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Ace with 60.00 Victories

Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob

After success in the Battle of Britain, Hans-Ekkehard Bob took over leadership of 9./JG54 in 1940. The following year he was awarded the Knights Cross. Transferring to the Eastern Front his victories rose steadily to 50 by September 1942. His Group later transferred back to the West for a short period, where in April 1943, he rammed a B-17 Fortress. Returning to the Eastern Front as Kommander of IV./JG3, he ended the war as Adjutant of Gallands JV44 in the West. In his 700 missions he scored 60 victories.

Knights Cross

Ikarus Downed by David Pentland. 4 editions. All 4 editions feature up to 5 additional signature(s). £75.00 - £400.00

Bomber's Bane by David Pentland. 5 editions. All 5 editions feature up to 6 additional signature(s). £75.00 - £400.00

The Last Patrol by David Pentland. 16 editions. 11 of the 16 editions feature up to 3 additional signatures. £2.50 - £500.00

Messerschmitt versus Messerschmitt by David Pentland. 4 editions. All 4 editions feature up to 6 additional signature(s). £65.00 - £480.00

New Enemy by David Pentland. 4 editions. All 4 editions feature up to 6 additional signature(s). £65.00 - £440.00

Me109 Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Built : 33984

Me109 Willy Messerschmitt designed the BF109 during the early 1930s. The Bf109 was one of the first all metal monocoque construction fighters with a closed canopy and retractable undercarriage. The engine of the Me109 was a V12 aero engine which was liquid-cooled. The Bf109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and flew to the end of World War II, during which time it was the backbone of the Luftwaffe fighter squadrons. During the Battle of Britian the Bf109 was used in the role of an escort fighter, a role for which it was not designed for, and it was also used as a fighter bomber. During the last days of May 1940 Robert Stanford-Tuck, the RAF ace, got the chance to fly an Me109 which they had rebuilt after it had crash landed. Stanford-Tuck found out that the Me109 was a wonderful little plane, it was slightly faster than the Spitfire, but lacked the Spitfire manoeuvrability. By testing the Me109, Tuck could put himself inside the Me109 when fighting them, knowing its weak and strong points. With the introduction of the improved Bf109F in the spring of 1941, the type again proved to be an effective fighter during the invasion of Yugoslavia and during the Battle of Crete and the invasion of Russia and it was used during the Siege of the Mediteranean island of Malta. The Bf109 was the main fighter for the Luftwaffe until 1942 when the Fw190 entered service and shared this position, and was partially replaced in Western Europe, but the Me109 continued to serve on the Eastern Front and during the defence of the Reich against the allied bombers. It was also used to good effect in the Mediterranean and North Africa in support of The Africa Korps. The Me109 was also supplied to several German allies, including Finland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovakia. The Bf109 scored more kills than any other fighter of any country during the war and was built in greater numbers with a total of over 31,000 aircraft being built. The Bf109 was flown by the three top German aces of the war war. Erich Hartmann with 352 victories, Gerhard Barkhorn with 301 victories and Gunther Rall with 275 kills. Bf109 pilots were credited with the destruction of 100 or more enemy aircraft. Thirteen Luftwaffe Aces scored more than 200 kills. Altogether this group of pilots were credited with a total of nearly 15,000 kills, of which the Messerschmitt Bf109 was credited with over 10,000 of these victories. The Bf109 was the most produced warplane during World War II, with 30,573 examples built during the war, and the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced up to April 1945. Bf109s remained in foreign service for many years after World War II. The Swiss used their Bf109Gs well into the 1950s. The Finnish Air Force did not retire their Bf109Gs until March 1954. Romania used its Bf109s until 1955. The Spanish Hispanos flew even longer. Some were still in service in the late 1960s.

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Me110 Manufacturer : Messerschmitt

Me110 The Bf-110 grew out of Herman Gorings specifications for a multipurpose aircraft capable of penetrating deep into enemy airspace to clear the sky of enemy fighters in advance of German bomber formations. The aircraft would also be utilized as a long range interceptor, and as a ground support and ground attack bomber. The Bf-110 prototype first flew in 1936. The prototype was under powered with its Daimier Benz DB 600A engines. Several months passed before a go ahead was given for large scale production which commenced in 1938. Utilizing improved DB 601 engines, the early production 110s were as fast as any single engine fighter at that time, and had superior fire power. Their biggest apparent weakness was in the areas of armor protection for the crew, and in terms of maneuverability when compared to single seat fighters. The 110 was produced in large numbers and in many different variants. The 110D was the long range model. An additional belly tank was fitted to that aircraft, with several later variants having the more traditional drop tanks. The first serious test for the Bf-110 came during the Battle of Britain. About 300 Bf-110s were involved. They became easy prey for Hurricane and Spitfire pilots, and Bf-109s were often required to assist the 110s in their own defense. On August 15, 1940, which became known as Black Tuesday, the Bf-110s were ravaged by the RAF, and for the month over 100 aircraft were lost. On the Eastern Front the Bf-110 performed admirably in the early stages of Operation Barbarossa. With the Soviet Air Force weakened in the first several weeks of the attack, 110s were effectively utilized in a ground attack role. Ultimately, the Luftwaffe re-equipped a significant number of its 110s as night fighters. The aircraft performed well in this role because it was a good gun platform with sufficient speed to overtake the RAF night bombers. Such night missions were typically carried out with no Allied fighter escort, so the 110 night fighters would not have to engage or elude Allied fighters in this role.

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Me262 Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Built : 1400

Me262 The Messerschmitt Me-262 Swallow, a masterpiece of engineering, was the first operational mass-produced jet to see service. Prototype testing of the airframe commenced in 1941 utilizing a piston engine. General Adolf Galland, who was in charge of the German Fighter Forces at that time, pressured both Goring and Hitler to accelerate the Me-262, and stress its use as a fighter to defend Germany from Allied bombers. Hitler, however, envisioned the 262 as the aircraft which might allow him to inflict punishment on Britain. About 1400 Swallows were produced, but fortunately for the Allies, only about 300 saw combat duty. While the original plans for the 262 presumed the use of BMW jet engines, production Swallows were ultimately equipped with Jumo 004B turbojet engines. The wing design of the 262 necessitated the unique triangular hull section of the fuselage, giving the aircraft a shark-like appearance. With an 18 degree swept wing, the 262 was capable of Mach .86. The 262 was totally ineffective in a turning duel with Allied fighters, and was also vulnerable to attack during take off and landings. The landing gear was also suspect, and many 262s were destroyed or damaged due to landing gear failure. Despite its sleek jet-age appearance, the 262 was roughly manufactured, because Germany had lost access to its normal aircraft assembly plants. In spite of these drawbacks the 262 was effective. For example, on April 7, 1945 a force of sixty 262s took on a large force of Allied bombers with escort fighters. Armed with their four nose-mounted cannons, and underwing rockets the Swallows succeeded in downing or damaging 25 Allied B-17s on that single mission. While it is unlikely that the outcome of the War could have been altered by an earlier introduction or greater production totals for this aircraft, it is clear to many historians that the duration of the War might have been drastically lengthened if the Me-262 had not been too little too late.

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Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob Squadron details

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JG3 Country : Germany

JG3 Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 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. Commanders of IV./JG 3 Major Franz Beyer, 1. June 1943 Hauptmann Heinz Lang , 11 February 1944 Major Friedrich-Karl Müller, 26 February 1944 Hauptmann Heinz Lang , 11 April 1944 Major Wilhelm Moritz, 18 April 1944 Hauptmann Hubert-York Weydenhammer, 5 December 1944 Major Erwin Bacsila, 5 January 1945 Oberleutnant Oskar Romm, 17 February 1945 Hauptmann Gerhard Koall, 25 April 1945 Hauptmann Günther Schack, 1 Mai 1945

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JG54 Country : Germany

JG54 I./JG 54 was initially formed as I./JG 70 near Nuremberg in July 1939, just two short months before hostilities broke out. As was to become tradition within Grunherzgeschwader, the Gruppe took the Nurember coat-of-arms (a veritcally divided shield with a black heraldic bird on the left, and red and white diagonal stripes on the right) to represent the region the unit came from. On September 15, 1939, I./JG 70 was redesignated I./JG 54 The initial unit designation for II./JG 54 was I./JG 138. This unit was raised in 1938 after the Austrian annexation. Naturally many Austrian nationals were recruited when I./JG 138 was formed. The Aspern coat of arms (black lion's head surmounting a white cross on a red field) was taken by the Gruppe for its identity. I./JG 138 was briefly designated I./JG 76 before finally becoming II./JG 54 on April 6, 1940. The III./JG 54 has its roots in Prussia. Initially I./JG 21, the members were drawn from the Jesau region in Prussia. The modified Jesau coat-of-arms (a shield with a Jesau cross with three diving aircraft on a red background, with a white outline on the shield) was adopted as the Gruppe's own. On July 15, 1939, I./JG 21 was redesignated III./JG 54. However, the bureaucratic nature of the young Luftwaffe was such that it was over a year before records would reflect the new designation. Consequently, III./JG 54 fought in Poland and France as I./JG 21. Kommodoren of JG 54 : Major Martin Mettig; 2 Feb 40 to 25 Aug 40. Oberst Hannes Trautloft; 25 Aug 40 to 5 Jul 43. Major Hubertus von Bonin; 6 Jul 43 to 15 Dec 43. Oberstleutnant Anton Mader; 28 Jan 44 to Sep 44. Oberst Dieter Hrabak; 1 Oct 44 to 8 May 45.

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Known Victory Claims
DATE	PILOT	UNIT	JG	CLAIMED	LOCATION	TIME	FRONT

10/05/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	3	JG 21	Gladiator	Tongeren	10.33	Western Front
24/05/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	3	JG 21	Dewoitine 520	Hénin-Liètard	15.2	Western Front
25/05/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	3	JG 21	Morane 406	N. Cambrai: 4000m	19.45	Western Front
26/05/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	3	JG 21	Curtiss	Cambrai	9.1	Western Front
26/06/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	3	JG 21	Blenheim	60km W. Rotterdam: 10m	18.1	Western Front
12/08/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Spitfire	Canterbury	18.33	Western Front
15/08/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Spitfire	SE Dover: 800m	19.27	Western Front
16/08/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Spitfire	Calais	13.13	Western Front
18/08/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Hurricane	10km E. Ramsgate: 6500m	14.4	Western Front
31/08/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Hurricane	Eastchurch	11.4	Western Front
31/08/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Hurricane	Eastchurch	11.42	Western Front
04/09/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Hurricane	Folkestone	10.1	Western Front
09/09/1940	Ltn. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Spitfire	-	18.4	Western Front
30/09/1940	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	7	JG 54	Spitfire	Tonbridge	14.35	Western Front
30/09/1940	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	7	JG 54	Spitfire	-	-	Western Front
09/10/1940	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	7	JG 54	Spitfire	Ashford	14	Western Front
09/10/1940	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	7	JG 54	Spitfire	Chatham	16.38	Western Front
20/10/1940	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	7	JG 54	Spitfire	London	15.4	Western Front
27/10/1940	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	Stab III.	JG 54	Hurricane	10km E. Tonbridge: 5000m	10.3	Western Front
11/11/1940	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	Stab III.	JG 54	Spitfire	Margate	13.17	Western Front
06/04/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Bf 109	Petrowgrad	17.3	Western Front
07/04/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	IK-2	Martinae	14.2	Western Front
23/06/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-2	Kedainiai	11.5	Eastern Front
30/06/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-3	Dünaburg	7.05	Eastern Front
30/06/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-3	Dünaburg	7.09	Eastern Front
30/06/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-3	Dünaburg	12.35	Eastern Front
30/06/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-3	Dünaburg	15.1	Eastern Front
06/07/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-3	SE Ostrow	18.4	Eastern Front
06/07/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-3	SE Ostrow	18.45	Eastern Front
06/07/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-3	SE Ostrow	18.41	Eastern Front
15/07/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-3	Orly	19.15	Eastern Front
24/07/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	SB-3	Dno	19.55	Eastern Front
10/09/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	I-18	Demjansk	14.5	Eastern Front
11/09/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	I-18	Demjansk	9.45	Eastern Front
15/09/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	DB-3	Krasnoje-Selo	15.15	Eastern Front
15/09/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	DB-3	Krasnoje-Selo	15.25	Eastern Front
21/09/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	I-153	Krasnogwardeisk	7.05	Eastern Front
07/10/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	Krasnoje-Bor	9.4	Eastern Front
29/10/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	I-18	-	-	Eastern Front
06/11/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	Kolpino	10.37	Eastern Front
01/12/1941	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	I-18	Mostowaja	9.42	Eastern Front
25/04/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	MiG-3	-	11.3	Eastern Front
28/08/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	10 191: 100m	11.3	Eastern Front
01/09/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	LaGG-3	10 191: 2000m	9.26	Eastern Front
01/09/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	10 153: 200m	12.1	Eastern Front
02/09/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	10 183: 300m	13.5	Eastern Front
02/09/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	10 182: 300m	14	Eastern Front
10/09/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	10 183: 150m	17.04	Eastern Front
15/09/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	LaGG-3	10 113: 1000m	6.02	Eastern Front
15/09/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	LaGG-3	10 113: 5000m	15.2	Eastern Front
22/09/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	MiG-3	10 354: 2000m	5.35	Eastern Front
29/09/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	LaGG-3	00 283: 500m	16.01	Eastern Front
17/12/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	46 131: 1500m	10.51	Eastern Front
17/12/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	47 791: 20m	11.23	Eastern Front
29/12/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	III.	JG 54	Il-2	07 583: 300m	9.52	Eastern Front
30/12/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Il-2	07 672: 500m	9.55	Eastern Front
30/12/1942	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	LaGG-3	07 334: 800m	10.12	Eastern Front
14/01/1943	Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	LaGG-3	07 671: 2000m	11.37	Eastern Front
27/07/1943	Hptm. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	9	JG 54	Spitfire	20km W. Zandvoort: 20m	20.25	Western Front
26/09/1943	Hptm. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	Stab IV.	JG 51	Jak-1	S. Jantschekrak: 4000m	16.37	Eastern Front
27/09/1943	Hptm. Hans-Ekkehard Bob	Stab IV.	JG 51	LaGG-5	ENE Tsisslovka: 2500m	13.32	Eastern Front

Known Claims : 61

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