Heinz Rökker
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| Heinz Rökker | |
|---|---|
| 20 October 1920 | |
| Place of birth | Oldenburg, Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit | NJG 2 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Heinz Rökker was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. He shot down 64 enemy aircraft (63 at night), all were British bombers.[1] He survived the war and now lives in Germany.
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[edit] Early life
Heinz Rökker was born on 20 October 1920 in Oldenburg, Germany. He joined the Luftwaffe in October 1939 and received his flying training at Güstrow in July 1940.
[edit] Night Flighter
As a Luftwaffe night fighter pilot, he flew mostly the famed Junkers Ju 88 G-1 with the 1./NJG 2 first in Germany and later transferred to France. Rökker was awarded the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves) for his outstanding bravery in the defence of Germany by Adolf Hitler. Hauptmann Rökker was one of the Luftwaffe's deadliest marksmen. When the war ended, he had destroyed 64 RAF heavy bombers, these included six Lancasters he shot down on 21 February 1945in a spell of 33 minutes.
[edit] Note
He is now recognised as "the most successful night fighter ace left alive in the world."
[edit] Awards
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (12 June 1944)
- German Cross in Gold (13 June 1944)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
[edit] References
- ^ For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II Night Fighter aces
- Aces of the Luftwaffe. Heinz Rökker. Retrieved on 7 March 2008.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit. Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 - 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, 2001. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
