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Capt Heinz Rökker - Signed Aviation Art



Capt Heinz Rökker

Oberleutnant Heinz Rökker was born in Oldenburg, Germany on 20th October 1920. In October 1939 Rokker joined the Luftwaffe and began his training in July 1940 with Flieger Ausbildungs Regiment 22 at Gustrow. Heinz Rokker attended Blindflugschule 5 in Belgrade before completing his training in September 1941 at Nachjagdschule 1. In May 1942 Rökker was then posted to 1 Staffel, Nachtjagdgeschwader 2. The squadorn was operating in the Mediterranean theatre and on the 20th of June 1942 Rokker shot down a Royal Air Force Bristol Beaufort over the Mediterranean Sea whilst transiting from his base at Catania to Kalamaki in Greece. His aircraft received 25 hits from return fire during the action but he landed safely at Kalamaki. From bases in Libya, he undertook intruder missions over Egypt claiming four RAF Wellington twin-engined bombers shot down. He claimed an RAF Wellington twin-engined bomber shot down near Marsalla on the night of 19/20 April to record his sixth victory. On 4th August 1942, 1./NJG 2 was relocated to Belgium. Rökker was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./NJG 2 on 15 December 1942. In April 1944 he was awarded the Ritter Kreuz (Knights Cross) and Oak Leaves. On the night of 6/7 June, he then claimed 5 RAF bombers and recorded his 40th kill on 7/8 August. On 4/5 November he claimed 4 more enemy aircraft and recorded three more victories on the night of 3/4 February to take his score to 52. He claimed six enemy aircraft on the night of 21/22 February. Heinz Rokker shot down Thomas Harvell on the night of 28/29th July 1944 over Domremy, the birthplace of Joan of Arc. The Lancaster No.LM206 crashed into a farm and the River Meuse. One of the engines can be seen in the museum near Neuf Chateau. His final total was a staggering 64 kills (63 at night ). Hauptmann Rökker was awarded the Eichenlaub in March for 60 victories. On the night of 15/16 March, Rökker recorded 4 enemy aircraft shot down as his last victories of the war, including a Mosquito shot down over his airfield at St Trond. Heinz Rokker mainly flew the Junkers JU 88 G-1 and was credited with 64 victories in 161 missions. Oberleutnant Heinz Rökker recorded 63 of his victories at night, including 55 four-engined bombers. He died on 2nd August 2018 aged 97.



Awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron CrossAwarded Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross
Knights
Cross
Oak Leaves

Capt Heinz Rökker - Signed Aviation Art

Combat Over Domremy by Graeme Lothian.


Combat Over Domremy by Graeme Lothian.
2 editions.
Both editions feature up to 4 additional signatures.
£140.00 - £175.00

Clipped Signature - Heinz Rökker.


Clipped Signature - Heinz Rökker.
One edition.
£55.00

Sicilian Vespers by Iain Wyllie.


Sicilian Vespers by Iain Wyllie.
2 editions.
One edition features an additional signature.
£18.00 - £85.00



Text for the above items :

Combat Over Domremy by Graeme Lothian.

During WW II ofjuly 1944, the RAF Bomber Command were planning yet another bombing raid, this time over Stuttgart in Germany. The no.514 Sq., based in Cambridgeshire, England, were one of the Lancaster Bomber Squadrons chosen for the mission. Flight Lieutenant THOMAS HARVELL was a member of the 7 man crew for Lancaster Bomber no.LM206 selected, (the crew being Flt Lt. Robert Jones, Flt Lt Thomas Harvell, Co-pilot, Flt Lt Kenneth Hedley, Loader, Bomb Aimer, Sgt George Robinson, Navigator (survived) Sgt Robert Lane, Air Gunner, Flt Sgt Frank Stanley Johns, Wireless operator, and Sgt Alfred Braine, Air Gunner.) He was flight engineer and co-pilot with II missions already behind him. The RAF carried out nearly all their raids at night. This was the night of July 28/29 1944 and they were on course in the vicinity of Neuf Chateau (S.WNancy) France. Suddenly they were attacked by a prowling Luftwaffe Nightfighter aircraft, which later proved to be a JUNKERS 88 flown by HEINZ ROKKER. The Lancaster shuddered on the first hit but continued flying. THOMAS HARVELL was moving to the back of the aircraft and had dropped window, (strips of foil) to confuse ground radar, when they were hit again. This time they lost an engine after an explosion and LM206 started to plunge earthwards. (The Merlin Engine can been seen today at the French Airforce museum, St.Dizier, Lorraine) FI.Lt. HOMAS HARVELL was literally blown out of the doomed Lancaster, hitting his head and becoming unconcious. As luck was on his side, he regained his senses whilst falling through the air and pulled his chute at the last minute. He landed heavily and injured his leg. The pilot and four other members of the crew perished but navigator George Robinson also managed to use his chute and was captured after landing, by the german occupation forces. George Robinson now lives in South Africa. The other five crew members are all buried at Neuf Chateau and their graves can be seen to this day. THOMAS HARVELL was able to evade capture and was found by a member of the FFI (French Resistance), who hid him in various hideouts. After being treated for his wounds by Dr.CORNU, a prominent surgeon of Neuf Chateau, several attempts were made to smuggle THOMAS HARVELL back to England without much success. It was decided, by the FFI, to make one last attempt and this time THOMAS HARVELL was given a bicycle and new identity papers. He was told to cycle in the direction of the Swiss border west of Besacon and make contact with the Daubs area FFI commander, JEAN LAPPRAND.It was decided it was too dangerous to cross the border at this time and as THOMAS HARVELL had already become a member of the French Resistance, he continued fighting the war side by side with his French Resistance colleagues. It was in this part of France, that he witnessed a trial of a double agent/traitor of the FFI, who was quickly executed by firing squad. At this point in time, OREST BILAK came into the picture. He was born in Ukraine and had joined the Ukranian Army in 1942. He had become a senior NCO officer when his whole battalion were ordered to join forces with a german SS unit. They had much fighting experience and took part in some very bloody battles. Some elements of the Ukranian people had, at first, welcomed the germans but this soon changed and sometime in 1944 many were deserting. This was the case with OREST BILAKs battalion who had just been ordered to march into the mountain stronghold of JEAN LAPPRAND and wipe them out. Instead they had killed their german SS commanders and after talks with JEAN LAPPRAND had fought on with the FFI including THOMAS HARVELL. Together they liberated the region including the town of PIERREFONTAINE, ahead of the advancing allied forces Sept. 1944. It could be said that THOMAS HARVELL was the only British serviceman who fought with the german SS without being called a traitor. Another RAF pilot, Paul Bell a canadian and THOMAS HARVELL were now able to make contact with the 711 US Army. After six weeks, including a ride in the Dakota of General Patch, they finally made it back to England. On his arrival, THOMAS HARVELL became an instructor/advisor until the end of the war. He later made a career in the British Police Force. He regularily travels to France to meet all his wartime colleagues and now lives in Southampton, England. OREST BILAK was demobilised in 1946. Around this time he met his future wife (in France) who was also Ukrainian and had been working during the war in underground factories for the germans. By pure chance they had both attended the same school in Ukrainia. After the war OREST BILAK made a career in the clothing industry They live in retirement at a small mountain village near Lyon, France. They have 10 grandchildren. He has also devoted much of his time and money for a childrens home, in France, for the underprivileged from Ukraine. Out of his battalion of 450 men, of those who survived, 230 stayed with the French Foreign Legion, some emigrated to Canada, USA and Australia. 116 returned to the Ukraine, only to be arrested and sent to a Siberian prison for 10 years and a further 10 years hard labour. OREST BILAK and his wife visited the Ukraine for the first time in 1994 and met some of their old colleagues. JEAN LAPPRAND remains, to this day, secretive about his time in the FFI. Without a doubt he was very lucky to survive the war, considering his responsibility and fame. After the war he had his own carpentry business and lives in retirement with his wife at Pierrefontaine in good health. After much research we were able to trace and find HEINZ ROKKER, the Luftwaffe pilot who shot down Lancaster LM 206. We had a remarkable reunion at Neuf Chateau on September 14th 1999, where Thomas Harvell and Heinz Rokker met for the first time. It was a civic event with official invitation from the town mayor. A visit was made to the cemetery where the five Lancaster crew members are buried and HEINZ ROKKER laid a wreath on behalf of the german Nightfighters Pilots Association. This was followed by a speech at the town hall. A magnificent feast finished the event at the restaurant next to DOMREMY.


Clipped Signature - Heinz Rökker.

A Ju88 night-fighter pilot with NJG2 from late 1942, he scored 64 victories in 161 missions, all but one of which were at night. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. He died in 2018.


Sicilian Vespers by Iain Wyllie.

Leutnant Heinz Rokker of NJG 2 based at castelvetrand in Sicily in June 1943 warms up the engines of his JU- 88C-6 prior to taking off on another sortie. his prize wartime total was 64 kills.


Capt Heinz Rökker
Aircraft details




Ju88
Manufacturer : Junkers
Built : 15000


Ju88
The German Junkers JU 88 twin engined Bomber of World war two. The first prototype first flew in December 1936 with a civilian registration of D-AQEN it managed a top speed of 360 mph. This would give the German air force the Luftwaffe a fast multi role bomber. The Junkers JU 88 was used as a night fighter, reconnaissance and Torpedo Bomber. In total there were 15,000 JU 88's built during the war JU88 losses unknown serial numbers at this stage 11/12.07.40: Target Avonmouth & Portishead: Ju 88A of I/KG 51 4 NCO's missing Failed to return and probably crashed into the sea. 11/12.07.40: Target Avonmouth & Portishead: Ju 88A of 3/KG 51 Ofw. Josef Rattel (F) killed 1 NCO injured 2 others uninjured This aircraft was unable to precisely identify the target because of intense flak. It suffered engine failure on the return flight and crashed and burnt out at Varnevil while on approach to landing. 22.08.40: Reconnaissance over Filton: Ju 88A-1, 7A+AL, of 3(F)/121 Ogefr. W.Kuhweide ( ) killed Ltn. R.Pfundtner ( ) POW injured Oblt. Baudler ( ) POW injured Flg. A.Leber ( ) POW injured Crashed at 16.00 hrs at Upcott Farm, Beaford, nr. Okehampton, Devon. Shot down by Spitfires of Green Section, 152 Sq. (Warmwell) following an attack by P/O. W.Beaumont. 11/12.04.41: Target Bristol area: Ju 88A-5, B3+GN of 5/KG 54 Uffz. Karl Funke (F) missing Fw. Josef Höhnhorst (Bf) missing Gefr. Heinz Bretschneider (Bs) missing Gefr. Horst Heller (B) missing Failed to return, probably crashed into the sea


Capt Heinz Rökker
Squadron details



NJG2
Country : Germany


NJG2

I./NJG 2's initial role was unlike the other units of the Luftwaffe night fighter arm; as a Fernnachtjagd Gruppe they were tasked with long-range intruder missions over the UK, disrupting night flying training and harassing the returning Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers over their own airfields. Luftflotte 3's radio intercepts of Bomber Command's transmissions helped pinpoint the operational airfields in Eastern England. I./NJG 2 aircraft could then scramble to be over the airfields at the predicted times of the bomber's return. The technique employed was to mix with the returning bombers, orbit the bases, and either shoot down targets that presented themselves or drop 50 kilograms (110 lb) bombs across the runways Based at Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands, operations commenced using just 7 JU 88 C-1 night fighters. Although most missions were carried out using the Junkers Ju 88C-1 and C-2, a few Dornier Do 215B-5 fighter conversions were trialled in the spring of 1941. The offensive over the UK yielded promising results- some 143 victory claims were made, and over 90 RAF aircraft were indeed lost between October 1940 and the start of 1942. There was also the additional disruption to RAF operations and the psychological effects on the RAF crews By October 1941 however night intruder sorties were curtailed, due to the inadequate number of aircraft available (I Gruppe never had more than 20 JU 88s operational) and the High Command's perceived lack of results; it was thought shooting down RAF bombers over the German homeland had a far greater morale effect than over the UK Among the most successful of the unit's pilots was Ufz. Heinz Strüning, who flew 66 intruder missions over England. He recorded his first night victory on 23/24 November - a RAF Vickers Wellington bomber and by the end of 1941 he had 9 victories. Leutnant Alfons Koster had, by October 1941, some 11 intruder victories. Lt. Hans Hahn was credited with 12 victories, all over England.[2] He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross In July 1941, but was killed in action in October 1941, colliding with an RAF Airspeed Oxford trainer he was trying to shoot down. II./NJG 2 flew more conventional operations at this time, based at Leeuwarden on the Dutch coast. In November 1941 4./NJG 2 moved to Catania, and would remain there until February 1942, when it transferred back to Leeuwarden and joined the rest of II./NJG 2. In November 1941 2./NJG 2 moved to Benghazi as part of Fliegerführer Afrika, and returned to Catania later in the month. The first 'kill' was claimed on 13 December, Obfw Sommer downing a Bristol Beaufighter over Crete. On 19 November 1941 the unit escorted Ju 88 bombers raiding shipping off Malta, Lt. Laufs shooting down a Hurricane of No. 126 Squadron. Early in 1942 both 2. and 3./NJG 2 was based at Benghazi until March 1942. Various demands for night cover meant from April onwards I./NJG 2 was scattered over the Mediterranean, with detachments based at Benina, Berca, Derna, Benghazi, El Quasaba and Crete. On 1 October, 7./NJG 2 was redesignated as 4./NJG 2. The unit's Leutnant Heinz Strüning was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October for 24 victories. One of this unit's Ju 88G-1 night fighters, from the 7th Staffel, with Geschwaderkennung style aircraft code 4R+UR, was landed at RAF Woodbridge by mistake on July 13, 1944, giving the Allies their first chance to examine a working example of the VHF-band Lichtenstein SN-2 airborne intercept radar, and Flensburg radar detector gear. This event resulted in a longer-wavelength deployment of Window to jam the SN-2 gear, and general removal of the Monica tail warning radar from all RAF Bomber Command heavy bombers By the end of the year NJG 2 were covering the night defence of the industrial Ruhr area, flying from Düsseldorf, Kassel, Gütersloh, and Köln. In the final weeks of the conflict, the unit began receiving the night fighter variant of the Junkers Ju 388 - thus making NJG 2 the first and only Luftwaffe detachment to use the nachtjager variant operationally. It is likely these machines were 388J-0 pre-production prototypes, as the 388 programme was cancelled before manufacture of the J-1 production series had begun. Given the haphazard and incomplete conditions of training in those final days of war, and the almost total depletion of aviation fuel stocks throughout what remained of the Reich, it is doubtful whether more than a handful of combat missions were flown by this new type. NJG 2 claimed approximately 800 air victories during its period of operations.

Known Victory Claims - Heinz Rokker

DATE

PILOT

UNIT

JG

CLAIMED

LOCATION

TIME

FRONT

20/06/1942Ltn. Heinz Rökker1NJG 2BeaufortS. Kreta17.2Western Front
25/06/1942Ltn. Heinz Rökker1NJG 2Wellington50km SW Mersa Mâtruh: 400m23.45Western Front
26/06/1942Ltn. Heinz Rökker1NJG 2WellingtonSW Mersa Mâtruh0.09Western Front
28/06/1942Ltn. Heinz Rökker1NJG 2Wellington60km SE Mersa Mâtruh23.58Western Front
28/07/1942Ltn. Heinz Rökker1NJG 2WellingtonE. Tobruk23.1Western Front
19/04/1943Ltn. Heinz Rökker1NJG 2Wellington28141/13 Ost: 800m [S. Marettimo]1.15Western Front
24/08/1943Oblt. Heinz Rökker1NJG 2Lancaster20km SW Berlin0.35Western Front
24/08/1943Oblt. Heinz Rökker1NJG 2Lancaster15km SSW Berlin: 5200m0.5Western Front
20/12/1943Oblt. Heinz Rökker1NJG 2LancasterRothenbergen Fr. Gelnhausen: 2000m19.47Western Front
24/02/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2Stirlingbei Heilbronn: 6500m22.43Western Front
25/02/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterW. Haguenau: 6200m21.43Western Front
15/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2Lancaster50km SW Strasbourg: 6200m22.26Western Front
15/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterW. Hagenau22.35Western Front
15/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2HalifaxW. Stuttgart22.55Western Front
22/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterS. Aürich b. Oldenburg: 4000m21.3Western Front
22/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterKoblenz-Limburg: 6000m22.27Western Front
22/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2HalifaxN. Koblenz: 4500m22.35Western Front
24/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterBerlin-Leipzig: 6000m22.5Western Front
24/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2HalifaxSW Bernburg: W. Halle: 5500m23.2Western Front
24/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterE. Kassel: 6000m23.48Western Front
26/03/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterMönchengladbach: 6200m22.55Western Front
23/04/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2Lancaster50km NW Düsseldorf: 5200m1.58Western Front
25/04/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 230km NE München: 5000m2.05Western Front
28/04/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2HalifaxFreiburg in Breisgau: 4500m1.39Western Front
12/05/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2Lancaster20-50km NW Brüssel: 4300m0.23Western Front
12/05/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterZeebrügge See: 4000m0.35Western Front
12/05/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2Lancaster05 Ost S/2234: 3000m0.49Western Front
28/05/1944Oblt. Heinz RökkerStab I.NJG 2Halifax20-40km NW Eindhoven: 5000m2.08Western Front
07/06/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterUT: 1000m [10-50km SW Caen]2.42Western Front
07/06/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterUT: 1000m [10-50km SW Caen]2.48Western Front
07/06/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterUT: 1000m [W. Caen]2.51Western Front
07/06/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterUT: 1000m [W. Caen]3.01Western Front
07/06/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterUT: 1000m [W. Caen]3.08Western Front
25/06/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterS. Dieppe: 2800m0.16Western Front
26/07/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2u.a. Romilly: 3000m3.21Western Front
26/07/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2Lancaster04 Ost N/DC: 800m [NW Châteaudun]4.38Western Front
29/07/1944Oblt. Heinz RökkerStab I.NJG 2Orléans: 2500m0.11Western Front
29/07/1944Oblt. Heinz RökkerStab I.NJG 2Lancaster50km NE Chaumont: 3500m1.17Western Front
30/07/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2HalifaxOrleans0.14Western Front
07/08/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterRaum NE Le Havre: 6500m23.29Western Front
07/08/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterNE Le Havre: 6000m23.35Western Front
08/08/1944Oblt. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2Lancaster11762: 2000m [NE Le Havre]0.06Western Front
19/10/1944Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterUQ: 3800m [Pirmasens]21.48Western Front
04/11/1944Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterKP: 5000m [N. Dortmund]19.31Western Front
04/11/1944Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterKP: 5000m [N. Dortmund]19.36Western Front
04/11/1944Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2HalifaxKN: 3500m [N. Geldern]20Western Front
04/11/1944Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2HalifaxKN: 3500m [N. Geldern]20.06Western Front
01/01/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterML: [SE Geldern]20.07Western Front
05/01/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2HalifaxFT: [N. Nienburg]19.19Western Front
05/01/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterNW Hannover19.29Western Front
01/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterN. Koblenz19.46Western Front
03/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterLO: [NE Krefeld]19.31Western Front
03/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterKN: [N. Geldern]19.51Western Front
03/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterKN: [N. Geldern]19.56Western Front
08/02/1945Hptm. Heinz RökkerStab I.NJG 2BostonFl.Pl. Eindhoven0.21Western Front
14/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterPU: [S. Fulda]22.03Western Front
21/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterJM: [S. Wageningen]20.46Western Front
21/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterKM: [SW Hertogenbosch]20.56Western Front
21/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterLM: [SE Eindhoven]21.06Western Front
21/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterLL: [SW Eindhoven]21.12Western Front
21/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterLL: [SW Eindhoven]21.13Western Front
21/02/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LancasterLL: [SW Eindhoven]21.19Western Front
15/03/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LO: [N. Düsseldorf]20.5Western Front
15/03/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2LO: [N. Düsseldorf]20.52Western Front
15/03/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2B-25Fl.Pl. St. Trond21.26Western Front
15/03/1945Hptm. Heinz Rökker2NJG 2MosquitoFl.Pl. St. Trond21.34Western Front

Known Claims : 66

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