Heinz Rökker

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Heinz Rökker
Born(1920-10-20)20 October 1920
NJG 2
Battles/warsWorld War II
Awards
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Heinz Rökker (20 October 1920 – 2 August 2018) was a German

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross (German: Ritterkreuz), and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. He claimed 64 enemy aircraft (63 at night) shot down, and all were British bombers. Rökker was the eighth-most-successful night fighter pilot in the history of aerial warfare.[1] He died in August 2018 at the age of 97.[2]

Early life

Herbartgymnasiums, formerly the Hindenburg school in Oldenburg

Rökker was born on 20 October 1920 in

German invasion of Poland and the start of World War II in Europe. He was assigned to 4 staffel of the 22 Flieger-Ausbild Regiment (4th Squadron of the 22nd Pilot Training Regiment) at Güstrow. Rökker then moved to the Fliegerhorstkompanie Wenzendorf (Airfield Company Wenzendorf) on 13 November 1939.[3]

On 14 January 1940 Rökker was transferred to the Luft-Nachschub-Kompanie 5 (5th Aerial Replacement Company) stationed in Gütersloh. From 4 July 1940, he was stationed at Berlin-Gatow with the Schülerkompanie Flugzeugführer-schule (School Company at Advanced Flying School). Rökker was promoted to Gefreiter on 1 October 1940. He then completed advanced training at a flying school near Magdeburg from 20 March—15 August 1941.[3] Rökker attended Blindflugschule 5 in Belgrade, occupied Yugoslavia, from 15 September before completing his training at Nachtjagdschule 1, near Munich on 1 November 1941. During his advanced training, on 1 May and 1 August respectively, he was promoted to the rank of Fähnrich and Oberfähnrich. [4][3]

World War II

A map of part of the Kammhuber Line. The 'belt' and night fighter 'boxes' are shown.

Following the 1939 aerial

air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber Line. It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter. Each sector, named a Himmelbett (canopy bed), would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers. In 1941, the Luftwaffe started equipping night fighters with airborne radar such as the Lichtenstein radar. This airborne radar did not come into general use until early 1942.[6]

Mediterranean and Egypt

Rökker was then posted to 1 Staffel (squadron), Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2—Night Fighter Wing 2) operating in the Mediterranean theatre on 6 May 1942. He remained with this wing until war's end.[Note 1] Carlos Nugent was also posted to 1./NJG 2 in May 1942 and became Rökker's Bordfunker (wireless/radar operator). The unit was located to Catania in Sicily, Italy. From there, it transported to North Africa by ship and was based in Libya. After flying 25 missions Rökker was awarded the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Bronze (Frontflugspange für Nachtjäger in Bronze) on 17 June 1942.[7]

On 31 May 1942 Rökker's

Flying Officer Frank J. R. Minster and crewed by Sergeant W. A. R. King, J Moschonas and J.A. Bowyer. All of these men were posted missing in action and were never found.[10] Rökker began night intruder missions in June and over British lines in Africa. Over Mersa Matruh, Egypt, on the night of the 25/26 June 1942 he engaged a Vickers Wellington southwest of the city and shot it down at 22:45. He attacked and claimed another at 00:09.[11]

On the night of the 28/29 June at 23:58 he encountered another Wellington which he claimed for fourth victory.[12] The machine was R1029, of No. 108 Squadron RAF, which he damaged severely and which was destroyed in a crash-landing. Rökker's Ju 88C was severely damaged and he was also forced to crash-land. Squadron leader D. H. Jacklin, DFC and his crew, survived.[13] Rökker was awarded the Iron Cross second class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) and Wound Badge after the battle on 3 and 14 July 1942 respectively.[7]

On 28 July, Rökker achieved his last victory in Africa. East of Tobruk at 23:10 he shot down another Wellington for his fifth victory.[14] The aircraft was Wellington HX364, from No. 70 Squadron RAF. Pilot Sergeant H. Osborne and his crew survived ditching in the sea, were rescued by an Italian ship the Lino Bixo and taken prisoner. However, gunners K. Hatch, E. A. Jones, K. S. McDonald subsequently drowned when the vessel was sunk by a Royal Navy submarine off Greece on 17 August 1942.[13]

Although 1./NJG 2 was briefly relocated to

staffelkapitan, on 15 December 1942.[4]

In April 1943, Rökker achieved his last victory over the southern fronts when he shot down a Wellington at 01:15 on 19 April 1943 over Marettimo, Aegadian Islands, west of Sicily.[15] The machine was certainly HX487, of No. 221 Squadron RAF based at RAF Luqa on Malta. Squadron leader Michael Foulis, DFC and Bar was lost with nine other men. It was possibly on a transfer that day, explaining why so many men were aboard. Of the nine men reported killed, four had previously flown with Foulis on torpedo operations.[16]

Defence of the Reich

In July 1943, 1./NJG 2 were back in Europe to undertake Defence of the Reich duties. On 2 July he flew his last operation in the south and NJG 2 relocated back northwest Europe.

Hagenau.[18]

Rökker claimed three victories on the night of 15/16 March 1944. At 22:26, west of

Pilot Officer Douglas Eley, the Canadian bomb-aimer, did not survive their parachute jumps.[20] The successes were recorded southwest of Strasbourg at 22:26, west of Hagenau at 22:35, and west of Stuttgart at 22:55.[21]

On 22/23 March and 24/25 March 1944 he claimed three shot down on each night. On the first night of these operations he shot down the Handley Page Halifax flown by Richard Atkins from No. 578 Squadron RAF over Steinringsberg near Herborn at 22:35. Atkins was the only pilot of the squadron to reach the last mission of his tour. This night he was joined by Group captain Nigel Marwood-Elton DFC. Another member of the crew was Flight sergeant, Eric Sanderson the tail gunner. Sanderson saw Rökker's Ju 88 "slide" underneath his turret and he called to the pilot to take evasive action. At one point he told the pilot to bank the bomber so the upper-mid gunner could fire down at the Ju 88 but Sanderson reported the Ju 88 remained below and behind them before firing and hitting the bomb bay and fuel tanks in the wings. All eight men parachuted clear and survived the encounter. In his combat report, Rökker mentioned Atkins by name (presumably having learned it from intelligence reports).[22] On the latter night he shot down the Lancaster II "D-King" flown by Flight Sergeant Jim Newman at 23:20 between Leipzig and Berlin.[23][Note 2] One of the crew, Nicholas Alkemade survived a free fall from a burning parachute. Engineer Edgar Warren, bomb-aimer Charles Hilder, and mid-upper gunner John McDonough were burned to death in the aircraft.[25] The three bombers reported destroyed on 22/23 March were recorded south of Aurich at 21:30, and in the vicinity of Koblenz at 22:27 and 22:35.[26] The other two on 24/25 March claims were reported over Bernburg at 23:20 and east of Kassel at 23:48 for his 20th victory.[27] Over the course of April and May 1944 Rökker achieved another seven victories over western Germany, eastern Belgium and Netherlands included three on the 12 May recorded between 00:23 and 00:49 over Brussels and Zeebrugge. The last appears to have been uncredited.[28]

In June Rökker's unit was heavily engaged over the

Flight Lieutenant Robert Jones; only Sergeants Tom Harvell (engineer) and George Robinson (navigator) survived. Harvell evaded capture but Robinson became a prisoner of war.[32]

Rökker recorded three bombers destroyed on 7/8 August between 23:20 and 00:06 northeast of

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 12 March 1945.[42]

On the night of 15/16 March 1945 Rökker recorded four enemy aircraft shot down as his last victories of the war. Two were recorded as four-engine

B-25 Mitchell and de Havilland Mosquito shot down.[43]

As a Luftwaffe night fighter pilot, he mainly flew the Junkers Ju 88 G-1. Rökker was credited with 64 victories (from a total of 65 claims) in 161 missions. He recorded 63 of his victories at night, including 55 four-engine bombers. Carlos Nugent flew almost 150 missions with Rökker, and on 28 April 1945 became one of the few Bordfunker's decorated with the Knight's Cross.[42]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian

ace-in-a-day".[45][Note 4]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Rökker 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 Rökker did not receive credit.
Claim Date Time Type Location Serial No./Squadron No.
– 1. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
1 20 June 1942 17:20 Beaufort[9] south Crete DD959/No. 217 Squadron
2 25 June 1942 23:45 Wellington[11] 50 km (31 mi) southwest Mersa Matruh
3 26 June 1942 00:09 Wellington[11] 40 km (25 mi) southwest Mersa Matruh
4 28 June 1942 23:58 Wellington[12] 60 km (37 mi) southeast Mersa Matruh Wellington R1029/No. 108 Squadron
5 28 July 1942 23:10 Wellington[14] east Tobruk
6 19 April 1943 01:15 Wellington[15] south Marettimo
7 24 August 1943 00:35 Lancaster[17] 20 km (12 mi) southwest Berlin
8 24 August 1943 00:50 Lancaster[17] 15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest Berlin
9 20 December 1943 19:47 Lancaster[47] Rothenberg
– 2. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
10 24 February 1944 22:43 Stirling[48] south Heilbronn
11 25 February 1944 21:43 Lancaster[48] west
Hagenau
12 15 March 1944 22:26 Lancaster[18] 50 km (31 mi) southwest Strasbourg
13 15 March 1944 22:35 Lancaster[18] west Hagenau
14 15 March 1944 22:55 Lancaster[49] west Stuttgart
15 22 March 1944 21:30 Lancaster[50] south Aurich
16 22 March 1944 22:27 Lancaster[26] Koblenz-Limburg
17 22 March 1944 22:35 Halifax[26] north Koblenz
18 24 March 1944 22:50 Lancaster[27] Berlin-Leipzig
19 24 March 1944 23:20 Halifax[27] southwest Bernburg
20 24 March 1944 23:48 Lancaster[27] east Kassel
21 26 March 1944 22:55 four-engined bomber[51]
München-Gladbach[Note 5]
22 23 April 1944 01:58 Lancaster[52] 50 km (31 mi) northwest Düsseldorf
23 25 April 1944 02:05 Lancaster[53] 30 km (19 mi) northeast München
24 28 April 1944 01:39 Halifax[54] Freiburg im Breisgau
25 12 May 1944 00:23 Lancaster[55] 20–50 km (12–31 mi) northwest Brussels
26 12 May 1944 00:35 Lancaster[55] off
Zeebrügge
 Lancaster LM454/No. 61 Squadron[56]
—
 12 May 1944 00:49 Lancaster[55]
—
 Lancaster ND919/No. 75 (NZ) Squadron[57]
27 28 May 1944 02:08 Halifax[58] 20–40 km (12–25 mi) northwest Eindhoven
28♠ 7 June 1944 02:42 Lancaster[29] 10–50 km (6.2–31.1 mi) southwest Caen
29♠ 7 June 1944 02:48 Lancaster[29] 10–50 km (6.2–31.1 mi) southwest Caen
30♠ 7 June 1944 02:51 Lancaster[29] southwest Caen
31♠ 7 June 1944 03:01 Lancaster[29] west Caen
32♠ 7 June 1944 03:08 Lancaster[29] west Caen
33 25 June 1944 00:16 Lancaster[59] south Dieppe
34 26 July 1944 03:21 four-engined bomber[60] northeast Romilly
35 26 July 1944 04:38 Lancaster[60] northwest Châteaudun
36 29 July 1944 00:14 four-engined bomber[61] Orléans
37 29 July 1944 01:17 Lancaster[61] 50 km (31 mi) northeast Chaumont
38 7 August 1944 23:29 Lancaster[33] northeast Le Havre
39 7 August 1944 23:35 Lancaster[33] northeast Le Havre
40 8 August 1944 00:06 Lancaster[33] northeast Le Havre
41 19 October 1944 21:48 Lancaster[62] Pirmasens
42 4 November 1944 19:31 Lancaster[63] north Dortmund ME865/No. 101 Squadron
43 4 November 1944 19:36 Lancaster[63] north Dortmund
44 4 November 1944 20:00 Halifax[64] north Geldern
45 4 November 1944 20:06 Halifax[64] north Geldern
46 1 January 1945 20:07 Lancaster[35] southeast Geldern
47 5 January 1945 19:19 Halifax[35] north Nienburg
48 5 January 1945 19:29 Lancaster[35] northwest Hannover
49 1 February 1945 19:46 Lancaster[36] north Koblenz
50 3 February 1945 19:31 Lancaster[37] northeast Krefeld
51 3 February 1945 19:51 Lancaster[37] north Geldern
52 3 February 1945 19:56 Lancaster[37] north Geldern
53 8 February 1945 00:21 Boston[37] Eindhoven airfield
54 14 February 1945 22:03 Lancaster[65] south Fulda
55♠ 21 February 1945 20:46 Lancaster[39] south Wageningen
56♠ 21 February 1945 20:56 Lancaster[39] southwest 's-Hertogenbosch
57♠ 21 February 1945 21:06 Lancaster[39] southeast Eindhoven
58♠ 21 February 1945 21:12 Lancaster[39] southwest Eindhoven
59♠ 21 February 1945 21:13 Lancaster[39] southwest Eindhoven
60♠ 21 February 1945 21:19 Lancaster[39] southwest Eindhoven
61 15 March 1945 20:50 four-engined bomber[43] north Düsseldorf
62 15 March 1945 20:52 four-engined bomber[43] north Düsseldorf
63 15 March 1945 21:26 B-25[43] at
St. Trond airfield
64 15 March 1945 21:34 Mosquito[43] at St. Trond airfield

Awards

  • Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
    • in Bronze (17 June 1942)[7]
    • in Silver (5 August 1942)[7]
    • in Gold (19 January 1944)[7]
  • Iron Cross (1939)
    • 2nd Class (3 July 1942)[66]
    • 1st Class (14 August 1942)[66]
  • Wound Badge in Black (14 July 1942)[7]
  • Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 12 June 1944[7]
  • German Cross in Gold on 13 June 1944 as Oberleutnant in the 2./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[67]
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
    • Knight's Cross on 27 July 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 2./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[68][69]
    • 781st Oak Leaves on 12 March 1945 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän of the 2./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[68][70]

Promotions

1 October 1940: Gefreiter (private)[3]
1 May 1941: Fähnrich (officer candidate)[3]
1 August 1941: Oberfähnrich (officer cadet)[3]
1 November 1941: Leutnant (second lieutenant)[3]
1 December 1943: Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)[7]
1 August 1944: Hauptmann (captain)[42]

Notes

  1. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  2. ^ In 1998, Joe Cleary, a survivor of Newman's crew, met with Rökker in Oldenburg. Together they visited the Lancaster's crash site near Oberkirchen.[24]
  3. ^ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces
  4. ^ According to Spick, Rökker flew 170 combat missions.[46]
  5. ^ In 1950, the name was changed to Mönchen-Gladbach and to Mönchengladbach in 1960.

Publications

  • Chronik I. Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 I. /NJG 2. Juli 1940 bis Kriegsende 1945 Fernnachtjagd 1940–1942. [Chronicle of I. Group of the 2nd Night Fighter Wing I./NJG July 1940 to the End of the War 1945 Long Range Nighter Fighter 1940–1942.] (in German). VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken 1997,
    ISBN 3-925480-24-2
    .
  • Chronik der Tennisabteilung des
    ISBN 3-89995-052-6
    .
  • Ausbildung und Einsatz eines Nachtjägers im II. Weltkrieg – Erinnerung aus dem Kriegstagebuch [Training and Employment of a Night Fighter in the Second World War - Recollections from the War Diary] (in German). VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken 2006,
    ISBN 978-3-86619-008-5
    .

References

Citations

  1. ^ Scutts 1998, p. 88.
  2. ^ Heinz Rökker death notice
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Stockert 2008, p. 161.
  4. ^ a b c Bowman 2016, p. 26.
  5. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 9.
  6. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 27.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Stockert 2008, p. 162.
  8. ^ Ring 1969, p. 131.
  9. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 46.
  10. ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1992, p. 362.
  11. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 47.
  12. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 48.
  13. ^ a b Bond 2014, p. 122.
  14. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 51.
  15. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 76.
  16. ^ Bond 2014, p. 123.
  17. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 105.
  18. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 154.
  19. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 152–153.
  20. ^ Bowman 2016, pp. 27–28.
  21. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, pp. 154–155.
  22. ^ Bowman 2016, pp. 30–31.
  23. ^ Bowman 2016, p. 34.
  24. ^ Bilder noch heute vor Augen.
  25. ^ Bowman 2016, p. 37.
  26. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 157.
  27. ^ a b c d Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 158.
  28. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, pp. 169–171, 176.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 184.
  30. ^ Everitt & Middlebrook 2014, p. 322.
  31. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, pp. 192, 204.
  32. ^ Bowman 2015, p. 85.
  33. ^ a b c d Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 207.
  34. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, pp. 222–223.
  35. ^ a b c d Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 228.
  36. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 233.
  37. ^ a b c d e Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 234.
  38. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, pp. 234–235.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 236.
  40. ^ Hinchliffe 1998, p. 308.
  41. ^ Boiten 1997, p. 53.
  42. ^ a b c Stockert 2008, p. 163.
  43. ^ a b c d e Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 242.
  44. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
  45. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 74.
  46. ^ Spick 1996, p. 242.
  47. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 134.
  48. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 152.
  49. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 155.
  50. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 156.
  51. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 160.
  52. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 169.
  53. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 170.
  54. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 171.
  55. ^ a b c Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 176.
  56. ^ Lancaster LM454.
  57. ^ Lancaster ND919.
  58. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 180.
  59. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 192.
  60. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 204.
  61. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 205.
  62. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 220.
  63. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 222.
  64. ^ a b Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 223.
  65. ^ Foreman, Parry & Mathews 2004, p. 235.
  66. ^ a b Thomas 1998, p. 219.
  67. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 383.
  68. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 635.
  69. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 361.
  70. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 99.

Bibliography

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