[Doug Stankey]

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