Bernard

Bernhard Jope, born 10-05-1914 in Leipzig, was a German World War II Luftwaffe bomber pilot. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded by Hermann Goering (see Hermann Goering) (did you know) to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leader.  In support of the Kriegsmarine Jope flew the Fw 200 "Condor" on missions across the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. On 26-10-1940 he spotted the troop transport Empress of Britain and severely damaged her with two 250 kg bombs. The Empress of Britain was subsequently sunk by U 32, commanded by Hans Jenisch, on 28-10-1940. Jenisch a U- boat ace, died at the age of 68, on 29-04-1982 in Kronshagen, near Kiel. During his time as Kampfgeschwader 100 (KG 100) Jope led an attack on 09-09-1943 on the Italian battle fleet that was sailing from La Spezia en route to Malta, to surrender to the Allies. Jope led a formation of eleven Dornier 217s armed with the Fritz X radio controlled glide bomb and in the ensuing action the 45,000 ton Italian battleship Roma was hit twice and sank. The Roma's sister ship, Italia, was hit by a single Fritz, but was able to make it to Malta. In later action, Jope and KG 100 scored hits with the Fritz on the British battleship Warspite and cruiser Uganda and the US cruiser Savannah. Jope received the German Cross in Gold on 05-02-1942, the Iron Cross in 1939, the Knight's Crosswith Oak Leaves, Knight's Cross on 30-12-1940 as Oberleutnant  and pilot in the 2./KG 42 and the 431^st Oak Leaves on 24-03-1944 as Major and Geschwaderkommodore of KG 100. Living in Königstein Jope died at the age of 81, on 31-07-1995 and is buried on the Stadtfriedhof of Königstein in Taunus.