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Herbert HuppertzGerman Luftwaffe pilot ace
Date of Birth: 03.06.1919
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Herbert Huppertz
Herbert Huppertz was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot and ace, credited with at least 78 victories, including 33 on the Eastern Front and 45 on the Western Front. He was born on June 3, 1919, in Rheydt, Rhineland. Huppertz joined the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, in the autumn of 1937.
Early Career
In the autumn of 1939, Huppertz was assigned to the 51st Fighter Squadron "Mölders". As a lieutenant, he was appointed to Group 6./JG 51. He scored his first victory during the French Campaign on May 28, 1940, when he shot down a Royal Air Force Spitfire near Dunkirk. He participated in the largest aerial battle of World War II, the Battle of Britain, and achieved four victories over England. In the spring of 1941, Huppertz was transferred to Group 12./JG 51, serving on the Eastern Front. After celebrating his 33rd victory on August 9, he was shot down in a Bf-109 F-2, but managed to parachute to safety. On August 25, he achieved his 34th victory and was awarded the Knight's Cross on August 30.
Service on the Eastern Front
In September 1941, Huppertz was transferred to the Supplementary Squadron/JG 51 to serve as an instructor. He returned to the Eastern Front in late December and was attached to the III./JG 51, where he scored five more victories. On January 27, 1942, Huppertz was appointed commander of the 12./JG 1 Squadron, initially based in Brest and later in Jever before being sent to Norway. He participated in the operation codenamed "Operation Donnerkeil," aimed at protecting the German cruisers Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen as they attempted to reach the German coast near the mouth of the Elbe. Huppertz claimed to have shot down a Spitfire during this operation. In March, the IV./JG 1 group was renamed III./JG 5, and Huppertz retained command of the 9./JG 5.
Later Career and Legacy
On April 2, 1942, Huppertz claimed to have shot down a British Mosquito twin-engine bomber off the Norwegian coast. He was wounded during a forced landing in an Fw 190 A-2 on September 15 in Morgensbeck. Huppertz was appointed commander of the 3./JG 2 Squadron, after which he took command of the 10./JG 2 Squadron. On December 30, he celebrated his 60th victory.
In February 1944, Captain Huppertz was appointed commander of the III./JG 2 group. On December 22, he was shot down and wounded in a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 "Dora" in a dogfight with a four-engine bomber of the United States Air Force. On the first day of the Allied invasion of Normandy, Huppertz claimed five victories over enemy aircraft. On June 8, 1944, he was shot down in an Fw 190 A-8 by an American fighter near Caen and was killed in action. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of major and received Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Huppertz's victories included 17 four-engine bombers. His skill and courage as a fighter pilot made him one of the most successful German aces of World War II.
