BERNHARD JOPE - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: COLONEL JOACHIM HELBIG, ERNST DULLBERG - HFSID 74817

GERMAN PILOTS: WORLD WAR II
This group of pilots who flew for the Luftwaffe signs this commemorative envelope
Commemorative Envelope Signed: "Bernard Jope/ I/K.G.40/BORDEAUX 1942", "Ernest Dullberg/ [difficult to decipher]/ J.G. 27/ 1942 ", and "Oberst'Kipling'/ Joachim Helbig/ [remaining writing is difficult to decipher]" 6½x4¼. Royal Air Force cover honoring the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of the Coastal Command Air Sea Rescue Service, Royal Air Force, Pitreavie Castle. Postmarked British Forces Postal Service, one British stamp affixed. Color illustration of a Supermarine Walrus cacheted on left-hand side of envelope. Also Postmarked on verso: R.A.F. Post Room, Pitreavie, Dunfermline, Fife, June 2, 1971. BERNHARD JOPE (1914-1995) who was with the German Luftwaffe from 1935 to 1945, was a bomber pilot who made his mark in two separate attacks. Jope was assigned to attack merchant ships and direct U-boats in the Atlantic in 1940. One of these ships was the troop transport RMS Empress of Britain. He damaged her on Oct. 26, 1940 with two bombs from his Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor; she was later sunk by U-32. Later in the war, after Italy signed an armistice with the Allies, Jope led 11 Dornier 217 bombers in an attack on the Italian fleet before they could surrender to the Allies in Malta. The Dorniers attacked the Italian ships with Fritz X radio-controlled bombs, sinking the battleship Roma and damaging the Italia. He was captured by the Allies near the end of the war but released in 1946 and became a pilot for Lufthansa. Jope was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. Major ERNEST DULLBERG (d. 1984) was a flying ace who recorded 45 victories during World War II. JOACHIM HELBIG (1915-1985) was a member of the German Luftwaffe, joining in 1936. He was involved in 480 missions during World War II, and is credited with destroying 182,000 gross register tons of Allied shipping. In addition, he flew over 100 missions at Malta, where his squadron sank 3 British destroyers. Lightly toned. Corners and edges gently worn. Stain toward lower right-hand corner resulting from previously adhered sticker. Identities and accomplishments of signers are neatly stamped in German on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.