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

[Nick Beale]

In the article on my website, I've now added added extracts from the Missing Air Crew Report on Lightning pilot, Lt. Gene C. Meredith, who was shot down on 30 July 1944.

P.S. the Pradel/Vanrell book is now being advertised by la Maison du Livre Aviation in Paris.

Yours for 20€ (14 x 22 cm format, 190 pages, 21 b/w and colour photos)

[Nick Beale]

I've made some additions to the article on my website, incorporating research done in the last three weeks.

I haven't solved the central mystery but there is now more detail on Jagdgruppe 200's actions on 30 July 1944 (including some Bf 109 Werk Nummern).

[Jan Bobek]

For those who are interested in - I am ordering this file from Bundesarchiv:

RL 8/80
Jagdfliegerführer Süd
Dienstbetrieb, Personalangelegenheiten.- Tagesbefehle (Einsatz Südfrankreich)
Nov. 1943 - Juli 1944
Abschussanerkennungen: Jagdgruppe Süd, Jagdgruppe 200, I. und II./J.G. 2, Ln.Rgt. 51

I bet that July 31 entries will be missing due to researcher´s bad luck

[NoNo01]

Hello all,

Jan did You receive RL 8/80 Jagdfliegerführer Süd ???
Something interesting in it regarding this case ?

I am asking because German magazines (FLUGZEUG Classic for example) handle it as a FACT that Rippert shot down St. Ex.
As far as i understand there is no hard evidence till now that this is the case.

Schoene Gruesze

Norbert

[Jan Bobek]

Hi Norbert,

The RL 8/80 unfortunately ends in early July.
So I am still not aware of any original document (Allied or German one)indicating a) aerial engagement over Southern France on July 31, 1944 and/or b) record about shooting down of Allied airplane in same teritorry and time.

I saw some interpretations recently in Fliegerblatt, but again - no original Allied or German documents were shown ... and I am looking forward to see what Flugzeug artical contains.

I identified another radar unit active in Southern France in this period. I will take a look in BA/MA document related to the unit and if something relevant will be there, I will post it here.

kind regards

[Guy JULIEN]

Two bogeys were reported at 11.30 near Manosque on the 31st of July of 1944 by French P-47's pilots. Were theses bogeys german fighters? I think so, what else ? They flew to the east climbing from 20 000 Ft to 26 000 Ft . That means they were at the rigth altitude, on the right time, and at the rigth place to intercept Antoine de Saint-Exupery the F-5B.
But in My knowledge there is no evidence about an interception or a claim...

Guy

[George Hopp]

To me it sounds like Saint-Ex's oxygen system went on the fritz, otherwise there would have been some call from him.

[Nick Beale]

My own (evidence-free) theory about Rippert is that he may have been Fw. Guth's wingman during his successful interception of a Lightning on 30 July. Sixty-four years later, an imperfect memory might easily have turned that into his current recollection of events the following day.

[George Hopp]

That reason sounds about as good as any we are liable to get.

Thanks for your superb write-up of the material on the Saint-Ex loss story. You always do a great job, Nick!

Best wishes,
George