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

[B.F.M. Droog]

I've just read that pieces of Saint-Ex.'s plane are since 2004 on exhibition in the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace in Le Bourget. Has anyone been there? Have they bullet holes?

Regards,

Bart

[yogybär]

Here is a german movie about the kill:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WKK1RQoewM

It all seems like a media offensive for some reason or the other... incl. a nice movie

[Andy Saunders]

Whilst the Rippert story is suspect, so too must be the "suicide" theory. It is based on the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence and even if the wreck went in vertically and Saint-Ex was depressed it hardly points towards suicide. Even although there apparently must be some doubt about the Rippert fighter claim I am afraid that failure to find "...traces of neither shooting nor aerial combat" in the wreckage cannot be given much credence, either. The wreckage was fragmented, corroded and incomplete. I have been involved in recovery of many many wrecks, the metal in far better condition, and where we KNOW combat has been the cause but have rarely found evidence that can be attributed to ordnance strikes. It seems we are dealing with a great deal of fantasy and very little fact.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Andy Saunders

I have been involved in recovery of many many wrecks, the metal in far better condition, and where we KNOW combat has been the cause but have rarely found evidence that can be attributed to ordnance strikes.

I know it's less dramatic but why are they so keen that a missing aircraft must have been shot down? My impression of flying at that time is that it was quite dangerous enough, without anyone shooting at you.

[Andy Saunders]

I suppose, Nick, that to "produce" an explanation as to Saint-Ex's loss, put a name to the supposed victor AND to have said victor still alive might help put a little gloss on things for the publicity people and attract a media circus. The plan seems to be working well so far!! I cannot imagine how many books it has already sold. On the other hand, Saint-Ex's wreckage found, no explanation, possible suicide etc etc would not have grabbed world headlines. The "New York Times" has screamed a headline "I WAS NAZI PILOT WHO KILLED SAINT-EXUPERY". I kind of doubt that the story: "Saint-Ex may have committed suicide" would have made even two lines on the back page of "L'Etoille de Marseille", or whatever the local rag is!

[RT]

L'étoile de Marseille ?, sorry to make you disappointed, but this newspaper exist nomore, if it had existed, in Marseille there is unique Newspaper called La Provence, saying the good "parole", no other music sound there, so no DOUBT THAT THIS STORY HV BEEN FABRICATED nd relayed by every good looking media, like ZDF..

rémi

[CJE]

Just one question nobody has been able to answer so far: where is Rippert's log-book and what story does it tell?

[gaynako]

That's the BIG Question ! Where is the Rippert's log book ? A pilot never part with his log book..On the log book, we will be able to find what he was doing on the 31st of July 1944. If it is said to be lost, we can consider the whole thing to be just dirty trick.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by gaynako

A pilot never part with his log book.

I have spoken to Luftwaffe pilots who had their logbooks taken by the US or British troops who captured them; another whose home was in the Soviet zone and destroyed his logbook because he feared what would happen if he was found with a "Nazi" document. The late Erich Sommer lost most of his personal effects when a trailer fell into a ravine when his unit was retreating through the Alps from Italy.

[Andy Saunders]

As RolandF says....lets see! Maybe they have the proof after all. Bring on the evidence,ZDF!