Herbert Huppertz

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Herbert Huppertz
Hauptmann Herbert Huppertz.jpg
Hauptmann (captain) Herbert Huppertz, Staffelkapitän (squadron commander) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"
Born3 June 1919
Rheydt
Died8 June 1944(1944-06-08) (aged 25)
Caen, German-occupied France
Buried
La Cambe German war cemetery
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1937–44
RankMajor (Posthumously)
UnitJG 51, JG 5, JG 2
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Herbert Huppertz (3 June 1919 – 8 June 1944) was a 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. Herbert Huppertz claimed 68 victories including 32 over the Eastern Front. He was shot down on 8 June 1944. Huppertz was posthumously promoted to Major and awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 24 June 1944.

Early life and career[]

Huppertz was born on 3 June 1919 in Rheydt, present-day a borough of Mönchengladbach, at the time an independent city in the Rhine Province. Huppertz, the son of a postal inspector (Postinspektor), joined the Luftwaffe in late 1937 as a Fahnenjunker (cadet).[1]

Group commander and death[]

In March 1944, Huppertz was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 2, succeeding Hauptmann Bruno Stolle who was transferred.[2]

According to Bowman, Huppertz shot down five North American P-51 Mustang fighters on 6 June, making him an "ace-in-a-day" on D-Day.[3] In contrast, authors Matthews and Foreman list him with five claims over three Hawker Typhoon, a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and a P-51 fighter that day.[4] Two days later, during Battle for Caen, Huppertz was shot down and killed in action in his Focke Wulf Fw 190 A-8 (Werknummer 730440—factory number) by US-fighters in near Cintheaux, in the combat area of Caen.[5] He was replaced by Hauptmann Josef Wurmheller as commander of III. Gruppe.[6]

Summary of career[]

Aerial victory claims[]

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 73 aerial victory claims, all of which confirmed. This number includes 28 on the Eastern Front and 45 on the Western Front, including 17 four-engined bombers.[7]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 14 West 3867". 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 × 4 km in size.[8]

Chronicle of aerial victories

  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Huppertz 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 ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Matthews and Foreman.

Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[9]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 28 May 1940 13:08 Spitfire northwest of Dunkirk[10]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[9]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 7 June 1941
2 7 July 1940 21:38 Spitfire northwest of Dungeness[11] 5 14 November 1940 16:02 Spitfire Thames Estuary[12]
vicinity of Clacton-on-Sea
3 25 October 1940 13:30 Hurricane Tunbridge Wells[13] 6 11 March 1941 19:25 Hurricane 25 km (16 mi) north of Dungeness[12]
4 29 October 1940 18:05 Spitfire 20 km (12 mi) northwest of London[13]
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[9]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – August 1941
7 22 June 1941 16:30 SB-2[14] 21 23 July 1941 12:55 Pe-2[15]
8 24 June 1941 09:30 DB-3[14] 22 23 July 1941 18:20 Pe-2[15]
9 24 June 1941 09:50 DB-3[14] 23 23 July 1941 18:25 Pe-2[15]
10 28 June 1941 16:03 DB-3[14] 24 26 July 1941 09:05 DB-3[16]
11 29 June 1941 18:20 DB-3[14] 25 26 July 1941 09:08 DB-3[16]
12 30 June 1941 13:12 R-10 (Seversky)[17] 26 26 July 1941 09:10 DB-3[16]
13 2 July 1941 17:32 I-17 (MiG-1)[17] 27 26 July 1941 18:15 Pe-2[16]
14 3 July 1941 19:35 DB-3[18] 28 28 July 1941 07:47 DB-3[16]
15 7 July 1941 17:15 I-16[18] 29 31 July 1941 19:15 I-18 (MiG-1)[16]
16 14 July 1941 12:40 DB-3[19] 30 8 August 1941 15:35 DB-3[20]
17 14 July 1941 12:45 DB-3[19] 31 8 August 1941 15:38 DB-3[20]
18 22 July 1941 10:25 I-153[15] 32 9 August 1941 18:17 I-16[20]
19 22 July 1941 18:20 I-153[15] 33 9 August 1941 19:00 SB-3[20]
20 22 July 1941 18:25 I-153[15]
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
Operation Barbarossa — August – 5 December 1941
34?[Note 1] 25 August 1941 16:10 I-16[21]
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1 –
Defense of the Reich — January – March 1942
35?[Note 2] 12 February 1942
—
 Spitfire[22]
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1 –[9]
South and West Norway — March – November 1942
36 2 April 1942
—
 Mosquito Trondheim[23] 37 10 April 1942 12:33 Spitfire 25 km (16 mi) east of Trondheim[23]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –
Western Front — 1 January – 20 April 1943
38?[Note 3] 15 May 1943 17:10 Spitfire 7–8 km (4.3–5.0 mi) west of Bonnières[9] 39?[Note 3] 17 May 1943 10:54 Spitfire 25 km (16 mi) south of Caen[9]
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[9]
Western Front — 20 April – 1 July 1943
40 29 June 1943 16:37 P-38 PQ 14 West 3867[25]
Saint-Nazaire
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[9]
Western Front — 1 July – 1 October 1943
41 4 July 1943 13:10 B-17 PQ 14 West 4881[25]
Saint-Nazaire 		47 11 September 1943 18:07 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost 0047[26]
PQ 05 Ost 00483
42 5 July 1943 16:53 Whitley PQ 14 West 5936[25] 48 15 September 1943 19:43 B-17 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Saint-Germain-en-Laye[26]
43 3 August 1943 20:30 Typhoon north of Brest[25]
PQ 14 West 5947 		49 23 September 1943 09:29 B-17 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Fenmarch[26]
44 27 August 1943 09:45 B-25 PQ 05 Ost 0031[25]
PQ 05 Ost 0002 		50 23 September 1943 18:39 B-17 north of Loudéac[26]
45 30 August 1943 16:12 P-51 PQ 15 West 5067[25]
PQ 15 West 5967 		51 24 September 1943 17:00 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost 2037[26]
PQ 05 Ost 20378
46 31 August 1943 16:49 Spitfire PQ 15 West 4075[25]
PQ 15 West 4074
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[7]
Western Front — 1 October – 1 December 1943
52 3 October 1943 18:33 Spitfire Hécourt[26] 54 26 November 1943 10:36 Spitfire west of Saint-Sauveur[26]
53 14 October 1943 16:00 B-17 west of Pont-à-Mousson[26]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[4]
Western Front — 1 December 1943 – February 1944
55 1 December 1943 13:15 B-17 PQ 05 Ost 3271[26] 59 7 January 1944 13:17 B-24 PQ QO-8
56 30 December 1943 11:45 B-24 PQ 05 Ost 206, southeast of Cambrai[26] 60 6 February 1944 10:40 B-17 PQ EF/04
57 30 December 1943 14:43 B-17 PQ 05 Ost 203 ND/NE[26] 61 6 February 1944 13:00 P-38 northwest of Versailles
58 31 December 1943 14:53 B-17 PQ 15 West 3035[26] 62 8 February 1944 10:30 B-17 PQ 05 Ost 203
58 7 January 1944 13:04 B-24 PQ 04 Ost 198
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[4]
Western Front — February – 8 June 1944
63 20 February 1944 15:16 B-17 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Mons 69♠ 6 June 1944 12:15 Typhoon east of Caen
64 22 February 1944 12:20 B-24 Helmond-Roosendaal 70♠ 6 June 1944 18:20 Typhoon east of Caen
65 16 March 1944 10:40 B-17 Saint-Dizier 71♠ 6 June 1944 20:35 P-51 3 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Évreux
66 18 March 1944 14:50 B-17 southwest to west of Ulm 72♠ 6 June 1944 20:59 P-47 10 km (6.2 mi) west-northwest of Évreux
67 18 March 1944 15:02 P-51 southwest to west of Ulm 73 7 June 1944 19:07 P-47 vicinity of Bayeux
68♠ 6 June 1944 12:14 Typhoon east of Caen

Awards[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed with 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51.[9]
  2. ^ This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[9]
  3. ^ a b This claim with 3. Staffel of JG 2 is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock. According to the authors, Huppertz was transferred to 10. Staffel of JG 2 on 20 April 1943. The authors do not list any claims attributed to Huppertz on 15 or 17 May, not with 3. Staffel nor with 10. Staffel.[24]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Stockert 2012, p. 46.
  2. ^ Weal 2000, pp. 107, 118.
  3. ^ Bowman 2013, p. 31.
  4. ^ a b c Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 567.
  5. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 67.
  6. ^ Weal 2000, p. 111.
  7. ^ a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 566–567.
  8. ^ Planquadrat.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 566.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 285.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 61.
  12. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 66.
  13. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 65.
  14. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003, p. 334.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 338.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2003, p. 339.
  17. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 335.
  18. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 336.
  19. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 337.
  20. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2003, p. 341.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 307.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 109.
  23. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 180.
  24. ^ Prien et al. 2010, pp. 438, 443, 501.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2010, p. 502.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2010, p. 503.
  27. ^ a b Thomas 1997, p. 315.
  28. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 203.
  29. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 197.
  30. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 411.
  31. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 72.

Bibliography[]

  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  • Bowman, Martin W. (2013). Air War D-Day: Gold, Juno, Sword. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-78159-179-6.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
  • Matthews, 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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
  • 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 (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 7—Heimatverteidigung—1. January bis 31 Dezember 1942—Einsatz im Westen—1. Januar bis 31. Dezember 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 7—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1942—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-73-1.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/IV—Einsatz im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/IV—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-92-2.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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 [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.
  • Stockert, Peter (2012). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 6 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 6] (in German) (3rd ed.). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.
  • Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
  • Weal, John (1996). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-595-1.
  • Weal, John (2000). Jagdgeschwader 2 'Richthofen'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-046-9.
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