[Broncazonk]

~ Part II ~

Apparently, the Luftwaffe never developed navigational aids or instrumentation for use on the Russian Front. Over and over and over again, Lipfert writes that Russian railroad tracks were the only reliable navigational aids on their maps and if railroad tracks were not visible: they were mostly lost.

On his second combat mission, December 19, 1942, Lipfert's, Yellow 2, developed engine trouble and he made a wheels up, forced landing close to the railroad tracks he was following to get home.

On his 17th or 18th combat mission, Lipfert scored his first victory: a LaGG-5 ** who innocently flew up and tried to get into formation with him. **

On his 28th mission, Lipfert was flying with Oberleutnant Denk, (76-victories, Knight's Cross.) Denk is killed strafing a Russian airfield; Lipfert escapes by following railroad tracks to the southeast, but crashes into a house after running out of gas and not getting so much as a scratch.

Months later, (no date) Lipfert crashed a new Bf-109 when he forgot to lower his landing gear.

September 12th, 1943, Lipfert lands a piston-seized, burning Bf-109 at Poltava.

Between December 18, 1942 and September 10, 1943 his unit lost five (5) pilots who had between 30-76 victories. Only Denk's demise was a known cause.

Lipfert writes again and again about being lost in the air and landing at the wrong airfields in the September to October 1943 timeframe.

On page 61, Lipfert talks about trying to shoot down Russian weather reconnaissance aircraft (which he never did.) He would send his wingman up to circle and watch, the Russian would do the same, and then the two would go at it--in a duel. Never once was Lipfert successful, "Each man tried every conceivable trick to get the other in front of his guns, but always without success. Russians who allowed themselves to get involved in such experiments were experts and handled their machines magnificently."

End Part II

Bronc