SP(GL)19 - Brigadier Artur Pipan Knightâs Cross of the Iron Cross
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 became Staffelkapitan of 5/STG 1 in April 1943, which was renamed 5/SG 1. He was promoted to Hauptmann in May 1944 and made Geschwaderadjutant of SG1. In March 1945 he was made acting commander of I/SG1 as the Russian advance forced the German units to retreat, moving from Warsaw, Poznan, Danzig, Pommerania and Berlin until the unit surrendered at Schleswig Holstein on the 8 May 1945. He flew a total of 758 missions, and destroyed 10 railway engines, 9 bridges, one gun boat and many tanks.
