I am writing a biography on Ernst Kupfer. I would appreciate any information or photos of him during his career. He started his career as a Ritmeister in the 17th Bavarian Cavalry Regiment the "Bamberger Reiter". He received a law degree from the Universities of Heidelberg and Erlangen. He transfered to the Luftwaffe in 1939. He spent nearly all of his Luftwaffe career with St.G.2 "Immelmann" rising to Kommandeur and eventually Kommodore. HIs first combat missions were in the Balkans, Greece, Crete, and over Kronstadt in support of Heersgruppe Nord. He ws serious injured in a crash landing and required 6 months to recover. When he returned he flew missions over Stalingrad, the Kuban, and Kursk (Operation Citadel). In the battle over the Orel salient he led Kampfverbund "Kupfer" that defeated the Russian tank breakthrough. In September 1943 he was appointed General der Schlachtflieger and was placed in charge of all ground attack aircraft on the Russian front. Less than 2 months later he was killed in a He-111 crash while returning to Berlin from an inspection tour to Greece. He was the recipient of the RK with Oak Leaf and Swords.
