Helmut Lipfert

Helmut Lipfert (6 August 1916 – 10 August 1990) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II. 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.

Born in Lippelsdorf, Lipfert joined the military service in 1937, at first serving with the 1st Panzer Division before he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1941. Trained as a fighter pilot, Lipfert was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in late 1942. He claimed his first aerial victory in January 1943. In March 1943, Lipfert was appointed acting Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of JG 52. Following his 90th aerial victory claimed, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in April 1944. In February 1945, Lipfert was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing). In April 1945, he claimed his 200th aerial victory and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Following World War II, Lipfert became a school teacher. He died on 10 August 1990 in Einbeck, West Germany.

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 1]} 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, making him the fourth most successful active fighter pilot of II. Gruppe.^[9] On 28 January 1944, Lipfert was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).^[10] On 5 April, 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.^[11][12] He was the 69th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.^[13]

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.^[11] 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.^[14] Two weeks later, on the 24 of June, he downed a Consolidated B-24 Liberator over Ștefănești in the historical Romanian region of Moldavia, his 128th claim. His 150th claim was filed on 24 October 1944, a Yakovlev Yak-7 over Feherto, Hungary.^[15]

Group commander

Lipfert was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) on 15 February 1945.^[16] He thus replaced Hauptmann Erich Hartmann who had briefly led the Gruppe after its former commander, Major Jürgen Harder, was transferred.^[17] Command of 6. Staffel of JG 52 was given to Leutnant Heinz Ewald.^[18] 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.^[19] 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.^[20] 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.^[16][21] 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.^[22]

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. ^[23] Lipfert claimed his 183rd aerial victory, an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, on 8 March. The following day, German forces attacked Soviet positions on both sides of Lake Balaton during Operation Spring Awakening.^[24] 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.^[25] 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.^[26] 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).^[27]

On 5 April, I. Gruppe moved from Fels am Wagram to Brno.^[28] Three days later, Lipfert claimed his 200th aerial victory in the vicinity of Hainburg an der Donau, west of Bratislava.^[29] 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.^[30][31]

Later life

After the war, Lipfert became a school teacher, and was seldom seen by his war comrades. He died on 10 August 1990 at the age of 74 in Einbeck.^[30] He was buried at the local cemetery in Einbeck.^[32]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Lipfert was credited with 203 aerial victories.^[33] 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.^[34] Mathews 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.^[35] The authors Daniel and Gabor Horvath compared Soviet enemy loss reports to Lipfert's claims over Hungary. In the timeframe 17 October 1944 to 21 March 1945, Lipfert claimed 52 aerial victories, while the authors found 48 matching Soviet losses, a corroboration of 92%.^[36]

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 by 4 km (1.9 by 2.5 mi) in size.^[37]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (12 March 1943)^[67][68]
  • 1st Class (29 April 1943)^[67][68]
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for fighter pilots in Gold (26 April 1943)^[67]
• Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 December 1943 as Leutnant and pilot^{[69]["Note" 8]}
• German Cross in Gold on 28 January 1944 as Leutnant in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 52^[70]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 5 April 1944 as Leutnant of the Reserves and Staffelführer of the 6./Jagdgeschwader 52^{[71]["Note" 9]}
  • 837th Oak Leaves on 17 April 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 53^{[72]["Note" 10]}

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.^[73]
2. ^ The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed with 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52.^[74]
4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:44.^[75]
5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-11.^[75]
6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.^[76]
7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-7.^[75]
8. ^ According to Obermaier on 14 November 1943.^[77]
9. ^ According to Scherzer as Leutnant (war officer).^[78]
10. ^ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann (war officer).^[78]

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. ^ Toliver & Constable 1996, p. 250.
2. ^ 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. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 153.
10. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 288.
11. ^ Weal 2002, p. 83.
12. ^ Bergström 2008, p. 48.
13. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
14. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 367.
15. ^ Barbas 2005, pp. 367, 369.
16. ^ Shores 1983, p. 107.
17. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1653.
18. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 286.
19. ^ Prien 1991, pp. 1223–1224.
20. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1226.
21. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1227.
22. ^ Prien 1991, pp. 1228–1229.
23. ^ Prien 1991, pp. 1230–1231.
24. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1232.
25. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1233.
26. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1237.
27. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1239.
28. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1246.
29. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1248.
30. ^ Stockert 2011, p. 100.
31. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1251.
32. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 98.
33. ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
34. ^ Spick 1996, p. 228.
35. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 758–762.
36. ^ Horvath & Horvath 2022, pp. 154–189.
37. ^ Planquadrat.
38. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 758–761.
39. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 498.
40. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 362.
41. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 379.
42. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 363.
43. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 380.
44. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 385.
45. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 364.
46. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 365.
47. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 386.
48. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 388.
49. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 389.
50. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 390.
51. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 366.
52. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 391.
53. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 392.
54. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 368.
55. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 369.
56. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 393.
57. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 370.
58. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 394.
59. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 395.
60. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 371.
61. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 358.
62. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 359.
63. ^ Barbas 2005, p. 361.
64. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 761–762.
65. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1682.
66. ^ Prien 1991, p. 1683.
67. ^ MacLean 2007, p. 220.
68. ^ Thomas 1998, p. 30.
69. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 136.
70. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 281.
71. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 293, 496.
72. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 102.
73. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
74. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 758.
75. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 760.
76. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 759–760.
77. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 76.
78. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 509.

Bibliography

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• Bergström, Christer; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
• 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.
• Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
• 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.
• Horvath, Daniel & Horvath, Gabor (2022). Verified Victories: Top JG 52 Aces Over Hungary 1944–45. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-915070-87-6.
• MacLean, French L (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners. Vol. One. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-2657-8.
• Mathews, 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.
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1. ^ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations, see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
2. ^ Il-2 m.H.
3. ^ 4./JG 52
4. ^ Yak-11
5. ^ unconfirmed