Battle of Britain Defence Medal signed PIPAN KC, Stuka pilot JS(BB)23 RAF Battle of Britain cover, part of our Battle of Britain mini-series. The cover artwork depicts Junkers Ju87 dive bombers attacking Dover harbour and being chased by Spitfires of No 41 Squadron. The cover also depicts the Defence Medal which was awarded to miliatry and civilians who took part in WWII in service to the country.
The cover bears a 20p Charity Label showing a Junkers Ju87 with cachet for the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain shwoing a Stuka Ju87 dive bomber dated 15 September 2000.
The cover has been hand signed by Brigadier PIPAN, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Special variant, numbered and certified on reverse.
Brigadier Artur Pipan Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
Born 05.12.1919 Velden Carinthia, Austria
RK 06.04.1944
Pipan joined 5/STG 1 in October 1940 and flew his first mission in February 1941 from Comiso Sicily against Malta. He subsequently flew missions in Africa, Greece, Crete and against Russia. He received the German Cross in Gold in October 1942 and became Staffelkapitan of 5/STG 1 in April 1943 which was renamed 5/SG 1. He was awarded the Knights Cross in April 1944 having completed 672 combat missions. He was promoted Hauptmann in May 1944 and made Geschwaderadjutant of SG1. In March 1945 he was made acting commanding I/SG1 as the unit retreated from due to the Russian advance moving from Warsaw, Poznan, Danzig, Pommerania and Berlin until the unit surrendered at Schleswig Holstein on the 8 May 1945. When the Austrian Air Force was reactivated in 1956 he became an instructor at the Flying School near Vienna. He was one of the first Austrian jet pilots and began instructing on jet aircraft. In 1978 he became commander of the Second Flying Regiment and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier in 1981 before he retired in January 1982.
Total of 758 missions
No air victories, 10 railway engines, 9 bridges, one gun boat and many tanks.
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