Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Hello,

I'm looking for Informations of Leutnant Helmut Lepper served with
JG5.
I grabbed two of his diary's from the flea market a few month ago and it described a shot down Spitfire on 30th July 1942 and a possibly second Spitfire claim on 7th March 1942 .
Unfortunately I can't find anything to this Spitfire loss nor of informations about himself.
But he is named in Eric Mombeek's "Eismeerjäger" vol.2, page 11 and 214, so I hope that someone who have this book can tell me what informations of him are described in there!?
It would be great if someone have informations to the shot down Spitfire or Lt. Lepper.

Kindest regards,

Alec


Lt. Lepper served with following units:

3.Staffel Jagdfliegerschule 3
3.Staffel Jagdgruppe Drontheim
3.Staffel I.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 77
13.Staffel I.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 77
14.Staffel 4.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 5
2.Staffel 1.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 5
1.Staffel 1.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 5
4.Staffel Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (as Instructor)

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Hello Alec,

at Walter Girbig`s book "Jagdgeschwader 5-Eismeerjäger" he is
named as member of JG 5 without any information about these claims.

Herzliche Grüsse aus Oberschwaben,

Wolfgang

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Eric Mombeek's "Eismeerjäger" vol.2, page 11 and 214:

Page 214 shows a photo of am Fw 190, "Herdla, Sommer 1942. Die FW 190A "gelbe 5" der 3/JG5 mit Uffz. Lepper (?) und Lt. Lothar Gerlach (rechts).

Page 11 doesn't offer much more beyond mentioning that personnel were added to I/JG 77 in March 1941. A group photo that includes Ufz. Helmuth Lepper is included.

Chuck

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Hi Alec,

One possibility for the identity of the Spitfire claimed on 30 Jul 42 is AA800 of 1 PRU, flown by F/O J.L. Tully. He failed to return from a sortie to the Bergen area (he remains missing to this day). I assume Lepper was with I./JG 5 at this time and as its staffeln were based at various locations around Stavanger and Bergen during this period it seems a good fit.

Does Lepper's diary state that he shotdown the Spitfire or does it describe the actions of another?

As for the 07 Mar 42 1 PRU was operating over southern Norway on this date though no losses were incurred and primary sources make no mention of any interceptions taking place.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Hi Alec

Is there any detail/information about his time with 14./JG77, please?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Hi all,

thank you so much for all the informations.
Well I also found the Spitfire which was shot down
in the Bergen area, but unfortunately without any
Pilot's name.
I have two of his diary's which started at 13th February 1942
in Sola and ended at 4th March 1944 in Halle.

At 7th March 1942 he wrote:
"Unterricht Staffel. Alarmstart Spitfire in 5600m. Kühler getr.? (getroffen)?"
"Squadron instruction. Scramble, Spitfire in 5600m. Radiator hit?"

And at 30th July 1942 he wrote:
"1. Bereitschaft. Abschuss einer Spitfire in 7000m. 150 MG. 50 Kanone. Aufschlagbrand."
"1. Service. Shot down Spitfire in 7000m. 150 MG and 50 Cannon. Exploded while impacting."

I don't think that the first "claim" was recorded, but I have a a few photos of him with another person which is described with "My Wingman and I. It is the most successful Rotte; which claimed the first Spitfire at Norways coast in high altitude."
So I think it was either him or his wingman, who shot down this Spitfire.
Two weeks earlier he was stationed at Sola and two weeks later he was at Bergen.
I only have his wingman's first name "Fritz".

Later I'll attach the diary's entry's as well as the Pictures of him and his wingman.

I thank you all for your help.

Regards,

Alec

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Here are all informations I found in the diary's!

Leutnant Helmut Lepper

Born: 28. März 1920
Place of birth: Wahnhausen/Kassel
Place of residence: Obervellmar/Kassel, Schulstraße 4

Ranks:

Gefreiter
Unteroffizier
Feldwebel
Leutnant am 17.09.1942 (mit Wirkung vom 01.08.1942)

Awards:

Flugzeugführerabzeichen am 12. November 1940 (Nr.: 61606)
Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
Frontflugspange für Jagdflieger in Bronze
Frontflugspange für Jagdflieger in Silber
Frontflugspange für Jagdflieger in Gold am 03.08.1942
Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse am 25.03.1943
Bulgarisches Flugzeugführerabzeichen ?? am 24.01.1944

Further Military Informations:

Flugzeugführerschein am 31.10.1940 (Nr.: LF. 353,51) bei Sch.Flg.Ausb.Rgt. 51 Heiligenbeil
Erkennungsmarke Nr.: 53108 C 5
Pistole Mauser Seriennr.: 134799

Departments:

3.Staffel Jagdfliegerschule 3 Stolp-Reitz
3.Staffel Jagdgruppe Drontheim in Grove/Dänemark
Feldpostnr.: 37833 b. 3.Staffel I.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 77
Feldpostnr.: 36938 b. 13.Staffel I.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 77
Feldpostnr.: 02415 b. 14.Staffel 4.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 5
Feldpostnr.: 37610 b. 2.Staffel 1.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 5
Feldpostnr.: 21608 b. 1.Staffel 1.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 5
Feldpostnr.: 09462 bei 4.Staffel Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Fluglehrer f. FW-190)

Claims:

30.07.1942 1 Spitfire in 7000m durch Aufschlagbrand (150 Schuß MG, 50 Schuß Kanone)
07.03.1942 1 Spitfire in 5600m ???

Own Aircrafts:

Fw-190 A3 (+7) WerkNr.: 2152

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Hello gentlemen,

first of all thank you so much for all your answers and I’m so
sorry that it took so long, to reply them.
Well I don’t know exactly if he shot down this Spitfire but in his
diary he wrote that he had one Mission on this day and he wrote
about an Shot down Spitfire in 7000m and 150 Shots MG and 50 shots of the cannon were fired with an explosion while impacting.
I also have a few pictures of him with a Bf 109 E (or T) and a FW 190 (possibly A-Variant), as well as one picture with a description that he and his Wingman (maybe with the first name „Fritz“ or „Günther“) shot down the first Aircraft at Norway’s coast in high altitude.
So I think that either he shot down this Spitfire or his Wingman.
Two weeks before this accident he flew to Denmark to catch a new FW-190 Yellow 10 and a FW-190 Yellow 4 and after that he met with Lt. Schmidt (possibly Ludwig Schmidt of 2./JG5) in Kastrup/Denmark and finally flew back to Herdla.
On the 16th July 1942 he flew the FW-190 Yellow 4 and scrambled.
So I guess that he flew the FW-190 Yellow 4 while attacking the Spitfire.
That’s all I know but I will attach the pictures of him as well as the important diary entries.

To Brian:

Sorry but I don’t have anything of his time serving with the JG77.
I only found the Postal Code of this Squadron in his Diary as well as on a letter of him.

Here are all the Informations of Lt. Lepper, I found in his diary’s:

Leutnant Helmut Lepper

Born: 28. März 1920
Place of birth: Wahnhausen/Kassel
Place of residence: Obervellmar/Kassel, Schulstraße 4

Ranks:

Gefreiter
Unteroffizier
Feldwebel
Leutnant at 17.09.1942

Auszeichnungen:

Flugzeugführerabzeichen at 12. November 1940 (Nr.: 61606)
Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
Frontflugspange f. Jagdflieger in Bronze
Frontflugspange f. Jagdflieger in Silber
Frontflugspange f. Jagdflieger in Gold at 03.08.1942
Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse at 25.03.1943
Bulgarisches Flugzeugführerabzeichen ?? at 24.01.1944

Units:

3.Staffel Jagdfliegerschule 3 Stolp-Reitz
3.Staffel Jagdgruppe Drontheim in Grove/Dänemark
Feldpostnr.: 37833 b. 3.Staffel I.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 77
Feldpostnr.: 36938 b. 13.Staffel I.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 77
Feldpostnr.: 02415 b. 14.Staffel 4.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 5
Feldpostnr.: 37610 b. 2.Staffel 1.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 5
Feldpostnr.: 21608 b. 1.Staffel 1.Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 5
Feldpostnr.: 09462 bei 4.Staffel Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Instructor f. FW-190)

Possibly Claims:

30.07.1942 1 Spitfire in 7000m exploded whilst impacting (150 Shots MG, 50 Shots Cannon)
07.03.1942 1 Spitfire in 5600m ???

Known Aircrafts:

Fw-190 (A?) (Yellow +4)
Fw-190 (A?) (Yellow +10)
Fw-190 A3 (Yellow +7) WerkNr.: 2152

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

Here are the photos!!!

Re: Lt. Helmut Lepper JG5
 

From our Officer Career files we have:
LEPPER, Helmuth. (DOB: 28.03.20 in Kassel). 09.42 with 3./JG 5. 10.42 with 1./JG 5. 04.44 Lt., instructor with 4./Erg.JGr. Ost. 10.44 Techn.Offz. of 4./Erg.JGr. Ost. 10.44 Lt., trf to 12./EJG 1.

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.