Richard Leppla (9 June 1914 – 4 August 1988) was a German fighter ace in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Leppla claimed 68 aerial victories claimed in over 500 combat missions. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Leppla was born on 9 June 1914 in Matzenbach, joining the army as a cadet in 1934, he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935 and was an Oberleutnant with 3 Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st fighter wing) when the war started.

On 15 March 1940, Leppla was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 51, replacing Hauptmann Erich Gerlitz who was transferred.[1] He claimed his first aerial victory on 10 May, a Dutch Fokker D.XXI. By July he had claimed five victories, and during the Battle of Britain.

On 10 November 1940, Leppla was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 51. He succeeded Hauptmann Walter Oesau who was transferred.[2] In consequence, command of 3. Staffel was past on to Oberleutnant Heinrich Krafft.[3]

On 26 May 1941, III. Gruppe was withdrawn from the English Channel and relocated to Düsseldorf Airfield for a brief period of rest and replenishment. On 15 June, the Gruppe was ordered to Halászi, at the time in the General Government.[4]

Operation Barbarossa

On 22 June, German forces launched Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. JG 51 was subordinated to II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps), which as part of Luftflotte 2 (Air Fleet 2). JG 51 area of operation during Operation Barbarossa was over the right flank of Army Group Center in the combat area of the 2nd Panzer Group as well as the 4th Army.[5] That day, III. Gruppe intercepted a large formation of Soviet bombers, claiming 19 aerial victories and further destroying 23 aircraft on the ground, including three aerial victories by Leppla.[6]

On 12 July, he was credited with claiming JG 51s 1,200 aerial victory.[7] On 27 July 1941, Leppla was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 27 aerial victories claimed. He received this distinction the same day and fellow JG 51 pilot Oberleutnant Hans Kolbow was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross.[8]

His 40th victim fell 10 October 1941 and his 50th came on 9 February 1942. On 4 January 1942, Leppla was wounded in a takeoff accident at Yukhnov when his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 8185—factory number) collided with a Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft.[9] On 2 August, Leppla was wounded in aerial combat resulting in a forced landing of his Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 8144) in a location 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) west of Teschertolino. His injuries were so severe that he was temporarily replaced by Oberleutnant Herbert Wehnelt before Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Schnell officially took command of the Gruppe on 24 September.[10]

After a period of hospitalization in December 1942 Leppla was assigned to command Jagdfliegerschule 5 (later renamed JG 105), a position he held until August 1943.

In April 1945 Leppla was then appointed Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 6.[11] When the war ended, Leppla was interned by Soviet forces, remaining in captivity until 1950.

He then served in the West German Air Force, reaching the rank of Oberst before retiring from active service in 1972.

Leppla flew over 500 combat missions and claimed 68 victories (13 on the western front and the 55 on the Russian front).

Later life

Following World War II, Leppla reentered military service in the West German Air Force, at the time referred to as the Bundesluftwaffe. He retired in September 1972 holding the rank of Oberst (colonel) and died on 4 August 1988 at the age of 74 in Matzenbach, West Germany.[12]

Summary of career

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Leppla was credited with 68 aerial victories.[13] Spik also lists him with 68 aerial victories claimed in over 500 combat missions.[14] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 59 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims. This figure of confirmed claims includes seven aerial victories on the Western Front and 52 on the Eastern Front.[15]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47581". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[16]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 10 May 1940 06:30 Fokker D.XXI Zevenbergen[17] 3?[Note 1] 21 May 1940
—
 M.S.406 Abbeville[17]
2 21 May 1940 08:05 M.S.406 Abbeville[17] 4?[Note 1] 22 May 1940
—
 Hurricane Abbeville[17]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
At the Channel and over England — 26 June – 9 November 1940
5?[Note 1] 28 July 1940 15:30 Spitfire Dover[19] 8 31 August 1940 14:08 Hurricane[20]
6?[Note 1] 24 August 1940
—
 Spitfire[20] 9 4 September 1940 10:30 Spitfire[21]
7 26 August 1940 12:57 Spitfire[20] 10 4 September 1940 13:20 Spitfire[21]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Leplpa claimed his eleventh and undocumented aerial victory in September 1940.[22]
12?[Note 1] 4 October 1940
—
 Hurricane west of Dover[23]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
At the Channel and over England — 10 November 1940 – 26 May 1941
13 1 December 1940 11:45 Hurricane[24]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
14 22 June 1941 07:20 I-153[25] 31 6 August 1941 09:50 Pe-2[26]
15 22 June 1941 12:20 SB-2[25] 32 8 August 1941 15:25 DB-3 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Yelnya[26]
16 22 June 1941 12:25 SB-2[25] 33 8 August 1941 15:26 DB-3[26]
17 29 June 1941 18:30 SB-2[27] 34 18 August 1941 08:35 DB-3[26]
18 30 June 1941 11:50 V-11[27] 35 18 August 1941 08:38 DB-3[26]
19 30 June 1941 16:25 DB-3 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Bobruysk[27] 36 9 September 1941 16:13 Pe-2[26]
20 30 June 1941 16:32 DB-3 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Bobruysk[27] 37 25 September 1941 06:55 I-18[28]
21 8 July 1941 19:25 DB-3[29] 38 4 October 1941
—
 Pe-2[28]
22 11 July 1941 16:10 DB-3[29] 39 6 October 1941
—
 Pe-2[28]
23 12 July 1941 16:10 Pe-2[29] 40 10 October 1941 08:00 Pe-2[28]
24 12 July 1941 19:25 V-11[29] 41 23 October 1941 16:55 I-61[30]
25 12 July 1941 19:30 V-11[29] 42 25 October 1941 08:35 DB-3[30]
26 16 July 1941 18:25 V-11[29] 43 25 October 1941 12:12 I-61[31]
27 26 July 1941 11:35 DB-3[32] 44 29 October 1941 15:50 DB-3 20 km (12 mi) west of Podolsk[31]
28 26 July 1941 18:05 DB-3[32] 45 6 November 1941
—
 unknown[31]
29 2 August 1941 16:24 I-18[26] 46 28 November 1941 11:00 R-10[33]
30 2 August 1941 16:25 Pe-2[26]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –
Eastern Front — 5 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
47 15 December 1941 10:10 I-61 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Kubinka[34] 54 5 March 1942 14:40 unknown[35]
48 4 February 1942 13:15 U-2 Ssawaje[34] 55 8 March 1942 10:00 unknown[35]
49 10 February 1942 13:15 I-61 Mosskressenskaja[34] 56 12 March 1942 09:48 unknown[35]
50 18 February 1942 12:10 unknown[34] 57 8 March 1942 17:45 unknown[35]
51 18 February 1942 15:35 unknown[34] 58 1 April 1942 12:50 unknown[35]
52 18 February 1942 16:10 unknown[34] 59 5 April 1942 13:55 unknown[35]
53 3 March 1942 09:40 I-26 northwest of Rzhev[35]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –
Eastern Front — 1 May – 2 August 1943
60 10 May 1942 10:40 unknown[36] 65 13 July 1942 15:50 unknown[36]
61 10 May 1942 12:30 Il-2[36] 66 13 July 1942 16:05 unknown[36]
62 2 July 1942 19:30 unknown[36] 67 1 August 1942 11:45 Il-2 PQ 47581[36]
63 9 July 1942 11:25 unknown[36] 68 1 August 1942 17:30 Il-2 PQ 47813[36]
64 10 July 1942 10:32 unknown[36]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e According to Mathews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[18]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Prien et al. 2001a, p. 271.
  2. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 80.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 28.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 294.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 206.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2003, pp. 294, 302.
  7. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 91.
  8. ^ Weal 2006, p. 122.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 109.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 316, 327, 336.
  11. ^ Weal 2001, p. 47.
  12. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 85.
  13. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1616.
  14. ^ Spick 1996, p. 239.
  15. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 745–746.
  16. ^ Planquadrat.
  17. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2001b, p. 274.
  18. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 745.
  19. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 33.
  20. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2002, p. 34.
  21. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 35.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 38.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 36.
  24. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 86.
  25. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 302.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2003, p. 307.
  27. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 303.
  28. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 308.
  29. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 304.
  30. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 309.
  31. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 310.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 305.
  33. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 311.
  34. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2005, p. 107.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2005, p. 108.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2006, p. 330.
  37. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 84.
  38. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 276.
  39. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 289.
  40. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 502.

Bibliography

  • Aders, Gebhard; Held, Werner (1993). Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik – Berichte – Erlebnisse – Dokumente [Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle - Reports - Experiences - Documents] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-01045-1.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6 December 1941 bis 30 April 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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  • Weal, John (2006). Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 22. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-045-1.
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Military offices
Preceded by Commander of Jagdgeschwader 6 Horst Wessel
17 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 		Succeeded by
disbanded
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Leppla
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