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Gerhard Köppen

January 01, 1970

Gerhard Köppen (17 May 1918 – 5 May 1942) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 85 aerial victories claimed in 380 combat missions.

Gerhard Köppen
Köppen as a Leutnant
Born17 May 1918
Holzendorf
Died5 May 1942(1942-05-05) (aged 23)
over the Sea of Azov, Russia
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Years of service1936–1942
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 52
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Born in Holzendorf, Köppen joined military service in 1936 and initially served with a bomber before he was trained as a fighter pilot. He was then posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in 1941. Köppen claimed his first aerial victories on 24 June 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Following his 45th aerial victory, he was nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross which he received on 18 December 1942. On 27 February 1942, Köppen was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves after 72 aerial victories and promoted to an officers rank. On 5 May 1942, he was posted missing in action after he made a forced landing in the Sea of Azov.

Military career edit

Köppen was born on 17 May 1918, in Holzendorf, present-day part of Kuhlen-Wendorf, at the time in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin within the German Empire.[1] He joined the military service in 1936. His initial posting was with Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg" (KG 1–1st Bomber Wing) before he was selected for fighter pilot conversion training in 1939.[2] Following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to the 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing), a squadron of III. Gruppe, on 6 October 1940.[4] At the time, 8. Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Günther Rall and the Gruppe was headed by Major Gotthard Handrick.[5] Until 12 October, the Gruppe was based at Schönwalde-Glien near Berlin where the pilots continued their training.[6]

The rise of General Ion Antonescu in Romania in 1940 led to a reorganization of his country's armed forces. In this, he was supported by a military mission from Germany, the Luftwaffenmission Rumänien (Luftwaffe Mission Romania) under the command of Generalleutnant (equivalent to major general) Wilhelm Speidel [de].[7][8] III. Gruppe of JG 52 was transferred to Bucharest in mid-October and temporarily renamed I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 28 (JG 28—28th Fighter Wing) until 4 January 1941.[9] Its primary task was to train Romanian Air Force personnel.[7][10]

Eastern Front edit

Following its brief deployment in the Balkan Campaign, III. Gruppe was ordered to Bucharest by mid-June.[10] There, the unit was again subordinated to the Luftwaffenmission Rumänien and reequipped with the new, more powerful Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 model. On 21 June 1941, the Gruppe was ordered to Mizil in preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Its primary objective was to provide fighter protection for the oil fields and refineries at Ploiești.[11] The invasion of the Soviet Union began on 22 June. The next day, the Gruppe moved to Mamaia, the northern district of Constanța on the Black Sea coast.[12] There, Köppen claimed his first two aerial victories on 24 June. He was credited with shooting down two Soviet Ilyushin DB-3 bombers in the morning near Constanța.[13] Two days later, he again claimed two DB-3 bombers in that combat area.[14]

 
III./JG 52 emblem

The Gruppe moved to Belaya Tserkov on 1 August during the Battle of Kiev and also used an airfield at Yampil from 6 to 8 August.[15] There, Köppen claimed a Polikarpov I-16 fighter on 2 August and another I-16 fighter on 4 August near Kiev.[14] On 6 August, he claimed an aerial victory over Polikarpov I-16 fighter. Three days later, two Tupolev SB-2 bombers were claimed by him followed by two further SB-2 bombers on 17 August. He claimed his twelfth aerial victory on 19 August over a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter.[16] This put him in second place within III. Gruppe with respect to number of aerial victories claimed, one behind his Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) Oberleutnant Günther Rall. On 27 August, III. Gruppe had reached an airfield named Stschastliwaja located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) east-southeast of Oleksandriia. In the early morning of 2 September, elements of III. Gruppe moved to Myronivka where they escorted Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers heading for Novomoskovsk.[17] Near Kremenchuk on the Dnieper, Köppen claimed two Vultee V-11 attack aircraft shot down.[18]

On 12 September, 8. and 9. Staffel moved to an airfield at Beryslav, staying there for three days.[17] Here, Köppen claimed two Polikarpov I-153 fighters shot down, one on 13 September and another the next day.[19] By 23 September, Köppen had increased his number of aerial victories to 17. The next day, III. Gruppe moved to the Poltava Air Base, supporting the 17th Army in the First Battle of Kharkov. Köppen's total number of aerial victories stood at 31 on 23 October, making him the leading fighter pilot of III. Gruppe at the time.[20]

On 2 November, the Gruppe moved to Taganrog where they stayed until 1 January 1942.[21] On 18 December 1941, Köppen was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), the first pilot of III. Gruppe to receive the distinction.[22][23] He had qualified for this distinction after 40 aerial victories.[24][25] The presentation was made by General der Flieger Kurt Pflugbeil.[2] By the end of 1941, his total number of aerial victories had increased to 62, making him the most successful fighter pilot of III. Gruppe.[26]

Oak Leaves and death edit

Köppen claimed four aircraft shot down on 24 February 1942, and was decorated with Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) after 72 aerial victories on 27 February 1942. He was the second non-commissioned officer and 79th member of the Wehrmacht to be so honored. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler, who also promoted him to Leutnant effective as of 1 April 1942.[2]

On 29 April, III. Gruppe had relocated to Zürichtal, a small village at the Inhul in the former German settlement west of Feodosia in the Crimea during the Crimean campaign. On 1 May, the Gruppe was subordinated to VIII. Fliegerkorps and was supporting the 11th Army in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula and the Siege of Sevastopol.[27] The next day, Köppen became an "ace-in-a-day", claiming five Soviet fighter aircraft shot down.[28]

Following combat with a Petlyakov Pe-2 on 5 May, Köppen was posted as missing in action flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 "white 4" (Werknummer 7303—factory number) 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Ak-Monai (present-day Kam'yans'ke) near the Arabat Fortress.[29] He was last seen swimming in the Sea of Azov when Soviet boats closed in on him. Feldwebel Alfred Grislawski made a strafing attack on these boats.[27] Köppen was officially declared dead on 30 May 1969 by a court in Dillingen. His brother, Eckhardt Köppen, was killed in action on 15 January 1945; he was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 15 March 1945.[30]

Summary of career edit

Aerial victory claims edit

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Köppen was credited with 86 aerial victories.[31] Spick lists Köppen with 85 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions. All of his victories were recorded over the Eastern Front.[32] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 85 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[33]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Köppen an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[34]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
1 24 June 1941 07:30 DB-3 vicinity of Constanța[35] 25 2 October 1941 09:39 I-61 (MiG-3)[36]
2 24 June 1941 07:50 DB-3 vicinity of Constanța[35] 26 4 October 1941 12:00 R-10 (Seversky)[36]
3 26 June 1941 05:50 DB-3 vicinity of Constanța[37] 27 4 October 1941 12:40 R-10 (Seversky)[36]
4 26 June 1941 05:55 DB-3 vicinity of Constanța[37] 28 5 October 1941 16:33 R-10 (Seversky)[38]
5 2 August 1941 05:05 I-16[37] 29 5 October 1941 16:36 R-10 (Seversky)[38]
6 4 August 1941 05:55 I-16[37] 30 14 October 1941 10:10 V-11 (Il-2)[38]
7 6 August 1941 10:30 I-15[19] 31 23 October 1941 13:34 I-61 (MiG-3)[38]
8 9 August 1941 05:33 SB-2[19] 32 25 October 1941 15:20 I-61 (MiG-3)[39]
9 9 August 1941 05:48 SB-2[19] 33 25 October 1941 15:23 I-61 (MiG-3)[39]
10 17 August 1941 18:54 SB-2[19] 34 28 October 1941 06:50 Pe-2[39]
11 17 August 1941 18:56 SB-2[19] 35 31 October 1941 16:01 I-61 (MiG-3) southeast of Simferopol[40]
12 19 August 1941 05:50 MiG-3[19] 36 8 November 1941 11:40 I-61 (MiG-3)[40]
13 2 September 1941 12:10 V-11 (Il-2) east of Kremenchuk[19] 37 9 November 1941 13:52 I-18 (MiG-1)[40]
14 2 September 1941 12:15 V-11 (Il-2) east of Kremenchuk[19] 38 9 November 1941 13:55 I-26 (Yak-1)[40]
15 13 September 1941 13:00 I-153[19] 39 16 November 1941 13:42 I-26 (Yak-1)[41]
16 14 September 1941 17:45 I-153[19] 40 16 November 1941 13:43 I-26 (Yak-1)[41]
17 18 September 1941 15:30 I-16[19] 41 23 November 1941 13:38 Il-2 southeast of Rostov[41]
18 24 September 1941 07:43 MiG-3 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Chudovo[19] 42 27 November 1941 12:45 I-16[41]
19 24 September 1941 07:45 SB-2[19] 43 29 November 1941 07:28 I-16[41]
20 24 September 1941 09:50 SB-2[19] 44 1 December 1941 15:03 DB-3[41]
21 26 September 1941 13:24 R-10 (Seversky)[19] 45 2 December 1941 08:15 I-61 (MiG-3)[41]
22 26 September 1941 13:25 R-10 (Seversky)[19] 46 2 December 1941 12:10 I-16[41]
23 27 September 1941 10:38 DB-3 east of Poltava[36] 47 5 December 1941 10:09 I-16[41]
24 27 September 1941 15:20 DB-3 west of Poltava[36] 48 5 December 1941 10:41 I-61 (MiG-3)[41]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[42]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 25 April 1942
49 6 December 1941 08:31 I-16[43] 61 22 December 1941 15:05 I-16[43]
50 7 December 1941 13:52 I-16[43] 62 22 December 1941 15:10 I-16[43]
51 8 December 1941 09:50 I-15[43] 63 15 February 1942 14:04 Pe-2[44]
52 8 December 1941 09:50 I-15[43] 64 15 February 1942 15:48 I-61 (MiG-3)[44]
53 8 December 1941 13:10 I-16[43] 65 15 February 1942 15:51 Il-2[44]
54 9 December 1941 12:31 I-15[43] 66 18 February 1942 08:50 I-26 (Yak-1)[45]
55 9 December 1941 12:32 I-15[43] 67 18 February 1942 08:52 I-26 (Yak-1)[45]
56 9 December 1941 12:36 I-15[43] 68 21 February 1942 12:32 I-16[45]
57 9 December 1941 12:45 SB-2[43] 69 22 February 1942 15:35 V-11 (Il-2)[45]
58 11 December 1941 09:35 SB-3[43] 70 22 February 1942 15:37 V-11 (Il-2)[46]
59 11 December 1941 13:34 I-26 (Yak-1)[43] 71 22 February 1942 15:39 I-26 (Yak-1)[46]
60 11 December 1941 13:40 SB-2[43] 72 22 February 1942 15:42 U-2[46]
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[47]
Eastern Front — 25 April – 5 May 1942
73 25 April 1942 11:40 I-16[48] 80♠ 2 May 1942 04:36 I-15[49]
74 29 April 1942 17:55 I-153[50] 81♠ 2 May 1942 05:08 I-153[49]
75 30 April 1942 16:45 I-61 (MiG-3)[50] 82♠ 2 May 1942 08:55 I-153[49]
76 1 May 1942 04:30 R-5[50] 83♠ 2 May 1942 18:05 I-61 (MiG-3)[49]
77 1 May 1942 04:31 Su-2 (Seversky)[50] 84♠ 2 May 1942 18:10 I-16[49]
78 1 May 1942 04:34 Su-2 (Seversky)[49] 85 5 May 1942 11:13 MiG-1[49]
79 1 May 1942 04:58 I-61 (MiG-3)[49]

Awards edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[3]
  2. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52.[54]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Saintes 2022, p. 67.
  2. ^ a b c Stockert 2012, p. 377.
  3. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  4. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 48.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2003a, p. 229.
  6. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 23.
  7. ^ a b Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, pp. 23–31.
  8. ^ Weal 2004, p. 54.
  9. ^ Weal 2004, p. 55.
  10. ^ a b Weal 2004, p. 56.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2003b, p. 53.
  12. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 60.
  13. ^ Weal 2007, p. 14.
  14. ^ a b Barbas 2010, p. 327.
  15. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 62.
  16. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 328.
  17. ^ a b Barbas 2010, p. 63.
  18. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 329.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Prien et al. 2003b, p. 70.
  20. ^ Barbas 2010, pp. 64–65.
  21. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 66.
  22. ^ Weal 2004, p. 69.
  23. ^ Page 2020, p. 71.
  24. ^ Bergström & Mikhailov 2001, p. 138.
  25. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 175.
  26. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 67.
  27. ^ a b Barbas 2010, p. 93.
  28. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 338.
  29. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 566.
  30. ^ Stockert 2012, p. 378.
  31. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
  32. ^ Spick 1996, p. 235.
  33. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 669–671.
  34. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 669–670.
  35. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003b, p. 68.
  36. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003b, p. 72.
  37. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003b, p. 69.
  38. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003b, p. 74.
  39. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003b, p. 75.
  40. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003b, p. 76.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2003b, p. 77.
  42. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 670–671.
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2005, p. 153.
  44. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 155.
  45. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2005, p. 156.
  46. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 157.
  47. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 671.
  48. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 158.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 544.
  50. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 542.
  51. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 122.
  52. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 246.
  53. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 266.
  54. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 460.
  55. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 58.

Bibliography edit

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Mikhailov, Andrey (2001). Black Cross / Red Star Air War over the Eastern Front, Volume II, Resurgence January–June 1942. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 978-0-935553-51-2.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • 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.
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  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
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Further reading edit

January 01, 1970
gerhard, köppen, 1918, 1942, german, luftwaffe, military, aviator, during, world, fighter, credited, with, aerial, victories, claimed, combat, missions, köppen, leutnantborn17, 1918holzendorfdied5, 1942, 1942, aged, over, azov, russiaallegiance, nazi, germanys. Gerhard Koppen 17 May 1918 5 May 1942 was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II As a fighter ace he was credited with 85 aerial victories claimed in 380 combat missions Gerhard KoppenKoppen as a LeutnantBorn17 May 1918HolzendorfDied5 May 1942 1942 05 05 aged 23 over the Sea of Azov RussiaAllegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branch LuftwaffeYears of service1936 1942RankLeutnant second lieutenant UnitJG 52Battles warsWorld War II Operation Barbarossa Battle of the Kerch Peninsula AwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Born in Holzendorf Koppen joined military service in 1936 and initially served with a bomber before he was trained as a fighter pilot He was then posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 JG 52 52nd Fighter Wing in 1941 Koppen claimed his first aerial victories on 24 June 1941 during Operation Barbarossa the German invasion of the Soviet Union Following his 45th aerial victory he was nominated for the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross which he received on 18 December 1942 On 27 February 1942 Koppen was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves after 72 aerial victories and promoted to an officers rank On 5 May 1942 he was posted missing in action after he made a forced landing in the Sea of Azov Contents 1 Military career 1 1 Eastern Front 1 2 Oak Leaves and death 2 Summary of career 2 1 Aerial victory claims 2 2 Awards 3 Notes 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Bibliography 4 3 Further readingMilitary career editKoppen was born on 17 May 1918 in Holzendorf present day part of Kuhlen Wendorf at the time in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg Schwerin within the German Empire 1 He joined the military service in 1936 His initial posting was with Kampfgeschwader 1 Hindenburg KG 1 1st Bomber Wing before he was selected for fighter pilot conversion training in 1939 2 Following flight training Note 1 he was posted to the 8 Staffel 8th squadron of Jagdgeschwader 52 JG 52 52nd Fighter Wing a squadron of III Gruppe on 6 October 1940 4 At the time 8 Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Gunther Rall and the Gruppe was headed by Major Gotthard Handrick 5 Until 12 October the Gruppe was based at Schonwalde Glien near Berlin where the pilots continued their training 6 The rise of General Ion Antonescu in Romania in 1940 led to a reorganization of his country s armed forces In this he was supported by a military mission from Germany the Luftwaffenmission Rumanien Luftwaffe Mission Romania under the command of Generalleutnant equivalent to major general Wilhelm Speidel de 7 8 III Gruppe of JG 52 was transferred to Bucharest in mid October and temporarily renamed I Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 28 JG 28 28th Fighter Wing until 4 January 1941 9 Its primary task was to train Romanian Air Force personnel 7 10 Eastern Front edit Following its brief deployment in the Balkan Campaign III Gruppe was ordered to Bucharest by mid June 10 There the unit was again subordinated to the Luftwaffenmission Rumanien and reequipped with the new more powerful Messerschmitt Bf 109 F 4 model On 21 June 1941 the Gruppe was ordered to Mizil in preparation of Operation Barbarossa the German invasion of the Soviet Union Its primary objective was to provide fighter protection for the oil fields and refineries at Ploiești 11 The invasion of the Soviet Union began on 22 June The next day the Gruppe moved to Mamaia the northern district of Constanța on the Black Sea coast 12 There Koppen claimed his first two aerial victories on 24 June He was credited with shooting down two Soviet Ilyushin DB 3 bombers in the morning near Constanța 13 Two days later he again claimed two DB 3 bombers in that combat area 14 nbsp III JG 52 emblem The Gruppe moved to Belaya Tserkov on 1 August during the Battle of Kiev and also used an airfield at Yampil from 6 to 8 August 15 There Koppen claimed a Polikarpov I 16 fighter on 2 August and another I 16 fighter on 4 August near Kiev 14 On 6 August he claimed an aerial victory over Polikarpov I 16 fighter Three days later two Tupolev SB 2 bombers were claimed by him followed by two further SB 2 bombers on 17 August He claimed his twelfth aerial victory on 19 August over a Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 3 fighter 16 This put him in second place within III Gruppe with respect to number of aerial victories claimed one behind his Staffelkapitan squadron leader Oberleutnant Gunther Rall On 27 August III Gruppe had reached an airfield named Stschastliwaja located approximately 20 kilometers 12 miles east southeast of Oleksandriia In the early morning of 2 September elements of III Gruppe moved to Myronivka where they escorted Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers heading for Novomoskovsk 17 Near Kremenchuk on the Dnieper Koppen claimed two Vultee V 11 attack aircraft shot down 18 On 12 September 8 and 9 Staffel moved to an airfield at Beryslav staying there for three days 17 Here Koppen claimed two Polikarpov I 153 fighters shot down one on 13 September and another the next day 19 By 23 September Koppen had increased his number of aerial victories to 17 The next day III Gruppe moved to the Poltava Air Base supporting the 17th Army in the First Battle of Kharkov Koppen s total number of aerial victories stood at 31 on 23 October making him the leading fighter pilot of III Gruppe at the time 20 On 2 November the Gruppe moved to Taganrog where they stayed until 1 January 1942 21 On 18 December 1941 Koppen was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes the first pilot of III Gruppe to receive the distinction 22 23 He had qualified for this distinction after 40 aerial victories 24 25 The presentation was made by General der Flieger Kurt Pflugbeil 2 By the end of 1941 his total number of aerial victories had increased to 62 making him the most successful fighter pilot of III Gruppe 26 Oak Leaves and death edit Koppen claimed four aircraft shot down on 24 February 1942 and was decorated with Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub after 72 aerial victories on 27 February 1942 He was the second non commissioned officer and 79th member of the Wehrmacht to be so honored The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler who also promoted him to Leutnant effective as of 1 April 1942 2 On 29 April III Gruppe had relocated to Zurichtal a small village at the Inhul in the former German settlement west of Feodosia in the Crimea during the Crimean campaign On 1 May the Gruppe was subordinated to VIII Fliegerkorps and was supporting the 11th Army in the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula and the Siege of Sevastopol 27 The next day Koppen became an ace in a day claiming five Soviet fighter aircraft shot down 28 Following combat with a Petlyakov Pe 2 on 5 May Koppen was posted as missing in action flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 F 4 white 4 Werknummer 7303 factory number 10 km 6 2 mi north of Ak Monai present day Kam yans ke near the Arabat Fortress 29 He was last seen swimming in the Sea of Azov when Soviet boats closed in on him Feldwebel Alfred Grislawski made a strafing attack on these boats 27 Koppen was officially declared dead on 30 May 1969 by a court in Dillingen His brother Eckhardt Koppen was killed in action on 15 January 1945 he was posthumously awarded the Knight s Cross on 15 March 1945 30 Summary of career editAerial victory claims edit According to US historian David T Zabecki Koppen was credited with 86 aerial victories 31 Spick lists Koppen with 85 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number of combat missions All of his victories were recorded over the Eastern Front 32 Mathews and Foreman authors of Luftwaffe Aces Biographies and Victory Claims researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 85 aerial victory claims all of which claimed on the Eastern Front 33 Chronicle of aerial victories This and the Ace of spades indicates those aerial victories which made Koppen an ace in a day a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 34 Operation Barbarossa 22 June 5 December 1941 1 24 June 1941 07 30 DB 3 vicinity of Constanța 35 25 2 October 1941 09 39 I 61 MiG 3 36 2 24 June 1941 07 50 DB 3 vicinity of Constanța 35 26 4 October 1941 12 00 R 10 Seversky 36 3 26 June 1941 05 50 DB 3 vicinity of Constanța 37 27 4 October 1941 12 40 R 10 Seversky 36 4 26 June 1941 05 55 DB 3 vicinity of Constanța 37 28 5 October 1941 16 33 R 10 Seversky 38 5 2 August 1941 05 05 I 16 37 29 5 October 1941 16 36 R 10 Seversky 38 6 4 August 1941 05 55 I 16 37 30 14 October 1941 10 10 V 11 Il 2 38 7 6 August 1941 10 30 I 15 19 31 23 October 1941 13 34 I 61 MiG 3 38 8 9 August 1941 05 33 SB 2 19 32 25 October 1941 15 20 I 61 MiG 3 39 9 9 August 1941 05 48 SB 2 19 33 25 October 1941 15 23 I 61 MiG 3 39 10 17 August 1941 18 54 SB 2 19 34 28 October 1941 06 50 Pe 2 39 11 17 August 1941 18 56 SB 2 19 35 31 October 1941 16 01 I 61 MiG 3 southeast of Simferopol 40 12 19 August 1941 05 50 MiG 3 19 36 8 November 1941 11 40 I 61 MiG 3 40 13 2 September 1941 12 10 V 11 Il 2 east of Kremenchuk 19 37 9 November 1941 13 52 I 18 MiG 1 40 14 2 September 1941 12 15 V 11 Il 2 east of Kremenchuk 19 38 9 November 1941 13 55 I 26 Yak 1 40 15 13 September 1941 13 00 I 153 19 39 16 November 1941 13 42 I 26 Yak 1 41 16 14 September 1941 17 45 I 153 19 40 16 November 1941 13 43 I 26 Yak 1 41 17 18 September 1941 15 30 I 16 19 41 23 November 1941 13 38 Il 2 southeast of Rostov 41 18 24 September 1941 07 43 MiG 3 2 km 1 2 mi south of Chudovo 19 42 27 November 1941 12 45 I 16 41 19 24 September 1941 07 45 SB 2 19 43 29 November 1941 07 28 I 16 41 20 24 September 1941 09 50 SB 2 19 44 1 December 1941 15 03 DB 3 41 21 26 September 1941 13 24 R 10 Seversky 19 45 2 December 1941 08 15 I 61 MiG 3 41 22 26 September 1941 13 25 R 10 Seversky 19 46 2 December 1941 12 10 I 16 41 23 27 September 1941 10 38 DB 3 east of Poltava 36 47 5 December 1941 10 09 I 16 41 24 27 September 1941 15 20 DB 3 west of Poltava 36 48 5 December 1941 10 41 I 61 MiG 3 41 8 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 42 Eastern Front 6 December 1941 25 April 1942 49 6 December 1941 08 31 I 16 43 61 22 December 1941 15 05 I 16 43 50 7 December 1941 13 52 I 16 43 62 22 December 1941 15 10 I 16 43 51 8 December 1941 09 50 I 15 43 63 15 February 1942 14 04 Pe 2 44 52 8 December 1941 09 50 I 15 43 64 15 February 1942 15 48 I 61 MiG 3 44 53 8 December 1941 13 10 I 16 43 65 15 February 1942 15 51 Il 2 44 54 9 December 1941 12 31 I 15 43 66 18 February 1942 08 50 I 26 Yak 1 45 55 9 December 1941 12 32 I 15 43 67 18 February 1942 08 52 I 26 Yak 1 45 56 9 December 1941 12 36 I 15 43 68 21 February 1942 12 32 I 16 45 57 9 December 1941 12 45 SB 2 43 69 22 February 1942 15 35 V 11 Il 2 45 58 11 December 1941 09 35 SB 3 43 70 22 February 1942 15 37 V 11 Il 2 46 59 11 December 1941 13 34 I 26 Yak 1 43 71 22 February 1942 15 39 I 26 Yak 1 46 60 11 December 1941 13 40 SB 2 43 72 22 February 1942 15 42 U 2 46 7 Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 47 Eastern Front 25 April 5 May 1942 73 25 April 1942 11 40 I 16 48 80 2 May 1942 04 36 I 15 49 74 29 April 1942 17 55 I 153 50 81 2 May 1942 05 08 I 153 49 75 30 April 1942 16 45 I 61 MiG 3 50 82 2 May 1942 08 55 I 153 49 76 1 May 1942 04 30 R 5 50 83 2 May 1942 18 05 I 61 MiG 3 49 77 1 May 1942 04 31 Su 2 Seversky 50 84 2 May 1942 18 10 I 16 49 78 1 May 1942 04 34 Su 2 Seversky 49 85 5 May 1942 11 13 MiG 1 49 79 1 May 1942 04 58 I 61 MiG 3 49 Awards edit Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 17 November 1941 as Feldwebel and pilot 51 German Cross in Gold on 15 December 1941 as Feldwebel in the 8 Jagdgeschwader 52 52 Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight s Cross on 18 December 1941 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 7 Jagdgeschwader 52 53 Note 2 79th Oak Leaves on 27 February 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 8 Jagdgeschwader 52 55 54 Notes edit Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1 A2 and B1 B2 referred to as A B flight training A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics navigation long distance flights and dead stick landings The B courses included high altitude flights instrument flights night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations 3 According to Scherzer as pilot in the 8 Jagdgeschwader 52 54 References editCitations edit Saintes 2022 p 67 a b c Stockert 2012 p 377 Bergstrom Antipov amp Sundin 2003 p 17 Obermaier 1989 p 48 Prien et al 2003a p 229 Barbas 2010 p 23 a b Bergstrom Antipov amp Sundin 2003 pp 23 31 Weal 2004 p 54 Weal 2004 p 55 a b Weal 2004 p 56 Prien et al 2003b p 53 Barbas 2010 p 60 Weal 2007 p 14 a b Barbas 2010 p 327 Barbas 2010 p 62 Barbas 2010 p 328 a b Barbas 2010 p 63 Barbas 2010 p 329 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Prien et al 2003b p 70 Barbas 2010 pp 64 65 Barbas 2010 p 66 Weal 2004 p 69 Page 2020 p 71 Bergstrom amp Mikhailov 2001 p 138 Schreier 1990 p 175 Barbas 2010 p 67 a b Barbas 2010 p 93 Barbas 2010 p 338 Prien et al 2006 p 566 Stockert 2012 p 378 Zabecki 2014 p 1614 Spick 1996 p 235 Mathews amp Foreman 2015 pp 669 671 Mathews amp Foreman 2015 pp 669 670 a b Prien et al 2003b p 68 a b c d e Prien et al 2003b p 72 a b c d Prien et al 2003b p 69 a b c d Prien et al 2003b p 74 a b c Prien et al 2003b p 75 a b c d Prien et al 2003b p 76 a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al 2003b p 77 Mathews amp Foreman 2015 pp 670 671 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al 2005 p 153 a b c Prien et al 2005 p 155 a b c d Prien et al 2005 p 156 a b c Prien et al 2005 p 157 Mathews amp Foreman 2015 p 671 Prien et al 2005 p 158 a b c d e f g h Prien et al 2006 p 544 a b c d Prien et al 2006 p 542 Patzwall 2008 p 122 Patzwall amp Scherzer 2001 p 246 Fellgiebel 2000 p 266 a b Scherzer 2007 p 460 Fellgiebel 2000 p 58 Bibliography edit Barbas Bernd 2010 Die Geschichte der III Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 The History of 3rd Group of Fighter Wing 52 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 94 6 Bergstrom Christer in Swedish Mikhailov Andrey 2001 Black Cross Red Star Air War over the Eastern Front Volume II Resurgence January June 1942 Pacifica California Pacifica Military History ISBN 978 0 935553 51 2 Bergstrom Christer in Swedish Antipov Vlad Sundin Claes 2003 Graf amp Grislawski A Pair of Aces Hamilton MT Eagle Editions ISBN 978 0 9721060 4 7 Fellgiebel Walther Peer in German 2000 1986 Die Trager des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 1945 Die Inhaber der hochsten 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 Ritterkreuztrager 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 Page Neil 2020 Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1939 42 Philadelphia PA Casemate Publishers ISBN 978 1 61200 849 3 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 Patzwall Klaus D 2008 Der Ehrenpokal fur besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War in German Norderstedt Germany Verlag Klaus D Patzwall ISBN 978 3 931533 08 3 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2003a Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 5 Heimatverteidigung 10 Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941 Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum Oktober 1940 bis November 1941 Einsatz im Westen 22 Juni bis 31 Dezember 1941 Die Erganzungsjagdgruppen Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflosung Anfang 1942 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 5 Defense of the Reich 10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941 Action in the Mediterranean Theater October 1940 to November 1941 Action in the West 22 June to 31 December 1941 The Supplementary Fighter Groups Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 68 7 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2003b Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 6 II Unternehmen BARBAROSSA Einsatz im Osten 22 6 bis 5 12 1941 The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945 Part 6 II Operation BARBAROSSA Action in the East 22 June to 5 December 1941 in German Eutin Germany Struve Druck ISBN 978 3 923457 70 0 Prien Jochen Stemmer Gerhard Rodeike Peter Bock Winfried 2005 Die Jagdfliegerverbande der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 9 I Winterkampf im Osten 6 12 1941 bis 30 4 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 Jagdfliegerverbande 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 Saintes Philippe 2022 Luftwaffe Victory Markings 1939 45 Casemate Publishers ISBN 978 1 63624 091 6 Scherzer Veit 2007 Die Ritterkreuztrager 1939 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen SS Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbundeter Streitkrafte 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 Schreier Hans 1990 JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2 Weltkriegs JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II in German Berg am See K Vowinckel ISBN 978 3 921655 66 5 Spick Mike 1996 Luftwaffe Fighter Aces New York Ivy Books ISBN 978 0 8041 1696 1 Stockert Peter 2012 1996 Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939 1945 Band 1 The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939 1945 Volume 1 in German 4th ed Bad Friedrichshall Germany Friedrichshaller Rundblick ISBN 978 3 9802222 7 3 Thomas Franz 1997 Die Eichenlaubtrager 1939 1945 Band 1 A K The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939 1945 Volume 1 A K in German Osnabruck Germany Biblio Verlag ISBN 978 3 7648 2299 6 Weal John 2004 Jagdgeschwader 52 The Experten Aviation Elite Units Vol 15 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 786 4 Weal John 2007 More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front Aircraft of the Aces Vol 76 Oxford UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84603 177 9 Zabecki David T ed 2014 Germany at War 400 Years of Military History Santa Barbara California ABC Clio ISBN 978 1 59884 981 3 Further reading edit Khazanov Dmitriy Medved Aleksander 2015 Bf 109E F vs Yak 1 7 Eastern Front 1941 42 London Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 978 1 4728 0580 5 Trigg Jonathan 2016 The Defeat of the Luftwaffe The Eastern Front 1941 45 A Strategy for Disaster Amberley Publishing ISBN 978 1 4456 5187 3 Portals nbsp Aviation nbsp Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gerhard Koppen amp oldid 1206591148, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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