Pilot Horst Rippert claimed Saint Exupéry : 31 July 1944 / 15 March 2008 !

[B.F.M. Droog]

Jan,

What's the conclusion in your article (sorry, my knowledge of the Czech language is rather limited)?

Regards,

Bart

[Jan Bobek]

Bart,

having available relevant files from Nick, I came to conclusion that there is no engagement recorded over Southern France on July 31, 1944. As example of day when something happened, I used JGr. 200 interception of US Lockheed F-5 on July 30 and records available in US, UK and Germany.

I would add one comment to summary of Luftflotte 3 operations on July 31, 1944 - the daily summary says that 6 victories were achieved. All of them are known - single engine fighters claimed by JG 1 and JG 2 in different parts of France. It just confirms that no engagement was reported over Southern France.

I think that interception of a recon F-5 or Mosquito (Rippert claimed one on other day) was something special for pilots of Jafü Süd. Therefore Rippert could participate in such interception, even on July 30. He referes to Guhl as his very good friend. They served in same Staffel.

Rippert worried about his link to death of Saint-Exupery soon after the war. About 5 years after the war he came to conclusion that he had nothing to do with that. He was still having this impression 10 years ago from now. So you can see that he did not create this topic out of blue. As a pre-war reader of Saint-Ex he was disturbed by his death for decades.

But apparently he had doubts and qualms in the meantime ... after meeting with some researchers he said what he said in March 2008.

His statement doesn´t change my respect for almost 90 years old fighter ace.

cheers

[Juha]

Thanks again, Nick!
Excellent article, as usual.

Juha

[Nick Beale]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

I will add a link to Jan's article at the next update of my site (next weekend?).

[Nick Beale]

P.S. I've now picked up an interesting German language interview on the web with Lino von Gartzen (the man who got the "confession" from Horst Rippert) plus an article he wrote for a German newspaper.

I'll be adding translated extracts and comments to my article ASAP.

One interesting thing: other sources called von Gartzen a "Luftwaffe expert" but neither he nor his publisher (there's a book and a German TV documentary due in the Autumn) claim that — newspapers exaggerating, who would have thought it? — in fact he's an underwater archaeologist, while his French colleagues are diver/archaeologist and a TV journalist.

[Franek Grabowski]

Nick
As a side note and off top, would you be so kind to make an article about browsing through Ultra files? I suppose it would be highly appreciated by all scholars of the subject.

[Fairlop]

Nick,

I join on to Franek´s request. It would be very kind and helpful.

Michal

[Nick Beale]

I have just posted an updated/expanded version of my Rippert & Saint-Exupéry article on my website, with a commentary on an interview and an article that Lino von Gartzen has done for German newspapers.

This also includes additional links, to Jan Bobek's piece amongst others (thanks again, Jan).

Franek & Fairlop: I can do a guide to ULTRA, in fact I'm fairly sure I've done it before (maybe it was on the Luftwaffe Archives Group forum? Richard Eger could remind me). How quickly I do it depends on whether I have to start all over again or I can find the previous version. There is one condition: you must promise not to use any of the files I want on the same day I want them!

[Franek Grabowski]

Oh, be sure I would not need your files!

[Fairlop]

Roger !

Michal