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Re: H.Joppien? - JG51 France 1940
Clint,
According to a photo of a Bf109F-1 in the markings of the Gr Kdr for I./JG51, Hptm. Hans-Heinrich Brustellin, published on P. 33 of Prien et al in JFV 4/II, this F-1 was assigned to the unit during October, 1940. Brustellin apparently gave this a/c up when he transferred out on 17.10.40, so it had to have been taken before that date.
His place was then taken by Hptm. Hermann-Friedrich Joppien, who almost certainly inherited this this a/c. I badly need a photo of it after Joppien took it over, showing his scoreboard on the rudder. At the time that he assumed command of I./JG51, Joppien had scored 22 victories, and was an RK holder. He went on to reach 30 victories by the end of the year. So I'm hoping that someone has a photo of this F-1 showing Joppien's scoreboard on it with at least 22, and as many as 30 victory tabs on the rudder. He didn't score again until late-February, 1941, although I don't know whether he was still flying this original F-1 or not. Probably not.
Regards,
Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator
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