Wikipedia

Heinrich Klöpper

Heinrich (Heinz) Klöpper (9 January 1918 – 29 November 1943) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Heinrich Klöpper was credited with 94 victories.

Heinrich Klöpper
Born(1918-01-09)9 January 1918
Groß Bülten, Kingdom of Prussia
Died29 November 1943(1943-11-29) (aged 25)
Vollenhove, Netherlands
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–1943
RankOberleutnant (first lieutenant)
UnitJG 77, JG 51, JG 2, JG 1
Commands held7./JG 1
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career edit

Klöpper was born on 9 January 1918 in Größ Bülten, present-day part of Ilsede, at the time in the Province of Hanover within the German Empire.[1]

In 1940 Heinrich (Heinz) Klöpper served with Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing), during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain he recorded his first two victories. On 15 May, elements of 2. Staffel of JG 77 engaged five Armée de l'air Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighters west of Dinant. During this encounter, Klöpper claimed a M.S.406 fighter shot down, which was not confirmed, but was himself shot down and had to bail out of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E. He landed safely near the advancing German tanks.[2]

On 21 November, I. Gruppe of JG 77 was redesignated and became the IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). In consequence, Klöpper's former 2. Staffel of JG 77 became 11. Staffel of JG 51.[3]

On the first day of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, he claimed his first victory on the Eastern Front, when he shot down a Russian SB-3 bomber. On 27 October 1941 he claimed a double Soviet victory, shooting down two LaGG-3 fighters. Another double on 5 July 1942, an Il-2 and an I-16 Rata; and five victories on 7 July 1942. Another five victories on 4 August 1942; a MiG-3, a Pe-2 and three Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.

On 4 September 1942, Klöpper was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for 65 aerial victories claimed.[4]

Defense of the Reich edit

In May 1943, Klöpper was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing). He succeeded Hauptmann Günther Specht who was transferred.[5] On the Western Front his 91st victim was a B-17 bomber on 5 November 1943. His 92nd, was a P-38 Lightning fighter on 13 November 1943. His 93rd aerial victory was the Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, "Sack-Time Sally", claimed on 26 November 1943.[6] His 94th and final victory was a P-38 at Hasselt claimed on 29 November 1943.

On 29 November 1943, Klöpper was killed in action following aerial combat with USAAF approximately 20 to 30 Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters of the 55th Fighter Group, supported by few Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. The combat occurred at an altitude of 9,000 meters (30,000 feet) in the area of Groningen, Leeuwarden and Meppel, ending over the Zuiderzee. Following this encounter, Klöpper crashed his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 410 106—factory number) southwest of Meppel after flying through a low cloud cover.[7]

Summary of career edit

Aerial victory claims edit

During his career, he shot down a total of 94 enemy planes in approximately 500 combat missions (18 victories were on the Western Front), of which eight were four engined bombers and seven Il-2 Sturmoviks. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 89 aerial victories, plus further one unconfirmed claim. This figure includes 80 claims on the Eastern Front and nine claims over the Western Allies, including four four-engined heavy bombers.[8]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 05 Ost 0021". 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.[9]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Klöpper an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Klöpper did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –
Battle of France — 10 May – 1 June 1940
—
[Note 1] 		15 May 1940
—
 M.S.406[11]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[10]
Action at the Channel and over England — 25 August 1940 – 7 June 1941
1 5 October 1940 18:35 Spitfire Dungeness[12]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[13]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
2 22 June 1941 16:25 SB-3 Mivhatki[14] 15 13 August 1941 09:58 I-18 (MiG-1) 20 km (12 mi) north of Yelnya[15]
3 24 June 1941 09:30 SB-3 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Siemieczewo[14] 16 14 August 1941 15:30 I-18 (MiG-1) 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Yelnya[15]
4 26 June 1941 10:48 DB-3[14] 17 8 September 1941 05:40 I-18 (MiG-1) 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Snob[16]
5 30 June 1941 13:15 R-10 (Seversky) 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Sauditsche[17] 18 9 September 1941 12:50 R-3?[Note 2] 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Krolowetz[16]
6 11 July 1941 10:32 Pe-2 Kraschino[19] 19 9 September 1941 14:40 DB-3 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Kostobobr[16]
7 11 July 1941 15:35 I-16 Koely[19] 20 9 September 1941 14:55 DB-3 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Novgorod[16]
8 16 July 1941 10:14 DB-3 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Gusino[20] 21 6 October 1941 13:20 Pe-2 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Spas-Demensk[21]
9 26 July 1941 09:12 DB-3 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Kowali[22] 22 6 October 1941 17:00 I-18 (MiG-1) 20 km (12 mi) north of Juchnov[21]
10 4 August 1941 08:30 Pe-2 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Alekssino[23] 23 12 October 1941 16:05 I-18 (MiG-1) 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Kremensloje[21]
11 8 August 1941 05:10 Pe-2 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Kochany[23] 24 27 October 1941 15:20 Yak-1?[Note 3] 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Weretja[21]
12 9 August 1941 11:20 SB-3 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Sacharjoskaja[23] 25 27 October 1941 15:23 Yak-1?[Note 3] 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Weretja[21]
13 9 August 1941 18:20 I-16 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Bryansk[23] 26 29 October 1941 13:40 I-16 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Moshaisk[21]
14 9 August 1941 18:55 Pe-2 southern edge of Dankowo[23]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –[8]
Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
27 29 May 1942 13:25 LaGG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Batischtschewo[24] 55 5 August 1942 11:35 MiG-3 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Zubtsov[25]
28 4 June 1942 15:10 MiG-3 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Batischtschewo[24] 56 9 August 1942 06:00 LaGG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Zubtsov[25]
29 13 June 1942 12:35 MiG-3[24] 57 9 August 1942 12:10 Hurricane 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Zubtsov[25]
30 5 July 1942 11:30 I-16?[Note 4] 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Bjeloj[24] 58 9 August 1942 12:12 Hurricane 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Zubtsov[25]
31 5 July 1942 11:45 I-16 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Bjeloj[24]
—
 5 August 1942
—
 LaGG-3 20 km (12 mi) south of Zubtsov[25]
32♠ 7 July 1942 13:30 LaGG-3 5 km (3.1 mi) south-southeast of Simnizy[24] 59 10 August 1942 07:50 LaGG-3 7 km (4.3 mi) south-southeast of Zubtsov[25]
33♠ 7 July 1942 13:40 LaGG-3 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Simnizy[24] 60 18 August 1942 17:00 LaGG-3 7 km (4.3 mi) northeast of Wassilijeswkoje[25]
40 km (25 mi) south-southeast of Gagarin
34♠ 7 July 1942 16:55 MiG-3 eastern edge of Kosjoslk[24] 61 19 August 1942 14:25 LaGG-3 18 km (11 mi) northwest of Rzhev[26]
35♠ 7 July 1942 17:10 MiG-3 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Belew[24] 62 23 August 1942 18:00 MiG-3 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of Zubtsov[26]
36♠ 7 July 1942 17:16 MiG-3 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Belew[24] 63 23 August 1942 18:15 Il-2 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Rzhev[26]
37 11 July 1942 05:52 LaGG-3 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Simnizy[27] 64 24 August 1942 07:30 Il-2 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Rzhev[26]
38 11 July 1942 05:53 LaGG-3 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Simnizy[27] 65 24 August 1942 12:17 P-39 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Zubtsov[26]
39 11 July 1942 05:57 LaGG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Simnizy[27] 66 25 August 1942 06:40 LaGG-3 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Rzhev[26]
40 11 July 1942 19:45 LaGG-3 25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Zhizdra[27] 67 28 October 1942 14:20 MiG-3 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa[26]
41 13 July 1942 16:02 MiG-3 25 km (16 mi) west of Suchinitschi[27] 68 28 October 1942 15:03 Yak-1 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Uswjaty[26]
42 27 July 1942 06:00 LaGG-3 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Mozhaysk[27] 69 29 October 1942 15:15 MiG-3 25 km (16 mi) east of Vitebsk[26]
southeast of Vitebsk
43 1 August 1942 11:07 LaGG-3 14 km (8.7 mi) northwest of Rzhev[27] 70 29 October 1942 15:20 MiG-3 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Surazh[26]
southeast of Surazh
44 1 August 1942 11:15 Il-2 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Rzhev[27] 71 30 October 1942 10:15 MiG-3 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Vitebsk[26]
southeast of Vitebsk
45 1 August 1942 11:21?[Note 5] U-2 20 km (12 mi) south of Rzhev[25] 72 30 October 1942 10:20 MiG-3 28 km (17 mi) southeast of Vitebsk[26]
southeast of Vitebsk
46 2 August 1942 14:45 MiG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Rzhev[25] 73 30 October 1942 10:33?[Note 6] MiG-3 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of Surazh[26]
northeast of Surazh
47 3 August 1942 09:20 LaGG-3 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Rzhev[25] 74 7 November 1942 12:20 MiG-3 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa[26]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Staraya Toropa
48 3 August 1942 10:00 MiG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Rzhev[25] 75♠ 9 November 1942 07:32 Pe-2 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Welish[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Maklok
49♠ 4 August 1942 05:20 Pe-2 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Zubtsov[25] 76♠ 9 November 1942 07:41 MiG-3 27 km (17 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa[29]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa
50♠ 4 August 1942 05:25 Il-2 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Zubtsov[25] 77♠ 9 November 1942 07:43 MiG-3 39 km (24 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa[29]
40 km (25 mi) west-southwest of Staraya Toropa
51♠ 4 August 1942 05:27 Il-2 18 km (11 mi) southeast of Zubtsov[25] 78♠ 9 November 1942 07:45?[Note 7] MiG-3 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa[29]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa
52♠ 4 August 1942 15:25 MiG-3 18 km (11 mi) east of Zubtsov[25] 79♠ 9 November 1942 08:10 MiG-3 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa[29]
40 km (25 mi) west-southwest of Staraya Toropa
53♠ 4 August 1942 18:35 Il-2 7 km (4.3 mi) southeast of Zubtsov[25] 80 11 November 1942 12:16 MiG-3 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa[29]
54 5 August 1942 11:30 MiG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Zubtsov[25] 81 11 November 1942 12:18 MiG-3 11 km (6.8 mi) southwest of Staraya Toropa[29]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Staraya Toropa
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[28]
Western Front — 1 January – April 1943
82?[Note 8] 17 January 1943 15:32 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost 0021[30] 84 13 March 1943?[Note 9] 15:30 Spitfire 30 km (19 mi) west of Baie de Somme[30]
50 km (31 mi) northwest of Abbeville
83 10 February 1943 11:21 Spitfire Orne estuary[30] 85 28 March 1943 12:31 Spitfire south of Beachy Head[30]
100 km (62 mi) northeast of Dieppe
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1 –[28]
Western Front — May – 29 November 1943
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Klöpper claimed one undocumented aerial victory in the timeframe 16 August to 30 September 1943.[31] This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[28]
87 10 October 1943 15:19 B-17 22 km (14 mi) northeast of Münster[32]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Klöpper claimed one undocumented aerial victory in the timeframe 11 to 31 October 1943.[31] This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[28]
89 3 November 1943 13:10 B-17 Mellum[32] 91 26 November 1943 13:10 B-24 PQ 05 Ost S/DN-4[32]
vicinity of Hasselt
90 5 November 1943 13:54 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/KH-1[32]
vicinity of Haamstede 		92 29 November 1943 14:15 P-38 PQ 05 Ost S/FN-4/5[32]

Awards edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[10]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as Ilyushin Il-2.[18]
  3. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3.[18]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as Ilyushin Il-2.[18]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:22.[18]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:38.[28]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:50.[28]
  8. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[28]
  9. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed ao 23 March 1943.[28]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 146.
  2. ^ Prien 1992, pp. 286–287.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2002, pp. 97, 101.
  4. ^ Weal 2006, p. 82.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2008, p. 190.
  6. ^ B-24 42-40749.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2008, pp. 183–184, 200.
  8. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 647–648.
  9. ^ Planquadrat.
  10. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 646.
  11. ^ Prien 1995, p. 2380.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 420.
  13. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 646–647.
  14. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 334.
  15. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 342.
  16. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 344.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 335.
  18. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 647.
  19. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 337.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 338.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 345.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 339.
  23. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003, p. 341.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 353.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Prien et al. 2006, p. 355.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2006, p. 356.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 354.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 648.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 357.
  30. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2010, p. 443.
  31. ^ a b Prien et al. 2008, p. 197.
  32. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2008, p. 195.
  33. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 119.
  34. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 235.
  35. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 449.
  36. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 260.

Bibliography edit

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  • 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.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2017). Jagdgeschwader 1 'Oesau' Aces 1939–45. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 134. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-2291-8.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für 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 (1992). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 1—1934–1941 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 1—1934–1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-19-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1995). Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77—Teil 4—1944–1945 [History of Jagdgeschwader 77—Volume 4—1944–1945] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-29-8.
  • 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 (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.
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  • Accident description for B-24 42-40749 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 15 December 2023.
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