Richard Leppla
Encyclopedia
Richard Leppla was a German
Luftwaffe
ace
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II
. Leppla claimed 68 aerial victories claimed in over 500 combat missions. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
, joining the army as a cadet in 1934. he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935 and was an Oberleutnant with 3 Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 51
(JG 51—51st fighter wing) when the war started.
Leppla was Staffelkapitän
(squadron leader) by March 1940, and claimed his first confirmed victory on 10 May, a Dutch Fokker G.I
. By July he had claimed five victories, and during the Battle of Britain
Hauptmann Leppla claimed eight more and was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
(group commander) of III./JG 51.
Leppla then took part in Operation Barbarossa
, the invasion of the Soviet Union, quickly raising his score and being awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
on 27 July 1941 after downing 27 aircraft.
His 40th victim fell 10 October 1941 and his 50th came on 9 February 1942.
Leppla was severely wounded in August 1942, losing the vision in one eye after colliding with a landing Junkers Ju 52
.
After a period of hospitalization in December 1942 Leppla was assigned to command Jagdfliegerschule 5
(later renamed JG 105), a position he held until August 1943.
In April 1945 Leppla was then appointed Geschwaderkommodore
of Jagdgeschwader 6
. When the war ended, Leppla was interned by Soviet Soviet forces He remaining in captivity until 1950.
He then served in the West German Air Force, reaching the rank of Oberst
before retiring from active service in 1972.
Leppla flew over 500 combat missions and claimed 68 victories (13 on the western front and the 55 on the Russian front).
Richard Leppla died of natural causes in his hometown 4 August 1988 when 74 years old.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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....
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...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
during World War II
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...
. Leppla claimed 68 aerial victories claimed in over 500 combat missions. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Leppla was born on 9 June 1914 in MatzenbachMatzenbach
Matzenbach is a municipality in the district of Kusel, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany....
, joining the army as a cadet in 1934. he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935 and was an Oberleutnant with 3 Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II, named after the fighter ace Werner Mölders in 1942. JG 51's pilots won more Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes than any other Jagdgeschwader, and flew combat from 1939 in all major theatres of war. Flying Bf 109s and then...
(JG 51—51st fighter wing) when the war started.
Leppla was Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
(squadron leader) by March 1940, and claimed his first confirmed victory on 10 May, a Dutch Fokker G.I
Fokker G.I
The Fokker G.I was a Dutch heavy twin-engined fighter plane comparable in size and role to the German Messerschmitt Bf 110 and the British Mosquito. Although in production prior to World War II, its combat introduction came at a time when the Netherlands was overrun...
. By July he had claimed five victories, and 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...
Hauptmann Leppla claimed eight more and was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
(group commander) of III./JG 51.
Leppla then took part 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...
, the invasion of the Soviet Union, quickly raising his score and being awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 27 July 1941 after downing 27 aircraft.
His 40th victim fell 10 October 1941 and his 50th came on 9 February 1942.
Leppla was severely wounded in August 1942, losing the vision in one eye after colliding with a landing Junkers Ju 52
Junkers Ju 52
The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler...
.
After a period of hospitalization in December 1942 Leppla was assigned to command Jagdfliegerschule 5
Jagdfliegerschule
The German Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht had seven Jagdfliegerschulen or Fighter Pilot Schools.- Jagdfliegerschule Werneuchen or Jagdfliegerschule 1 :...
(later renamed JG 105), a position he held until August 1943.
In April 1945 Leppla was then appointed Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
of Jagdgeschwader 6
Jagdgeschwader 6
Jagdgeschwader 6 Horst Wessel was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. The first Geschwaderkommodore was Oberstleutnant Johann Kogler who became a POW during the Operation Bodenplatte when he crashed and was taken prisoner by British troops on 1 January 1945.JG 6 was created on October 13,...
. When the war ended, Leppla was interned by Soviet Soviet forces He remaining in captivity until 1950.
He then served in the West German Air Force, reaching the rank of Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
before retiring from active service in 1972.
Leppla flew over 500 combat missions and claimed 68 victories (13 on the western front and the 55 on the Russian front).
Richard Leppla died of natural causes in his hometown 4 August 1988 when 74 years old.
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe 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....
(1939) 2nd and 1st Class - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 9 December 1941 as HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
in the III./JG 51 - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 27 July 1941 as Hauptmann and GruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeurGruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of the III./JG 51