Hans Martin Pippart
Encyclopedia
Leutnant Hans Martin Pippart (14 May 1888 - 11 August 1918) Iron Cross
was a pioneer aircraft manufacturer and early pilot. As a World War I
fighter ace
he was credited with 22 victories.
. He was a principal in the aeronautical firm of Pippart und Noll, which produced Eindekker airplanes. In 1913, he set an aviation endurance record.
He joined the German air forces at the start of the war. His initial assignment was as an instructor. He then served some time flying artillery coordination missions in two-seaters with FF(A) 220 in Galicia. Single seater scouts were also available to him.
against the Russians.
By the end of 1917, despite flying on a quiet sector, he had six victories to his credit—two planes and four observation balloons—and was transferred to Jasta 13
on the Western Front
. On 21 February 1918, he took up his balloon busting again, downing a gas bag. By the time he left Jasta 13 at the end of April, he was a double ace, and thus satisfied the German definition of Überkanone or "big gun". His six victories over balloons made him an ace on them alone.
On 18 April 1918, he was reassigned to take the command of the Royal Prussian Jasta 19. However, it seems there must have been some lag in his transfer, as victory number ten is scored to his old squadron on 20 April. On 2 May, he scored his first victory flying a Fokker D.VII
for his new squadron. With four wins in May, one in June, and six in August, his score had soon grown to 21.
on 11 August 1918. He shot down a balloon, but was hit by anti-aircraft fire and found he had to abandon his airplane at an altitude of 150 feet. His parachute failed to open.
In his victory log, he was credited with seven enemy observation balloons destroyed, eight opposing fighter planes vanquished, and seven reconnaissance aircraft shot down.
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
was a pioneer aircraft manufacturer and early pilot. As a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
he was credited with 22 victories.
Early life
Pippart had built airplanes and become a pilot before the beginning of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was a principal in the aeronautical firm of Pippart und Noll, which produced Eindekker airplanes. In 1913, he set an aviation endurance record.
He joined the German air forces at the start of the war. His initial assignment was as an instructor. He then served some time flying artillery coordination missions in two-seaters with FF(A) 220 in Galicia. Single seater scouts were also available to him.
Aerial victories
Pippart scored his first win on 25 May 1917, after he had been assigned to Kasta 1. They were operating Roland D.IIs on the Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
against the Russians.
By the end of 1917, despite flying on a quiet sector, he had six victories to his credit—two planes and four observation balloons—and was transferred to Jasta 13
Jasta 13
Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 13 was a World War I "hunting group" of the Luftstreitkräfte, which was the forerunner to the Luftwaffe...
on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. On 21 February 1918, he took up his balloon busting again, downing a gas bag. By the time he left Jasta 13 at the end of April, he was a double ace, and thus satisfied the German definition of Überkanone or "big gun". His six victories over balloons made him an ace on them alone.
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
for his new squadron. With four wins in May, one in June, and six in August, his score had soon grown to 21.
His death
Pippart ended his career as a balloon busterBalloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
on 11 August 1918. He shot down a balloon, but was hit by anti-aircraft fire and found he had to abandon his airplane at an altitude of 150 feet. His parachute failed to open.
In his victory log, he was credited with seven enemy observation balloons destroyed, eight opposing fighter planes vanquished, and seven reconnaissance aircraft shot down.