Kampfgeschwader 100, widely abbreviated as KG 100, stands historically recognized as one of the most specialized and technologically advanced bomber wings of the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Tracing its immediate lineage back to the elite pathfinder formation known as Kampfgruppe 100, which was originally established in the late pre-war era, the unit evolved into a formidable operational wing that spearheaded numerous complex strategic bombing campaigns across multiple European and Mediterranean theaters. Under the command of experienced officers holding leadership ranks such as Oberst and Major, the wing achieved early distinction during the Blitz over Great Britain by utilizing advanced electronic navigation systems like the Y-Verfahren and X-Verfahren to accurately mark target areas for heavier bomber streams. As the conflict progressed onto the Eastern Front and into southern Europe, elements of the Geschwader actively participated in critical aerial offensives, including support operations during the Siege of Sevastopol, anti-shipping patrols, and tactical strikes across the Mediterranean and Aegean regions under the administrative control of various regional Luftflotten and specialized Fliegerkorps. KG 100 secured its unique place in aviation history by pioneering the operational combat deployment of revolutionary precision-guided munitions, notably transitioning to aircraft like the Dornier Do 217 to deploy Henschel Hs 293 anti-ship glide missiles and Fritz X radio-controlled bombs against Allied naval forces. Operating under these high-risk combat environments, numerous aircrews and squadron leaders within its component Gruppen and Staffeln earned prestigious decorations, including the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, for exceptional bravery and tactical effectiveness. Despite suffering severe attrition, shifting strategic directives, and subsequent redesignations of several subordinate components toward the final stages of the war as the aerial defense of the Reich deteriorated, Kampfgeschwader 100 firmly cemented its legacy in military history books as a pioneer of electronic pathfinding and precision standoff weaponry.
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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER
Oberstleutnant Bernhard Jope (1914-1995) was born on 10 May 1914 in Leipzig and died on 31 July 1995 in Königstein im Taunus. After studying aircraft construction at the Technische Hochschule in Danzig and receiving flight training, he entered the Luftwaffe on 1 April 1935, later serving with the Legion Condor in the Spanish Civil War. Early in the Second World War he flew with various Kampfgeschwader before joining I. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 40 as Technischer Offizier in June 1940. From 24 October 1940 he piloted a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor in 2. Staffel. On 26 October 1940, west of Ireland, Jope and his crew attacked the large British troop transport Empress of Britain, scoring two bomb hits that set the vessel ablaze and so severely damaged it that it had to be taken in tow; two days later the ship was finished off by U 32. For this decisive action, which helped sink one of the largest vessels lost in the war, Oberleutnant and Flugzeugführer Jope was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 30 December 1940 while serving in 2. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 40. Promoted to Hauptmann on 1 February 1941, he became Staffelkapitän of 2. Staffel/KG 40 and later received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 5 February 1942. After further postings, including testing work, he joined Kampfgeschwader 100 in May 1943, first as Gruppenkommandeur of IV. and then III. Gruppe. Promoted to Major on 1 August 1943, he was appointed Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 100 on 10 September 1943. Under his command the unit employed the innovative Fritz-X radio-controlled glide bomb; on 9 September 1943 Jope led eleven Dornier Do 217 bombers that struck the Italian battle fleet sailing to surrender, hitting the battleship Roma twice and sinking her while damaging her sister ship Italia. Subsequent operations scored hits on HMS Warspite, HMS Uganda and USS Savannah. For his outstanding leadership and the Geschwader’s successes in sinking or damaging some 300000 GRT of shipping, including a battleship, Major and Kommodore of Kampfgeschwader 100 was awarded the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz (431st award) on 24 March 1944. Later he briefly commanded Kampfgeschwader 30, served on higher staffs, and was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 January 1945, his final rank. After the war and captivity he flew as a Lufthansa pilot until retirement. He completed approximately 410 operational sorties and also received the Eisernes Kreuz II. and I. Klasse, Frontflugspange in Gold, and a mention in the Wehrmachtbericht.
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RITTERKREUZTRÄGER
Oberstleutnant Hansgeorg Bätcher (1914-2003) was born on 13 January 1914 in Finsterwalde and died on 23 April 2003 in Uelzen, becoming the Luftwaffe bomber pilot with the highest number of combat missions in the Second World War, completing more than 658 sorties. After initial training with Fliegergruppe Tutow from November 1935 to March 1936 and service as Leutnant in Kampfgeschwader 157 (later Kampfgeschwader 27), he took part in the Polish campaign of 1939 and the Battle of France in 1940, where he was shot down and briefly captured near Rouen on 5 June before release following the French surrender. From May 1941 he served with Kampfgruppe 100 “Wiking” flying Heinkel He 111 bombers, becoming Staffelkapitän of its 1. Staffel in July and deploying to the Eastern Front, where he conducted night raids on Moscow and earned the Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Bronze, Silver and Gold between August and November 1941 as well as the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe. In early 1942 his unit specialised in maritime interdiction against Soviet shipping in the Black Sea; Bätcher proved the most successful pilot in these operations, sinking a merchant vessel of 2000 GRT on 20 February and striking a 7500 GRT tanker in Kerch harbour on 23 February, thereby denying fuel to Soviet forces for several days, while also flying 122 of his 206 Crimean sorties against the fortress of Sevastopol and scoring multiple direct hits on fortifications and supply targets. After promotion to Hauptmann in March 1942 and participation in the Stalingrad campaign, including hazardous supply flights to the encircled 6. Armee, he became the first bomber pilot to reach 400 sorties on 26 October 1942 and was recommended for the Ritterkreuz after 444 missions; the award was presented on 21 December 1942 while he was still Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel, I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 100. Continuing operations over Kursk and the Kuban bridgehead, he completed his 500th mission on 30 July 1943 as the first Kampfflieger to do so, was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 4 “General Wever” on 6 October, promoted to Major on 1 November, and flew his 600th and 650th missions later that winter. For sustained success that brought his total to approximately 655 sorties he received the Eichenlaub (434th award) to the Ritterkreuz on 24 March 1944 as Major and Kommandeur of I./Kampfgeschwader 4. Subsequent postings included staff duty with Luftflotte 4, command of III./Kampfgeschwader 76 equipped with the Arado Ar 234 jet bomber from December 1944, and finally appointment as Kommodore of KG(J) 54 with Messerschmitt Me 262 jets in February–March 1945; he ended the war as Oberstleutnant, was captured by American forces in May 1945, and had earlier received the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse (27 September 1939), Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse (15 July 1940) and Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (2 July 1942).
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampfgeschwader_100
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