German pilot fears he killed writer Saint-Exupery

[snopes]

Horst Rippert, an 88-year old former pilot of Germany's Luftwaffe, has said in a forthcoming book that he may have killed French writer and war pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupery in 1944.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080316/...aintexupery_dc

[Ali Infree]

Aside from helping sell his own book? This disclosure is important because...?

Ali"the dead do not speak" Infree

Let me guess, he shot down Leslie Howard's plane too.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by Ali Infree

Let me guess, he shot down Leslie Howard's plane too.

And Glen Miller's.

[UEL]

Originally Posted by Ali Infree

Aside from helping sell his own book? This disclosure is important because...?

PTSD is a crappy thing. This may be his way of relieving some guilt of the "could have been me".

[Gavida]

Originally Posted by Ali Infree

Aside from helping sell his own book? This disclosure is important because...?

Ali"the dead do not speak" Infree

Let me guess, he shot down Leslie Howard's plane too.

From what I read it was not his book, but a book by two french authors, Luc Vanrell (a diver) and Lino von Gartzen (founder of a association to find missing airplanes). Rippert was interviewed for the book after the authors kind of tracked him down.

Gavida

[Cyrano]

Well, the story has been around for ages. According to his unit's logbook, Rippert had claimed a P-38 that day, but the kill had not been confirmed. Saint-Ex having gone missing the same day, the question remained open if he had been shot down by Rippert, if his aircraft had been hit by Flak and had fallen into the sea while he was trying to get back to base, or if he had been victim of a mechanical breakdown of some sort (his plane was pretty war-weary).

So, apparently, it could be Rippert after all. What ticks me off is to see some journalists present it as "the evil Nazi pilot confesses he murdered Le petit prince". Saint-Ex (who not only had volunteered, but also had pulled a few political strings to be accepted in spite of his age) was doing his job as a recconaissance pilot, and Rippert was doing his as a fighter pilot. If any impacts found on the recovered P-38 parts prove the plane was shot down, it will be one confirmed kill for Herr Rippert, period, end. I don't know what the fuss is all about.

Originally Posted by Cyrano

What ticks me off is to see some journalists present it as "the evil Nazi pilot confesses he murdered Le petit prince". Saint-Ex (who not only had volunteered, but also had pulled a few political strings to be accepted in spite of his age) was doing his job as a recconaissance pilot, and Rippert was doing his as a fighter pilot.

Although I understand your point, let’s not forget who was defending his country and who was the invader. “Doing his job” doesn’t necessarily absolve someone fighting on the wrong side. As the saying goes, being willing to die for a cause doesn’t make it right.

[ganzfeld]

I don't understand why some posters are (or seem to be) questioning the newsworthiness of the story. He was a famous person who was lost in combat and this provides important details about that mystery. It was a long time ago but this witness is still alive to talk about it. This is an essential part of an extremely interesting story about one of the most famous authors who ever lived.

On the other hand, I do agree that the Luftwaffe pilot shouldn't be made into a villain. (He was flying for the NFBSKing Nazis but I'm not sure whether to feel sorry for him or what.) Being a fighter pilot and shooting down enemy planes is, as far as I know, not a war crime.

[Troberg]

On the other hand, I do agree that the Luftwaffe pilot shouldn't be made into a villain. (He was flying for the NFBSKing Nazis but I'm not sure whether to feel sorry for him or what.) Being a fighter pilot and shooting down enemy planes is, as far as I know, not a war crime.

I agree, as long as he conducts himself according to the rules of war, the responsibility and blame for an unjustified war goes much higher up in the hierachy. It's not like he was strafing hospitals and orphanages for fun in his spare time.

[Cyrano]

Originally Posted by ganzfeld

I don't understand why some posters are (or seem to be) questioning the newsworthiness of the story. He was a famous person who was lost in combat and this provides important details about that mystery. It was a long time ago but this witness is still alive to talk about it. This is an essential part of an extremely interesting story about one of the most famous authors who ever lived.

What I meant is that the Rippert shoots down Saint-Ex version of the story has been told, analyzed, re-told, criticized, commented and re-re-told by the aeronautical press since the early 80's at least, especially in France.

This is what makes the story a "no-news" to the aviation fan. If Rippert's kill had been confirmed that day, there would be no mystery at all. There are still plenty of WWII aircraft on the Mediterranean's bottom, and other famous airmen have vanished without a trace.

Lastly, everyone's aware Rippert was fighting for an evil regime, but there's no need for the press to give the whole story such an emotional spin.

It was prefectly in accordance with the rules of civilized warfare, but that does not mean he may not feel bad about it.

[ganzfeld]

Originally Posted by dg61

It was prefectly in accordance with the rules of civilized warfare, but that does not mean he may not feel bad about it.

I don't blame him for feeling that, either.

[snopes]

After the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, the demise of the French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on a reconnaissance mission in World War II has ranked as one of flying's great mysteries.

Now, thanks to some sleuthing by a French diver and marine archaeologist, the final pieces of the puzzle seem to have been filled in.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/...pe/journal.php

[Jahungo]

Originally Posted by peneshaw

Although I understand your point, let’s not forget who was defending his country and who was the invader. “Doing his job” doesn’t necessarily absolve someone fighting on the wrong side. As the saying goes, being willing to die for a cause doesn’t make it right.

I know it's been almost a month, but I didn't read this thread until the most recent update...

I would say this does not apply to a common soldier who is obeying the rules of war. Especially if the soldier is conscripted or volunteered before the conflict was imminent. Even so, I don't think you can blame a soldier for their action in a war as long as those actions obey the rules of war and are not otherwise clearly immoral even in war.

Now, there may be some who say that all war is immoral, and that all those who kill in war are committing a moral act. But if one accepts that an American WWII fighter pilot is acting morally, then I don't really think one can say that a German WWII fighter pilot was acting immorally. (This is assuming that their actions were not significantly different - if one acted according to the rules of war while the other straved civilian areas for fun, then one could make an argument, of course.) Again, that is especially if they did not volunteers for the war. I can maybe (just maybe) see an argument made if that soldier volunteered specifically for the war, but even then it's pretty muddled.

[Ali Infree]

Jahungo sez: But if one accepts that an American WWII fighter pilot is acting morally, then I don't really think one can say that a German WWII fighter pilot was acting immorally. (... if one acted according to the rules of war ...)

I think we all agree with you. I had no idea of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's fame before the war, but as I read the new piece, I felt sorry for the Luftwaffe pilot. He had no idea at the time of who was in the P-38, but his grief at his possible role in his idol's death seems to have been both real and immediate. It gives me pause to think about how long he has lived with this--64 years!

BTW, war is hell.

Ali "really, it is" Infree

[Troberg]

I think we all agree with you. I had no idea of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's fame before the war, but as I read the new piece, I felt sorry for the Luftwaffe pilot. He had no idea at the time of who was in the P-38, but his grief at his possible role in his idol's death seems to have been both real and immediate.

While I say that the pilot hasn't done anything wrong in this matter, I can also understand his feelings. Once you know the enemy pilot, it's no longer a matter of shooting down enemy aircraft, you shoot at a person with a face, a name and a life. It's harder to remain detached.

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by Troberg

While I say that the pilot hasn't done anything wrong in this matter, I can also understand his feelings. Once you know the enemy pilot, it's no longer a matter of shooting down enemy aircraft, you shoot at a person with a face, a name and a life. It's harder to remain detached.

And I guess there's always the thought that, were it not for his actions (albeit in accordance with his job), his idol might have survived the war and written more books. The fact someone else might have shot Saint-Exupery later on isn't much consolation.