Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Hi Alec

The pre daily entry micro films for Lepper's units have not survived. I did however find an entry for the micro films listing date and time only that's a match for that of 30th July 1942, trouble is it's for 3./JG 5, possibly though unlikely he might have been on lone, anyway time given is 1600 hrs.
Can I ask Alec what Lepper's take-off/landing times are for the two claims?

Kind Regards

Johannes

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Hi Johannes,
JL Tully (my great Uncle) took off from Wick around 13:15 on 30 July 1942. I need to check my records but from memory he was overhead the Bergen area at around 15:00 hours British time (would that be 16:00 Norway time?).

If anyone has any records of the area where his aircraft impacted the ocean or the photos of H. Lepper and/or his FW190 responsible it would be most appreciated.

Uncle John has one last surviving sister. To date the family have known very little of his fate. This diary entry for Lepper is a revelation.

Many thanks
Johnathon

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS IN WORLD WAR 2 AND MISSING WITH
NO KNOWN GRAVE.
404189 Flying Officer TULLY, John Leahy
Source:
NAA: A705, 163/59/64
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Serial number: AA 800
Radio call sign:
Unit: 1 Photo Reconnaissance RAF
Summary:
Spitfire AA 800 of No 1 Photo Reconnaissance Sqn RAF took off from RAF Station
Wick, Scotland, at 1347 hours on 30 July 1942, to carry out an operational photo recce
over the Bergen area, Norway. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it
did not return to base.
The aircraft was plotted on the outward journey until 1437 hours when AA 800 was at
24000 feet, 170 miles and on a bearing 070deg from Wick. At this time AA 800 passed
out of range. Five hours later at 1937 hours, an unidentified aircraft was plotted flying at
1000 feet 11 miles east of Whalsay Island (Shetlands), and at 1949 hours this same
aircraft was identified as hostile and 20 miles E of Lerwick. Spitfires were scrambled to
intercept but could find no trace of the enemy aircraft.
At the same time as the AA 800 limit of endurance was 1950 hours, an Air Sea rescue
search for AA 800 was carried out in the same area but no trace of wreckage or dinghy
was found.
Crew:
RAAF 404189 FO Tully, J L (Pilot)
In 1949, it was recorded that FO Tully had lost his life at sea.

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Very interesting. Are you quoting from his Flugbuch, or from a diary?

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Amazing stuff here.

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

I was quoting from the Australian War Memorial website

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Seekomandant Bergen wrote: 1600 Flakalarm til 1629. One Spitfire 100 km SW of Bergen, flying north. Plane fly very high over Bergen and was shot down by two Fw.190s west of Bergen.
Admiral norwegische Westkuste: 16.00 one Spitfire fly over Bergen and Grimstad-fjord and when returned shot down by our fighters over sea.

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Very interesting, thank you Alec.
Which periods for these units? Nothing before?
You did load a photo with him "riding" a Bf109... Any indications regarding unit and place?

Here in attachment an expired auction dated 2016. Probably taken at Stavanger-Sola spring 1941. Possible I./JG77.

Regards,
Franck.