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 fighter ace he was credited with 22 victories.

Early life
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 joined the German air forces at the start of the war. His initial assignment was as an instructor. He then served some time flying artillery coordination missions in two-seaters with FF(A) 220 in Galicia. Single seater scouts were also available to him.

Aerial victories
Pippart scored his first win on 25 May 1917, after he had been assigned to Kasta 1. They were operating Roland D.IIs on the Eastern Front against the Russians.

By the end of 1917, despite flying on a quiet sector, he had six victories to his credit—two planes and four observation balloons—and was transferred to Jasta 13 on the Western Front. On 21 February 1918, he took up his balloon busting again, downing a gas bag. By the time he left Jasta 13 at the end of April, he was a double ace. His six victories over balloons made him an ace on them alone.



On 18 April 1918, he was reassigned to take the command of the Royal Prussian Jasta 19. 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. With four wins in May, one in June, and six in August, his score had soon grown to 21.

His death
Pippart ended his career as a balloon buster 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.