Artur Pipan

Artur Pipan (5 December 1919 – 1 August 2009) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Luftwaffe during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Artur Pipan was credited with flying 758 missions in which he destroyed 10 locomotives, 9 bridges 1 gun boat and numerous tanks. He joined the Bundesheer in 1956 and retired in 1982 as a Brigadier.

Awards and decorations

 * Flugzeugführerabzeichen
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (24 November 1941)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (August 1941)
 * 1st Class (September 1941)
 * German Cross in Gold (24 September 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 5./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1