Hans Ekkehard Bob
Encyclopedia
Hans Ekkehard Bob was a German Fighter pilot
, serving with the Luftwaffe
. During World War II, Bob flew approximately seven hundred combat missions, and claimed sixty victories; thirty-seven of which were on the eastern front.
In 1938, he attended the officers academy, and was transferred to the Jagdfliegergruppe 133 in Wiesbaden
. During the occupation of the Sudetenland
, he flew his first missions, primarily escorting bombers and transport aircraft, piloting an Arado Ar 68 biplane.
Later, Bob was transferred to JG 334 in Gablingen
, were he also received a promotion to the rank of Leutnant. JG 334 was a heavy fighter Geschwader, equipped with the Messerschmitt Me 110.
, Bob was transferred to the newly formed 3./Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21) (later known as the "Devils Squadron"),For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
which was redesignated on 6 June 1940 into 9./Jagdgeschwader 54
(JG 54). It was equipped with the Bf 109
fighter, an aircraft Bob would become very familiar with over the years – flying every model except the Kurfürst.
During the French campaign on 10 May 1940, Bob claimed his first victory when he shot down a Gloster Gladiator
over Toveren in Belgium
. That August he was promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant
. On 10 October 1940 he was appointed Staffelkapitän
of 7./JG 54 for a short period; he was soon appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 54.
During the Battle of Britain
9./JG 54 was activated as a Jabo
(fighter-bomber) unit, targeting shipping vessels. By November 1940, Bob had recorded 19 kills, and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) by Reichsmarschall
Hermann Göring
on 7 March 1941.
On 21 March 1941 Bob survived, unhurt, a ditching into Cherbourg
harbour with his Bü 131
training aircraft, which had suffered engine failure. After the Battle of Britain, he participated in the Balkan campaign, where he recorded his 20th and 21st victories. JG 54 was re-equipped with the new Me 109F, and relocated to airfields in Prussia
,in preparation for the invasion of Russia.
On 23 June 1941, during Operation Barbarossa
(Invasion of Russia), Hans Ekkehard Bob recorded his first victory in Russian airspace – a Tupolev SB
twin-engined bomber. During this combat action his Me 109F2 was hit by return fire, resulting in a forced landing behind enemy lines. He evaded capture and returned to his unit 2 days later.
Between 13 July and 30 October 1941 Bob made three more emergency landings due to aircraft combat damage behind enemy lines, but in each case returned to his unit.
On 29 September 1942, Bob had his 50th victory, and was promoted to Hauptmann
later that year. Flying on the Eastern front ended for Hans Ekkehard Bob and his III./JG 54 in February 1943, after he received orders from General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland
to change positions with elements of the then French-based JG 26. This order was later cancelled, but III. Gruppe stayed on the Western front, separated from the rest of the 'Greenhearts', serving initially in Northern Germany with Jagdgeschwader 1.
On 17 April 1943 Bob recorded his 57th Victory; the ramming
of a USAAF Boeing B-17 bomber near Bremen
with his Bf 109 G-6. He bailed out and survived the crash without injury. On 1 August, Bob was promoted to the rank of Major and was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
of IV./JG 54. He returned to the Eastern front
, where he scored a further two victories.
By May 1944, Bob was back at the Western front as Gruppenkommandeur of II./Jagdgeschwader 3
(JG 3); based in the Normandy invasion front corridor, flying Reichsverteidigung (Defense of the Reich
) duties. In August he was transferred to Erprobungskommando 262 where he learned to fly the Me 262.
In early 1945, his experience led to his becoming a member of Generalmajor Josef Kammhuber
's staff. Bob was responsible for allocating newly built Me-262's to operational units. Later he took command of I. and II./EJG 2 and was responsible for practice and training former bomber pilots in flying the Me-262.
Bob was one of the aces chosen to fly as a member of the jet fighter unit JV 44
, led by Adolf Galland. In the final days of World War II, Bob was responsible for building a longer runway at Innsbruck
airfield for the Me-262 Jets. At the capitulation on 8 May 1945 Bob was in Kappl, a small village near Salzburg
. From Kappl he walked more than 1400 kilometres (869.9 mi) in 6 weeks to return to his home in Celle
.
, an old JV 44 comrade, and a friend from his time in JG 54. Bob still tells the story to this day with a smile on his face. Wuebke still wore his old uniform and officer cap as he was questioned by a British officer. "Why are you wearing this old stuff"? Wuebkes reply: "Do I ask you if your grandma has hemorrhoids"? He never met Wuebke again, and Wuebke later died in the early 1950s in Argentina, the result of injuries sustained in an airliner crash.
In 1956, Bob founded his own company, BOMAG, specializing in drilling equipment and doing business in over 120 countries around the world as well as establishing the Celle Flying Club. As of 2011, Bob still flies his own aircraft at his current age of 94 and is believed to be the oldest licensed pilot in the world. He enjoys his retirement, and occasionally assists in research on the Luftwaffe.
From 30 September to 1 October 2000, Bob also was among the historical figures at the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in Santa Monica, California.
Bob has been married to his wife Christa for over 50 years. They have three children: Roland, Elmar Bob
and Delia. He also has three other children from his first wife.
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
, serving with the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. During World War II, Bob flew approximately seven hundred combat missions, and claimed sixty victories; thirty-seven of which were on the eastern front.
Early Luftwaffe
Hans Ekkehard Bob joined the Luftwaffe in 1936, at the rank of a Fahnenjunker (officer candidate), and began his Flight training 1 June 1937.In 1938, he attended the officers academy, and was transferred to the Jagdfliegergruppe 133 in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
. During the occupation of the Sudetenland
Sudetenland
Sudetenland is the German name used in English in the first half of the 20th century for the northern, southwest and western regions of Czechoslovakia inhabited mostly by ethnic Germans, specifically the border areas of Bohemia, Moravia, and those parts of Silesia being within Czechoslovakia.The...
, he flew his first missions, primarily escorting bombers and transport aircraft, piloting an Arado Ar 68 biplane.
Later, Bob was transferred to JG 334 in Gablingen
Gablingen
Gablingen is a municipality in the district of Augsburg in Bavaria in Germany....
, were he also received a promotion to the rank of Leutnant. JG 334 was a heavy fighter Geschwader, equipped with the Messerschmitt Me 110.
World War II
In 1939, prior to the Invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
, Bob was transferred to the newly formed 3./Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21) (later known as the "Devils Squadron"),For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
Luftwaffe Organization
Between 1933 and 1945, the organization of the Luftwaffe underwent several changes. Originally, the German military high command decided to use an organizational structure similar to the army and navy, treating the branch as a strategic weapon of war...
which was redesignated on 6 June 1940 into 9./Jagdgeschwader 54
Jagdgeschwader 54
Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during the Second World War. It was known as the Green Hearts Wing, and it was the second highest scoring wing of all time, JG 52 being the highest...
(JG 54). It was equipped with the Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
fighter, an aircraft Bob would become very familiar with over the years – flying every model except the Kurfürst.
During the French campaign on 10 May 1940, Bob claimed his first victory when he shot down a Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
over Toveren in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. That August he was promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
. On 10 October 1940 he was appointed Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
of 7./JG 54 for a short period; he was soon appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 54.
During the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
9./JG 54 was activated as a Jabo
Jabo
Jabo may be:People:* Jabo, Jabo Ibehre , British footballer* Jabo, John "Jabo" Starks , American musicianWest Africa:*Jabo , in Liberia*Jabo language, in Liberia* Jabo , town...
(fighter-bomber) unit, targeting shipping vessels. By November 1940, Bob had recorded 19 kills, and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) by Reichsmarschall
Reichsmarschall
Reichsmarschall literally in ; was the highest rank in the armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II after the position of Supreme Commander held by Adolf Hitler....
Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
on 7 March 1941.
On 21 March 1941 Bob survived, unhurt, a ditching into Cherbourg
Cherbourg-Octeville
-Main sights:* La Glacerie has a race track.* The Cité de la Mer is a large museum devoted to scientific and historical aspects of maritime subjects.* Cherbourg Basilica* Jardin botanique de la Roche Fauconnière, a private botanical garden.* Le Trident theatre...
harbour with his Bü 131
Bücker Bü 131
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgeman, Leonard. “The Bücker Bü 131B “Jungmann”.” Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0....
training aircraft, which had suffered engine failure. After the Battle of Britain, he participated in the Balkan campaign, where he recorded his 20th and 21st victories. JG 54 was re-equipped with the new Me 109F, and relocated to airfields in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
,in preparation for the invasion of Russia.
On 23 June 1941, during Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
(Invasion of Russia), Hans Ekkehard Bob recorded his first victory in Russian airspace – a Tupolev SB
Tupolev SB
The Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB , and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane bomber, first flown in 1934....
twin-engined bomber. During this combat action his Me 109F2 was hit by return fire, resulting in a forced landing behind enemy lines. He evaded capture and returned to his unit 2 days later.
Between 13 July and 30 October 1941 Bob made three more emergency landings due to aircraft combat damage behind enemy lines, but in each case returned to his unit.
On 29 September 1942, Bob had his 50th victory, and was promoted to Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
later that year. Flying on the Eastern front ended for Hans Ekkehard Bob and his III./JG 54 in February 1943, after he received orders from General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
to change positions with elements of the then French-based JG 26. This order was later cancelled, but III. Gruppe stayed on the Western front, separated from the rest of the 'Greenhearts', serving initially in Northern Germany with Jagdgeschwader 1.
On 17 April 1943 Bob recorded his 57th Victory; the ramming
Aerial ramming
Aerial ramming or air ramming is a last-ditch tactic in air combat, sometimes used when all else has failed. Long before the invention of aircraft, ramming tactics in naval warfare and ground warfare were common...
of a USAAF Boeing B-17 bomber near Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
with his Bf 109 G-6. He bailed out and survived the crash without injury. On 1 August, Bob was promoted to the rank of Major and was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of IV./JG 54. He returned to the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, where he scored a further two victories.
By May 1944, Bob was back at the Western front as Gruppenkommandeur of II./Jagdgeschwader 3
Jagdgeschwader 3
Jagdgeschwader 3 Udet was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. The Geschwader operated on all the German fronts in the European Theatre of World War II. It was named after Ernst Udet in 1942.-Campaign in the West :...
(JG 3); based in the Normandy invasion front corridor, flying Reichsverteidigung (Defense of the Reich
Defense of the Reich
The Defence of the Reich is the name given to the strategic defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe over German occupied Europe and Germany itself during World War II. Its aim was to prevent the destruction of German military and civil industries by the Western Allies...
) duties. In August he was transferred to Erprobungskommando 262 where he learned to fly the Me 262.
In early 1945, his experience led to his becoming a member of Generalmajor Josef Kammhuber
Josef Kammhuber
Josef Kammhuber was a Career Officer in the German Air Force, and is best known as the first General of the Night Fighters in the Luftwaffe during World War II...
's staff. Bob was responsible for allocating newly built Me-262's to operational units. Later he took command of I. and II./EJG 2 and was responsible for practice and training former bomber pilots in flying the Me-262.
Bob was one of the aces chosen to fly as a member of the jet fighter unit JV 44
JV 44
Jagdverband 44 was a special fighter unit of top German fighter ace pilots in the Luftwaffe during the last months of World War II. The main aircraft used by the unit was the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter...
, led by Adolf Galland. In the final days of World War II, Bob was responsible for building a longer runway at Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
airfield for the Me-262 Jets. At the capitulation on 8 May 1945 Bob was in Kappl, a small village near Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
. From Kappl he walked more than 1400 kilometres (869.9 mi) in 6 weeks to return to his home in Celle
Celle
Celle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
.
After the war
Bob returned to civilian life working as a farm labourer. In 1946, he founded his own transport company. Around this time he met Waldemar WübkeWaldemar Wubke
Waldemar Wübke was a Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II.He was one of the few Luftwaffe fighter pilots to survive combat duty over the entire course of the war. Wübke flew various types of German fighters in combat and was credited with a total of 15 victories over Allied aircraft.In 1940...
, an old JV 44 comrade, and a friend from his time in JG 54. Bob still tells the story to this day with a smile on his face. Wuebke still wore his old uniform and officer cap as he was questioned by a British officer. "Why are you wearing this old stuff"? Wuebkes reply: "Do I ask you if your grandma has hemorrhoids"? He never met Wuebke again, and Wuebke later died in the early 1950s in Argentina, the result of injuries sustained in an airliner crash.
In 1956, Bob founded his own company, BOMAG, specializing in drilling equipment and doing business in over 120 countries around the world as well as establishing the Celle Flying Club. As of 2011, Bob still flies his own aircraft at his current age of 94 and is believed to be the oldest licensed pilot in the world. He enjoys his retirement, and occasionally assists in research on the Luftwaffe.
From 30 September to 1 October 2000, Bob also was among the historical figures at the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in Santa Monica, California.
Bob has been married to his wife Christa for over 50 years. They have three children: Roland, Elmar Bob
Elmar Bob
Elmar was born in Freiburg , the son of German business leader and Aviator Hans Ekkehard Bob.Elmar Bob worked as an Executive in the United States, France, Germany and Japan....
and Delia. He also has three other children from his first wife.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(28 September 1940) - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 24 December 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 9./JG 54 - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 March 1941 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./JG 54
