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Heinrich Klopper - Pilot Profile - Heinrich Klopper

Heinrich Klopper

No Photo Available

Victories : 94
-----------------------------
Country : Germany
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Axis
Died : 29th November 1943


Awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
Knights
Cross


Latest Axis Aviation Artwork !
 In early May 1941, in conditions of strict secrecy because the United States was not yet at war, seventeen pilots of the US Navy had arrived in Britain and been attached to Catalina squadrons of Coastal Command.  These experienced PBY pilots were there to assist the Royal Air Force to become familiar with the Catalina, and also to gain operational experience for the US Navy.  On 26th May 1941 Catalina Z of No.209 Sqn, commanded by Flying Officer Dennis Briggs RAF, with Ensign Leonard B Smith USN as co-pilot, joined the search for the Bismarck.  At 1015 the aircraft was being flown in poor visibility at an altitude of 500ft when Ensign Smith sighted the Bismarck at a range of eight miles.  The Catalina was flown towards the contact so that a positive identification could be made and emerged from the cloud only 500 yards from the German ship.  The aircraft met a hail of anti-aircraft fire but was able to make its escape.  As a result of the sighting report from Catalina Z the Bismarck was again engaged by ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy and was sunk at 1040 on 27th May 1941.  Leonard Smith can be considered therefore, the first American to be directly involved in action in World War Two.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (American) for his actions.

The Aircraft That Found the Bismarck by Ivan Berryman.
 One of the all time great fighter aces, Adolf Galland is depicted flying Bf 109E-4/N of Stab/JG26 in September 1940.  Galland flew 705 combat missions during World War Two and was credited with a final tally of 104 aerial victories. He survived the war and died peacefully in February 1996.

Tribute to Generalleutnant Adolf Galland by Ivan Berryman.
 Walter Briegleb is shown in his Ju88 G.7 4R+BR as he stalks his prey - on this occasion a Lancaster.  Flying below their target, his crew would aim upward firing cannon at the inner wing of the bomber, igniting the fuel tanks.  For the bomber crews, they were very much defenceless against this type of attack, and often had no idea of the presence of an enemy aircraft in the dark.

Tribute to Walter Briegleb by Ivan Berryman.
 The attack by Leutnant Walter Briegleb and his crew on Lancaster Mk.III ND960 DX-I of No.57 Sqn early on 22nd May 1944.  Flying Me110 with codes D5+BV with his crew of Feldwebel Walter Bräunlich and Bordfunker Feldwebel Brandt, Briegleb flew undetected beneath the bomber and used the deadly 'Schräge Musik' - upward firing cannon - to hit the fuel tanks in the port wing between the fuselage and inner engine.  Pulling away, he watched the aircraft burn and could see both gunners in their turrets but no return fire came.  He wondered why none of the crew escaped by parachute with the bomber doomed - it disintegrated in the air over the coast of the island of Fyn, Denmark, impacting near Emtekær at 00:44hrs.<br><br><center>All of the crew were killed :<br>Flight Lieutenant Arthur Richards (Pilot)<br>Flying Officer William Woodall (Navigator)<br>Pilot Officer Athur Bugden (Flight Engineer)<br>Sergeant Thomas Edwards (Wireless Operator)<br>Flying Officer George Ferguson (Air Bomber)<br>Sergeant Harold Griffiths (Air Gunner)<br>Sergeant Cyril Woodmass (Air Gunner)

The Hunted and the Hunter by Ivan Berryman.

Heinrich Klopper

Squadrons for : Heinrich Klopper
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Heinrich Klopper. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

JG1


Country : Germany
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG1
JG1

German World War II fighter unit or wing which used the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft, between 1940–1944. The name of the unit derives from Jagd, meaning hunt and Geschwader, meaning wing. First formed in May 1939 in eastern Prussia, I./JG 1 was one of the original groups created by the Luftwaffe as part of its expansion plans.

Between 1940 and 1942, JG 1 operated primarily over the Western Front and northern occupied Europe. During the initial days of the war, JG 1 faced little resistance, apart from occasional Royal Air Force (RAF) excursions. The unit was rarely engaged in large-scale confrontations during this time. From late 1942 onwards it was tasked with defense of the Reich duties. After D-Day, elements of JG 1 were moved to France and were tasked with air support to the army Wehrmacht, along with their air defense role. Operation Bodenplatte severely reduced the strength of JG 1.

Towards the end of the war, the unit was disbanded and its remaining pilots and aircraft were re-organized. What remained of these groups surrendered to Allied forces at the end of the war.

JG 1 was the first unit to attempt 'aerial bombing' techniques against the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) heavy bomber formations. It was the only unit to be equipped with the Heinkel He 162 jet fighter.

In 1944 the Oesau suffix was added to the unit's title, after its late Geschwaderkommodore Oberst Walter Oesau (127 kills), who was killed in action. Some 700 enemy aircraft were claimed shot down during the war.

JG51


Country : Germany
Founded : August 1939
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG51
JG51

Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II, named after the fighter ace Werner Mölders in 1942. JG 51's pilots won more Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes than any other Jagdgeschwader, and flew combat from 1939 in all major theatres of war. Flying Bf 109s and then FW 190s, the wing claimed over 8,000 air victories. Experten included 'Toni' Hafner, Heinz Bär, Richard Leppla, Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, Günther Schack and the legendary Mölders.

Formed in August 1939, and commanded by 48-year-old World War I ace Onkel Theo Osterkamp, the early months of the war JG 51 was based in the West, fighting in the French campaign, and in the Battle of Britain. From late June to mid July JG 51 was the only fighter Geschwader engaged against the RAF constantly. During the whole battle JG 51 lost 68 pilots, the highest casualty rate of the Luftwaffe fighter units engaged. JG 51 was one of the two Geschewader that had four Gruppen. The other being JG 1.

Four Bf 109 of JG 51 in France 1940Whilst based out of the Belgian airfield at Mardyik in late 1940, the German ace Josef Pips Priller was a Staffelkapitän with JG 51, flying Bf 109-E Yellow One. Josef Priller went on to score over 100 victories, the third highest scoring Luftwaffe day fighter ace on the Western Front, fighting solely against the Western Allies.

Against the Western Allies JG 51 had claimed 345 aircraft destroyed by May 1941. JG 51 were therefore one of the Jagdwaffe's elite units, with 'top ten' aces at this time including Werner Mölders with 68 claims, Walter Oesau with 34 claims, and Hermann-Friedrich Joppien with 31. Major Werner Mölders became unit Geschwaderkommodore during July 1940 and led the unit into the invasion of Russia in June 1941.

Barbarossa (1941)

Claiming 69 kills on the first day of the offensive, by 30 June 1941 JG 51 became the first fighter Geschwader to claim 1,000 air victories (113 kills in 157 sorties were claimed for the day). On 24 June JG 51 claimed 57 bombers shot down for the day. Mölders became the first fighter pilot to reach 100 claims in August and in the same month JG 51's Oberfeldwebel Heinz Bär reached 60 claims and was decorated with the Oak Leaves. A total of 500 Soviet claims was reached on 12 July 1941, although 6 pilots had been lost by JG 51 in the intervening 3 weeks since the offensive had started.

After Mölders' departure in September 1941 (and death later that year) the Geschwader adopted his name as a title of honor in early 1942. Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was to remain on the centre sector of the Russian front throughout the rest of 1941. However Oberstleutnant Friedrich Beckh ( one of the few fighter pilots to wear spectacles) proved an uncharismatic commander after Mölders, and it was not until Major Karl-Gottfried Nordmann took over in April 1942 that a worthy successor to Mölders was found. In the period 22 June - 5 December 1941 the unit destroyed 1,881 Soviet aircraft, in return for 84 losses in aerial combat and a single aircraft on the ground.

Air support for the Wehrmacht's Army Group Centre was entrusted to General Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen's VIII. Fliegerkorps. In early January 1942, among the fighter units available to von Richthofen were II, III and IV/ JG 51. With the onset of the sub-zero conditions of the Russian winter, the majority of JG 51's available aircraft became grounded.

The Russian winter counter offensive forced III./ JG 51 into flying numerous fighter-bomber operations in direct support of the infantry, and the gruppe filed few aerial 'kill' claims through January 1942. II./ JG 51 however, accounted for most of VIII. Fliegerkorps's aerial victories during the Soviet offensive. Particularly successful was the duo of Lt. Hans Strelow and Ofw. Wilhelm Mink, both of 5. JG 51. They claimed five MiG-3s of 16 IAP on 4 January (Mink claimed three) and 9 days later Mink claimed a Pe-2 and Strelow destroyed two R-Z biplanes for his 30th and 31st victories. On 4 February, Strelow increased his victories to 36 by shooting down four Russian aircraft. The 19 year-old Strelow claimed his 40th victory on 28 February and claimed 4 victories on both 6 March and 17 March. The next day he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and also shot down seven Soviet aircraft. He was awarded the Eichenlaub on 24 March, his claims total at 66.

Normandy (1944)

7./JG 51, (with Bf 109G-6's) was attached to II./JG 1 in May 1944 from Brest-Litovsk, with pilots arriving at Störmede late in May and hurriedly converting to the FW-190. (It was later renamed 8./JG 1 on 15 August 1944 when the four-Staffeln Gruppe became standard) 7. Staffel was led by Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross winner) Hptm. Karl-Heinz Weber with 136 confirmed kills. Its two other experten were Lt. Friedrich Krakowitzer (23 kills) and Ofhr. Günther Heckmann with 12 kills.

7./JG 51 joined II. Gruppe with 15 pilots on strength at the end of May, and during the first two months of the Normandy campaign the staffel was decimated, with twelve pilots killed, one POW and one severely wounded.

As the war turned against Germany JG 51 was forced to operate closer and closer to Germany, finally staging out of East Prussia.

JG77


Country : Germany
Founded : May 1939
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG77
JG77

Herz As (Ace of Hearts) was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II. It served in all the German theaters of war, from Western Europe to the Eastern Front, and from the high north in Norway to the Mediterranean.

JG 77 was formed in May 1939 with I. and II. Gruppe. III./JG 77 was formed on 5 July 1940 in Trondheim from the II(J)./JG 186. I./ JG 77 was reorganized on 21 November 1940 into IV./JG 51 and a new I./JG 77 was established. In January 1942 I./JG 77 was transferred to I./JG 5 and a new I./JG 77 was created.

In April 1942 1. Staffel was transferred to Romania and designated the defence unit for the Ploie?ti oil fields at Mizil. (This staffel was redesignated 1./JG 4 in August 1942.)

Known Victory Claims - Heinrich Klopper

DATE

PILOT

UNIT

JG

CLAIMED

LOCATION

TIME

FRONT

15/05/1940Uffz. Heinrich Klöpper2JG 77Morane 406--Western Front
05/10/1940Fw. Heinrich Klöpper2JG 77SpitfireDungeness12.35Western Front
22/06/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51SB-3Mivhatki16.25Eastern Front
24/06/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51SB-35km S. Siemieczewo9.3Eastern Front
26/06/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51DB-3-10.48Eastern Front
30/06/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51R-1010km W. Sauditsche13.15Eastern Front
11/07/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Pe-2Kraschino10.32Eastern Front
11/07/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51I-16 RataKoely15.35Eastern Front
16/07/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51DB-35km E. Gusino10.14Eastern Front
26/07/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51DB-315km E. Kowali9.12Eastern Front
04/08/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Pe-25km S. Alekssino8.3Eastern Front
08/08/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Pe-210km NE Kochany5.1Eastern Front
09/08/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51SB-35km N. Sacharjoskaja11.2Eastern Front
09/08/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51I-16 Rata25km NW Brjansk18.2Eastern Front
09/08/1941Fw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Pe-2Südrand Dankowo18.55Eastern Front
13/08/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51I-1820km N. Jelnja9.58Eastern Front
14/08/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51I-184km SE Jelnja15.3Eastern Front
08/09/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51I-18-5.4Eastern Front
09/09/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51R-315km SW Krolowetz12.5Eastern Front
09/09/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51DB-310km W. Kostobobr14.4Eastern Front
09/09/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51DB-320km SE Nowgorod14.55Eastern Front
06/10/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Pe-215km W. Spas-Demensk13.2Eastern Front
06/10/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51I-1820km N. Juchnow17Eastern Front
12/10/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51I-1815km E. Kremensloje16.05Eastern Front
27/10/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Jak-115km NE Weretja15.2Eastern Front
27/10/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Jak-115km NE Weretja15.23Eastern Front
29/10/1941Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51I-16 Rata15km SE Moshaisk13.4Eastern Front
29/05/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-3-13.25Eastern Front
04/06/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3-15.1Eastern Front
13/06/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3-12.35Eastern Front
05/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Il-2-11.3Eastern Front
05/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51I-16 Rata-11.45Eastern Front
07/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-3-13.3Eastern Front
07/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-3-13.4Eastern Front
07/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3-16.55Eastern Front
07/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3-17.1Eastern Front
07/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3-17.16Eastern Front
11/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-3-5.52Eastern Front
11/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-3-5.53Eastern Front
11/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-3-5.57Eastern Front
11/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-3-19.45Eastern Front
13/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3-16.02Eastern Front
27/07/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-31km E. Mosal'sk: 1500m6Eastern Front
01/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-347 544: 600m11.07Eastern Front
01/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Il-247 544: 200m11.15Eastern Front
01/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51U-247 524: 50m11.22Eastern Front
02/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-347 554: 1800m14.45Eastern Front
03/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-347 571: 300m10Eastern Front
03/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-347 563: 1500m9.2Eastern Front
04/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-347 834: 2000m15.25Eastern Front
04/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Pe-247 833: 1500m5.2Eastern Front
04/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Il-247 861: 50m5.25Eastern Front
04/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Il-247 863: 50m5.27Eastern Front
04/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Il-247 851: 30m18.35Eastern Front
05/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-347 833: 2000m11.3Eastern Front
05/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-347 861: 2500m11.35Eastern Front
09/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-347 853: 800m6Eastern Front
09/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Hurricane47 873: 1000m12.1Eastern Front
09/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Hurricane47 874: 1000m12.12Eastern Front
10/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-347 844: 50m7.5Eastern Front
18/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-356 721: 600m17Eastern Front
19/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-347 542: 1800m-Eastern Front
23/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-347 843: 300m18Eastern Front
23/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Il-247 594: 200m18.15Eastern Front
24/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Il-247 732: 30m7.3Eastern Front
24/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Airacobra47 842: 800m12.17Eastern Front
25/08/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51LaGG-347 553: 1200m6.4Eastern Front
28/10/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3SW Staraya-Forogo: 2000m14.2Eastern Front
28/10/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Jak-1NE Usswjatoye: 1500m15.03Eastern Front
29/10/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3SE Vitebsk: 1000m15.15Eastern Front
29/10/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3SE Surazh: 200m [Bryansk]15.2Eastern Front
30/10/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3SE Vitebsk: 1500m10.15Eastern Front
30/10/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3SE Vitebsk: 1000m10.2Eastern Front
30/10/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-3NE Surazh: 50m [Bryansk]10.38Eastern Front
07/11/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-317 753: 3000m7.41Eastern Front
07/11/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51Pe-216 272: 6500m7.32Eastern Front
07/11/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-317 741: 2000m7.43Eastern Front
07/11/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-317 733: 3500m7.5Eastern Front
07/11/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-317 744: 700m8.1Eastern Front
07/11/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-317 724: 2000m12.2Eastern Front
11/11/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-317 754: 3000m12.16Eastern Front
11/11/1942Ofw. Heinrich Klöpper11JG 51MiG-317 722: 3400m12.18Eastern Front
14/10/1943Oblt. Heinrich Klöpper7JG 1B-17--Western Front

Known Claims : 83

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