Hans Martin Pippart

Leutnant Hans Martin Pippart (14 May 1888 – 11 August 1918) Iron Cross was a pioneer aircraft manufacturer and early pilot. As a World War I German fighter ace he was credited with 22 victories.

Early life Hans Martin Pippart was born on 14 May 1888 in Mannheim, Grand Duchy of Baden.

Pippart had built airplanes and become a pilot before the beginning of World War I. He was a principal in the aeronautical firm of Pippart und Noll, which produced Eindekker airplanes. In 1913, he set an aviation endurance record. he had six victories to his credit—two planes and four observation balloons—and was transferred to Jagdstaffel 13 on the Western Front on 4 December. On 21 February 1918, he took up his balloon busting again, downing a gas bag. On 30 March, a bullet through his craft's engine brought him down unharmed. By the time he left Jagdstaffel 13, he was a double ace. His six victories over balloons made him an ace on them alone. He had been decorated by both his native Baden and by Austria. However, it seems there must have been some lag in his transfer, as victory number ten is scored to his old squadron on 20 April. On 2 May, he scored his first victory flying a Fokker D.VII for his new squadron. That same day, he was decorated with the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern. With four wins in May, one in June, and six in August, his score had soon grown to 21. Pippart ended his career on 11 August 1918. He shot down a balloon, but was hit by anti-aircraft fire and found he had to abandon his airplane at an altitude of 150 feet. His parachute failed to open.

In his victory log, he was credited with seven enemy observation balloons destroyed, eight opposing fighter planes vanquished, and seven reconnaissance aircraft shot down.

Hans Martin Pippart was buried in his native Mannheim.

Sources of information