Herbert Huppertz (3 June 1919 – 8 June 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II. He is credited between 68 and 73 aerial victories, depending on source, achieved in approximately 380 combat missions. This figure includes 28 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, and further victories over the Western Allies, including 17 four-engined bombers.
Born in Rheydt, Huppertz grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe in 1937. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) in 1939. Flying with this wing, Huppertz claimed his first aerial victory on 28 May 1940 on the Western Front during the Dunkirk evacuation. Fighting on the Eastern Front, Huppertz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 August 1941. He was made Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 12. Staffel (12th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) in January 1942. Over the course of 1942, he also commanded 9. Staffel and 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing), before he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) in November 1942. With JG 2, he commanded 3. Staffel, 10. Staffel and 12. Staffel. In March 1944, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of JG 2. He was killed in action, shot down by a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt on 8 June 1944 during the Operation Overlord. Posthumously, Huppertz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 24 June 1944.
Early life and career
Huppertz was born on 3 June 1919 in Rheydt, present-day a borough of Mönchengladbach, at the time an independent city in the Rhine Province. Huppertz, the son of a postal inspector (), joined the Luftwaffe in late 1937 as a Fahnenjunker (cadet). Following flight training, he was posted to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing), a squadron of II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 51, in autumn 1939.
World War II
World War II in Europe began on Friday, 1 September 1939, when German forces invaded Poland. On 20 October, 6. Staffel of JG 51 was a newly created squadron commanded by Oberleutnant Josef Priller based at Eutingen im Gäu. On 5 November, the Staffel officially became operational. On 9 February 1940, II. Gruppe was moved to Böblingen Airfield where it was subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) and tasked with patrolling the Upper Rhine region during the Phoney War phase of World War II.
On 11 May 1940, the second day of the Battle of France, II. Gruppe flew ground attack missions in the Alsace region. Following the German advance into Belgium and France, 6. Staffel was moved to Dinant on 26 May. That day, remnants of the French Army and the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) were retreating towards Dunkirk. To save the BEF, the British under the cover of the Royal Air Force (RAF), had launched Operation Dynamo. On 28 May, Huppertz claimed his first aerial victory. He was credited with shooting down a Supermarine Spitfire fighter over the Dunkirk battle zone. For this achievement, Huppertz was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class () on 30 May 1940.
In July 1940, the Luftwaffe began a series of air operations dubbed Kanalkampf (Channel Battle) over the English Channel against the RAF, which marked the beginning of the Battle of Britain. On 7 July, Huppertz claimed his second aerial victory, a Spitfire shot down northwest of Dungeness. On 5 October, II. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Mardyck, west of Dunkirk. Four days later, Huppertz received the Iron Cross 1st Class (). He claimed his third aerial victory on 25 October, a Hawker Hurricane fighter shot down near Tunbridge Wells. On 20 October, Huppertz claimed a Spitfire fighter on a mission to London. His last aerial victory in 1940 was claimed on 14 November when he shot down another Spitfire fighter over the Thames Estuary. On 21 November, Huppertz was injured in a forced landing near Gravelines. The accident was caused by engine problems of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 (Werknummer 6199—factory number).
On 7 December, II. Gruppe was sent to Mannheim-Sandhofen for a period of replenishment and rest. On 14 February 1941, the Gruppe returned to Mardyck on the Channel Front. There, Huppertz claimed a Spitfire fighter shot down near Dungeness on 11 March. II. Gruppe of JG 51 was withdrawn from the Channel Front in early June 1941 and ordered to Dortmund where the unit was reequipped with the Bf 109 F series.