Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gerhard Köppen is credited with 85 victories in 380 sorties and was posted missing in action on 5 May 1942. Gerhard Köppen joined the military service in 1936.
His initial posting was with Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg" (Knight of the Order of the Garter 1) before he was selected for fighter pilot conversion training in 1939.
He was transferred to the 7th Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) in 1941. He was awarded the Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) after 40 aerial victories.
He claimed four aircraft shot down on 24 February 1942 and was decorated with (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) after 72 aerial victories on 27 February 1942. He was promoted to Leutnant on 1 April 1942.
He was posted as missing in action following combat flying a Bf 109 F-4 "white 4" (Werknummer 7303—factory number) north of Akmonaj.
Köppen was last seen swimming in the Sea of Azov on 5 May 1942. He posthumously received the Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 March 1945. Wehrmachtbericht references Bibliography.