Major Gerhard Schöpfel
Knight's Cross
Kommandeur III./JG 26and later Kommodore JG 26
Gerhard
Schöpfel (19 December 1912 – 17 May 2003) was a German Luftwaffe
military aviator and wing commander during World War II. As a fighter
ace, he is credited with 45 aerial victories claimed in approximately
700 combat missions, all of which on the Western Front.
Born in
Erfurt, Schöpfel grew up in the Weimar Republic and joined the German
police force. In 1936, he transferred to the Luftwaffe and following
flight training was posted to a fighter wing. In September 1939,
Schöpfel became a squadron leader in Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG
26—26th Fighter Wing). Flying with this wing, Schöpfel claimed his first
aerial victory on 19 May 1940 during the Battle of France. In August
1941, he was given command of III. Gruppe of JG 26. During the Battle of
Britain, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11
September for 20 aerial victories claimed. In December 1941, Schöpfel
was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 26, a position
he held until January 1943.
Schöpfel then held various staff
positions with Jagdfliegerführer Bretagne, Jagdfliegerführer Sizilien
and Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen. In May 1944, he was posted to
Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) and in June was given
command of Jagdgeschwader 4 (JG 4—4th Fighter Wing). In April 1945, he
was appointed commander of Jagdgeschwader 6 (JG 6—6th Fighter Wing). At
the end of the war, he became a Soviet prisoner of war and was released
in December 1949. Schöpfel died on 15 May 2003 in Bergisch Gladbach.