Bernhard Jope
Bernhard Jope | |
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![]() Bernhard Jope | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1935–1945 |
Rank | Oberstleutnant |
Unit | KG 30, KG 40, KG 100 |
Commands | KG 40, KG 100 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves |
Other work | Lufthansa pilot |
Oberstleutnant Bernhard Jope (born 10 May 1914 in Leipzig; died 31 July 1995 in Königstein im Taunus) was a German World War II Luftwaffe bomber pilot. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. 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.
Biography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1972-007-38%2C_Bernhard_Jope_und_Fritz_Fliegel.jpg/220px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1972-007-38%2C_Bernhard_Jope_und_Fritz_Fliegel.jpg)
In support of the Kriegsmarine, Jope flew the Fw 200 "Condor" on missions across the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. On 26 October 1940 he spotted the troop transport Empress of Britain and severely damaged her with two 250 kg bombs. The Empress of Britain was subsequently sunk by U 32, commanded by Hans Jenisch, on 28 October 1940.
During his time at Kampfgeschwader 100 (KG 100) Jope led an attack on 9 September 1943 on the Italian battle fleet that was sailing from La Spezia en route to Malta, to surrender to the Allies. Jope led a formation of eleven Dornier 217's armed with the Fritz X radio controlled glide bomb and in the ensuing action the 45,000 ton Italian battleship Roma was hit twice and sank. The Roma's sister ship, Italia, was hit by a single Fritz, but was able to make it to Malta. In later action, Jope and KG 100 scored hits with the Fritz on the British battleship Warspite and cruiser Uganda, and the US cruiser Savannah.
Awards
- German Cross in Gold (5 February 1942)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (1939)
- 1st Class (1940)
- Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 30 December 1940 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the 2./KG 40[1]
- 431st Oak Leaves on 24 March 1944 as als Major and Geschwaderkommodore of KG 100[1]
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 29 October 1940
Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht
Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
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Tuesday, 29 October 1940 | Beim ersten Angriff auf den großen, stark geschützten Transportdampfer "Empress of Britain" zeichente sich die Besatzung eines Kampfflugzeuges unter Führung des Oberleutnants Jope besonders aus.[2] | The crew of a combat aircraft under the leadership of Oberleutnant Jope distinguished itself in the initial attack on the large and heavily defended transport steamer "Empress of Britain". |
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945 (in German). Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
- Schaulen, Fritjof (2004). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe II Ihlefeld - Primozic (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-21-1.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.