RKT arthur pepan
 

hello ,
i am lookinf for info on Rktrager A.Pepan (stuka unit ?)
does anyone has info on this person?
born, units etc
thanks in advance

Re: RKT arthur pepan
 

Hi Philippe

Correct name was Artur Pipan and he was born in Austria on Dec 5th, 1919. He started with 5./St.G. 1 in late October 1940 and fought over Crete and later Russia. Final unit was SG 1 and he flew the whole latter part of the war with this unit. He was deactivated in May 1945 and survived the war. RK received on April 6th, 1944. Total missions: 758.

Source Ritterkreuzträger Band II.

Cheers
Stig

Re: RKT arthur pepan
 

Here is what we have on this fellow:

PIPAN, Artur.
(DOB: 05.12.19 in Velden/Kärnten).
30.09.37 entered service with the Austrian Army.
1939-40 Stuka school at Insterburg and Würzburg.
01.04.40 promo to Lt.
02.41 flew first combat mission from Comiso/Sicily with II./St.G. 1.
24.11.41 Lt., awarded the Ehrenpokal.
24.09.42 awarded DKG, II./St.G. 1.
07.04.43 Oblt. (Kr.O.) in St.G. 101, appt Staka 5./St.G. 1.
06.04.44 Oblt., awarded Ritterkreuz on the completion of 672 combat sorties.
20.04.44 Gesch.Adj. SG 1 (to 14.02.45).
01.05.44 promo to Hptm.
15.02.45 re-appt Adj. and Ia in Stab/SG 1 (to 28.02.45).
02.03.45 Hptm., appt Kdr. I./SG 1 (to 08.05.45).
Credited with 758 combat missions and the destruction of a large number of tanks, 10 locomotives, 9 bridges, a gunboat and an unknown number of vehicles and gun emplacements.
1956 joined the Austrian Air Force, became Austria’s first jet pilot, commanded various units and retired as a Brigadier on 01.01.82 (still alive 03.04.08 in Klagenfurt).

We hope that this helps.

HLdZ
DGS

Re: RKT arthur pepan
 

thanks both for your info its appreciated,
is it correct that he surended on 8 may 1945 at schleswig Holstein? was it to the americans he surrended?

Re: RKT arthur pepan
 

Im sure the unit surrended in flensburg

Re: RKT arthur pepan
 

Unfortunately Herr Brigardier i.R. Artur Pipan RKT died last year on 1.8.2009.

/Ian

Re: RKT arthur pepan
 

Yes i heard he passed away in Austria last year.Ive been trying to upload a photo of him just out of his FW190 having completed 700 missions but the uploader isnt playing ball!

Re: RKT arthur pepan
 

I was lucky to get signature on color profile last year... RIP :(