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Paepcke, Heinrich

Date of birth:
December 11th, 1910 (Wattenscheid/Westphalia, Germany)
Date of death:
October 17th, 1942 (near Luca, Malte)
Nationality:
German

Biography

Heinrich Paepcke was killed on October 17th 1942, 17 km's north of Malta. He was posthumously promoted to Major.

Promotions:
1935: Fahnenjunker;
1936: Leutnant;
1939: Oberleutnant;
May 1940: Hauptmann;
1942: Major (posthumously).

Career:
1929 - 1934: Handelsmarine;
1935: Luftwaffe;
April 1940: Staffelkapitän 7. / Kampfgeschwader 30;
October 27th, 1940 - september 1941: Kommandeur, IV. / Kampfgeschwader 30;
October 1941 - October 17th, 1942: Kommandeur, II. / Kampfgeschwader 77.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Staffelkapitän, 7. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 30 "Adler", Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
September 5th, 1940
Awarded for his personal and command achievements during missions over Norway, the Low countries and France. In that time he personally sunk an anti-aircraft cruiser near Scheveningen. During the fighting off the coast of Dunkirk his Staffel destroyed or damaged a total of 1 heavy and 3 light cruisers, 3 destroyers, a minelayer, a coastal patrol boat and 5 merchant vessels (of which Paepcke personally sunk one 10000 GRT freighter). In this time Paepcke's crew also shot down 2 enemy fighters.

114th Luftwaffe Award
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandeur, II. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 77, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
September 21st, 1942
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandeur, II. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 77, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
December 19th, 1942
Awarded in recognition of his remarkable successes achieved over the course of just around 125 combat missions. He especially distinguished himself on 12.08.1942, when he sunk a 12000 GRT transport from the "Pedestal" convoy that was bound for Malta.

154th Award

Awarded posthumously.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Sources

Photo