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Heinz Rokker - Pilot Profile - Heinz Rokker

Heinz Rokker

Victories : 64
-----------------------------
Country : Germany
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Axis


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

Luftwaffe Nightfighter Pilot, who flew mostly the famed Junkers 88 G1 with the 1/NJG2 in Germany and later in France. He was awarded the Ritter Kreuz (Knights Cross) and Oak Leaves. 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)

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Artwork featuring this Ace : Prints and Paintings Available to Purchase!

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. Combat Over Domremy by Graeme Lothian.Click For DetailsDHM1113

Latest Axis Aviation Artwork !
In early May 1941, in conditions of strict secrecy because the United States was not yet at war, seventeen pilots of the US Navy had arrived in Britain and been attached to Catalina squadrons of Coastal Command. These experienced PBY pilots were there to assist the Royal Air Force to become familiar with the Catalina, and also to gain operational experience for the US Navy. On 26th May 1941 Catalina Z of No.209 Sqn, commanded by Flying Officer Dennis Briggs RAF, with Ensign Leonard B Smith USN as co-pilot, joined the search for the Bismarck. At 1015 the aircraft was being flown in poor visibility at an altitude of 500ft when Ensign Smith sighted the Bismarck at a range of eight miles. The Catalina was flown towards the contact so that a positive identification could be made and emerged from the cloud only 500 yards from the German ship. The aircraft met a hail of anti-aircraft fire but was able to make its escape. As a result of the sighting report from Catalina Z the Bismarck was again engaged by ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy and was sunk at 1040 on 27th May 1941. Leonard Smith can be considered therefore, the first American to be directly involved in action in World War Two. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (American) for his actions.

The Aircraft That Found the Bismarck by Ivan Berryman.		 One of the all time great fighter aces, Adolf Galland is depicted flying Bf 109E-4/N of Stab/JG26 in September 1940. Galland flew 705 combat missions during World War Two and was credited with a final tally of 104 aerial victories. He survived the war and died peacefully in February 1996.

Tribute to Generalleutnant Adolf Galland by Ivan Berryman.		 Walter Briegleb is shown in his Ju88 G.7 4R+BR as he stalks his prey - on this occasion a Lancaster. Flying below their target, his crew would aim upward firing cannon at the inner wing of the bomber, igniting the fuel tanks. For the bomber crews, they were very much defenceless against this type of attack, and often had no idea of the presence of an enemy aircraft in the dark.

Tribute to Walter Briegleb by Ivan Berryman.		 The attack by Leutnant Walter Briegleb and his crew on Lancaster Mk.III ND960 DX-I of No.57 Sqn early on 22nd May 1944. Flying Me110 with codes D5+BV with his crew of Feldwebel Walter Bräunlich and Bordfunker Feldwebel Brandt, Briegleb flew undetected beneath the bomber and used the deadly 'Schräge Musik' - upward firing cannon - to hit the fuel tanks in the port wing between the fuselage and inner engine. Pulling away, he watched the aircraft burn and could see both gunners in their turrets but no return fire came. He wondered why none of the crew escaped by parachute with the bomber doomed - it disintegrated in the air over the coast of the island of Fyn, Denmark, impacting near Emtekær at 00:44hrs.<br><br><center>All of the crew were killed :<br>Flight Lieutenant Arthur Richards (Pilot)<br>Flying Officer William Woodall (Navigator)<br>Pilot Officer Athur Bugden (Flight Engineer)<br>Sergeant Thomas Edwards (Wireless Operator)<br>Flying Officer George Ferguson (Air Bomber)<br>Sergeant Harold Griffiths (Air Gunner)<br>Sergeant Cyril Woodmass (Air Gunner)

The Hunted and the Hunter by Ivan Berryman.

Heinz Rokker

Squadrons for : Heinz Rokker
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Heinz Rokker. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

NJG2


Country : Germany
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of NJG2		NJG2

Full profile not yet available.
Aircraft for : Heinz Rokker
A list of all aircraft associated with Heinz Rokker. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
SquadronInfo

Ju88




Click the name above to see prints featuring Ju88 aircraft.

Manufacturer : Junkers
Number 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

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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