SMGP-2077 Gerhard Schopfel Luftwaffe Ace Knights Cross signature

A 3.5×6″ glossy photo print with authentic post war signature in black marker. A light water stain across the chin.

From Traces of war:

Date of birth:

December 19th, 1912 (Erfurt/Saxony, Germany)

Date of death:

May 17th, 2003 (Gladbach-Refrath/Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Achieved a total of 40 aerial victories (including 3 four-engined bombers) in the West over the course of 700 sorties.

00.00.1936: transferred from the Polizei to the Luftwaffe
00.00.1937: Leutnant, transferred to I./ JG 233
01.06.1938: Oberleutnant, Chef, Stabs-Kp. I./ JG 234
01.05.1939-01.10.1939: unit renamed I./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
23.09.1939-21.08.1940: Oblt., Staka 9./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
19.05.1940: Oblt., 9./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
17.06.1940: Oblt., Stab, III./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
21.08.1940-05.12.1941: Hauptmann, Kdr., III./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
11.09.1940: Hptm., awarded the Ritterkreuz, Kdr., III./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
23.06.1941: Hptm., Stab, III./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
07.08.1941: Hptm., Stab, III./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
27.09.1941: Hptm., Stab, III./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
27.11.1941: Hptm., III./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
01.12.1941: promoted to Major
06.12.1941-10.01.1943: Kommodore, JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
09.12.1941: awarded the DKiG, III./ JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
01.01.1942-31.12.1942: Maj., Kommodore, JG 26 ‘Schlageter’
03.01.1943: Major, Ia, Jagdfliegerführer 2
01.04.1943: Ia, Jagdfliegerführer 4
00.07.1943: Ia, Jafü Suditalien
09.09.1943: Major and Jagdflieger-Einsatzführer Calabria
18.01.1944-00.05.1944: Major, Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen
01.05.1944: transferred to III./ JG 54
15.06.1944-06.08.1944: Major, Stab, III./ JG 54, appointed Kommodore JG 4
06.08.1944: Major, Kommodore, JG 4, WIA – Bf 109 G-6 coded ‘Black << +’ shot
down by P-51 Mustangs North West of Berlin
01.10.1944-07.01.1945: Major, Jagdfliegerführer Ungarn
00.02.1945: Kdr. LKS Gatow?
10.04.1945: Kommodore, JG 6
00.05.1945: captured by the Soviets in Czechoslavkia
Credited with c.700 combat missions and 45 air victories
00.12.1949: released, worked as a chauffeur then became a merchant
00.00.1960: returned to the aviation field as an executive of Air Lloyd in Bonn

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 27th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandeur, III. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 26 “Schlageter”, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

September 11th, 1940

Awarded after 20 aerial victories.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandeur, III. Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 26 “Schlageter”, Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

December 9th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 1944

WIA 06.08.1944