without assistance. .
In 1941 Lippert participated in Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
scoring four victories against Soviet aircraft. Later than year he was transferred to North Africa where he destroyed a further five RAF aircraft.
Death
On the 23 November 1941 Lippert was shot down by Clive CaldwellClive Caldwell
Group Captain Clive Robertson Caldwell DSO, DFC & Bar was the leading Australian air ace of World War II. He is officially credited with shooting down 28.5 enemy aircraft in over 300 operational sorties. In addition to his official score, he has been ascribed six probables and 15 damaged...
over Allied lines. As Lippert bailed out of his Bf 109, Werk-Nr. 8469, he hit the tailplane. He was hospitalised, and his legs amputated. However his legs were infected by gangerene and he died 10 days later.