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Re: Jg 27 Bf 109s w.nr. 2623 ans 2747(?)
Hello,
Without question the first a/c is W.Nr. 2023. An excellent photo of this scoreboard exists in a private collection, only displaying 17 instead of 18 victory tabs as seen here. It is reputed to be the a/c of Hptm. Wolfgang Lippert, the Gr Kdr of II./JG27. However, the problem is that photos now exist of this a/c with both 17 and 18 victory tabs, and Lippert's official tally was only 16 by 01.11.40, his last victory in the west during 1940. His unit flew in the Balkan Campaign during April-May, 1941, but he scored no more victories until the first day of the Russian Campaign, June 22nd, when he officially scored his 17th and 18th victories. This would suggest that the photo was taken in Russia, but the a/c displays no yellow fuselage band. The foliage however, indicates at least mid-spring through early fall, so I'm not sure where that leaves us. It's possible that this is Lippert during the Battle of Britain, but displaying some tabs that represent victories that were never confirmed. Or else this is at the beginning of the Russian Campaign and Lippert's a/c had not yet received it's yellow fuselage band. Or it is NOT Lippert's a/c but belonged to some other pilot in a II Gruppe.
I'm very interested in seeing how this settles out.
Regards,
Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator
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