Gerhard Köppen

Gerhard Köppen
Gerhard Köppen
Born	17 May 1918 Holzendorf
Died	over the Sea of Azov, Russia
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1936–42
Rank	Leutnant
Unit	JG 52
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Barbarossa
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Relations	Eckardt Köppen (brother)

Gerhard Köppen (17 May 1918 – 5 May 1942) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gerhard Köppen is credited with 85 victories in 380 sorties and was posted missing in action on 5 May 1942.

Military career

Gerhard Köppen joined the military service in 1936. His initial posting was with Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg" (KG 1) before he was selected for fighter pilot conversion training in 1939. He was transferred to the 7th Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) in 1941. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) after 40 aerial victories. He 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 promoted to Leutnant on 1 April 1942. He was posted as missing in action following combat flying a Bf 109 F-4 "white 4" (Werknummer 7303—factory number) north of Akmonaj. Köppen was last seen swimming in the Sea of Azov on 5 May 1942.

His brother Eckardt Köppen was killed in action between Hochfließ and Grünweiden southeast of Gumbinnen on 15 January 1945 as Unteroffizier and company troop leader of the 1./Fallschirm-Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 2 "Hermann Göring". He posthumously received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 March 1945.

Awards

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (17 November 1941)
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold on 15 December 1941 as Feldwebel in the 8./JG 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
  • 79th Oak Leaves on 27 February 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52
• Mentioned 4 times in the Wehrmachtbericht (25 February 1942, 3 May 1942, 6 May 1942 and 9 May 1942)

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Wednesday, 25 February 1942	Feldwebel Koeppen, Flugzeugführer in einem Jagdgeschwader, schoß am gestrigen Tage vier Gegener ab und errang damit seinen 72. Luftsieg.	Feldwebel Koeppen, pilot in a fighter wing, shot down four opponents yesterday thus achieving his 72nd aerial victory.
Sunday, 3 May 1942	Am gestrigen Tage errangen an der Ostfront Leutnant Koeppen seinen 80. bis 84. Leutnant Graf seinen 70. bis 76. und Feldwebel Steinbatz seinen 44. bis 49. Luftsieg.	Yesterday on the Eastern Front, Leutnant Koeppen achieved his 80th to 84th, Leutnant Graf his 70th to 76th and Feldwebel Steinbatz his 44th to 49th aerial victory.
Wednesday, 6 May 1942	Leutnant Koeppen errang gestern an der Ostfront seinen 85. Luftsieg.	Leutnant Koeppen achieved his 85th aerial victory on the Eastern Front yesterday.
Saturday, 9 May 1942	Der Flugzeugführer in einem Jagdgeschwader Leutnant Koeppen, Sieger in 85 Luftkämpfen und Träger des Eichenlaubs zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, ist vom Feindflug nicht zurückgekehrt. Mit ihm verliert die Luftwaffe einen ihrer kühnsten und erfolgreichsten Jagdlflieger.	The aircraft pilot in a Fighter Wing Leutnant Koeppen, victor in 85 aerial battles and bearer of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, failed to return from a mission against the enemy. With him the Luftwaffe loses one of its most daring and successful fighter pilots.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• German Propaganda Archive