Major Eberhard Jacob pictured in his Soldbuch.
Born:
18 January 1917 Taulkinnen (Ostpreussen)
Units:
01.09.39-14.04.41 II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2, Stab
15.04.41-19.01.42 II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2, 4 Staffel
20.01.42-21.10.42 II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 3, 7 Staffel
22.10.42-11.02.43 Fliegerführer Afrika, Stab
12.02.43-15.04.43 Fliegerführer 3, Stab
16.04.43-10.06.43 Luftwaffenkommando 2, Stab
11.06.43-04.10.43 III./Sturzkampfgeschwader 3, Stab
05.10.43-28.04.44 General der Schlachtflieger, Stab
29.04.44-00.00.00 Lw. Führungsstab Ia
Page 4 from Jacob's Soldbuch.
Rank:
00.00.00 Leutnant
00.00.00 Oberleutnant
00.00.00 Hauptmann
01.01.44 Major
10.11.44 Major im Generalstab
Awards:
08.10.37 Flugzeugführerabzeichen (Pilots Badge)
28.09.39 Eiserne Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class)
01.10.39 Medaille Zur Erinnerung An Den 1. Oktober 1938 (Commemerative Medal of 1.10.38)
20.02.40 Gemeinsames Flugzeugführerabzeichen und Beobachterabzeichen (Combined Pilot's and Observer's Badge)
07.07.40 Eiserne Kreuz 1. Klasse (Iron Cross 1st Class)
17.09.41 Frontflug-Spange für Kampfflieger in Silber (Operational flying clasp in Silver for dive-bombers)
13.10.41 Frontflug-Spange für Kampfflieger in Gold (Operational flying clasp in Gold for dive-bombers)
18.03.42 Ehrenpokal fur besondere Leistung im Luftkreig (Honor Goblet)
01.05.42 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (German Cross in Gold)
09.06.42 Ärmelband Afrika (Africa campaign cuff-title)
14.07.43 Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Schwartz (Wound Badge in Black)
18.09.43 Frontflug-Spange für Kampfflieger in Gold mit Anhänger (Operational flying clasp in Gold with pendant for dive-bombers)
29.02.44 Ritterskreuz des Eisernes Kreuz (Knights Cross of the Iron Cross)
01.09.44 Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwerten (War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords)
30.01.45 Frontflug-Spange für Schlachtflieger in Gold mit Anhänger Einssatzzahl 400 (Operational flying clasp in Gold with 400 pendant for ground attack)
20.04.45 Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwerten (War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords)
Foreign awards:
25.09.41 Italienisch Flugzeugführerabzeichen (Italian Pilots Badge)
16.02.42 Italienisch Tapferkeitsmedaille in Silber (Italian Bravery Medal in Silver)
Under Construction
History:
1939
1940
1941
23 April 41
The final battle of Tobruk begins.
25 May41
At 13:10 the First Battle Squadron (including HMS Queen Elisabeth, HMS Barham , HMS Formidable and eight destroyers) was 150 miles from the Kaso Strait when a formation of Ju87s was detected approaching from the North African coast. These were from II/StG 2 led by Major Walter Enneccerus, which by chance stumbled upon the Squadron when searching for supply shipping making for Tobruk.
By chance Oberleutnant Bernhard Hamester’s 5 Staffel crews spotted Formidable and took advantage of the chance encounter to attack at once, followed by 4 Staffel (Oberleutnant Eberhard Jakob) and Oberleutnant Fritz Eyer’s 6 Staffel. Two direct hits were scored on the flight deck, fore and aft, as well as several near-misses, one of which created a gaping hole in the carrier’s starboard side underwater. Fires broke out, 12 men were killed and ten wounded – a relatively low number of casualties, given the severe damage inflicted.
Two Fulmars had been launched as the Stukas approached, but these had not gained sufficient altitude to intervene. Now, as the dive-bombers retired, they attacked. Two Fulmar pilots claimed one Ju87 each shot down while another pilot claimed two more as damaged. Only one Ju87, an aircraft of 5 Staffel, was actually lost, the gunner, Oberfeldwebel Ewald Krüger, being wounded. One Fulmar, was hit by return fire, Leading Aircraftman Colin Hearnshaw, the TAG, receiving four bullet wounds in one leg. Despite the damage on the carrier, both Fulmars were able to land.
HMS Formidable was not the only ship hit, for the escorting destroyer HMS Nubian also had her bows blown off and her aft guns put out of action, 15 of her crew being killed and six others seriously wounded. As soon as the attack had developed, the carrier had sent out urgent signals requesting air cover, the initial response being the arrival of a solitary Blenheim IVF from 45 Squadron at Fuka, which remained on station for ten minutes. Three Hurricanes of 1 SAAF Squadron from Sidi Barrani then arrived, but were treated as hostile and met initially by a barrage of AA fire. These were relieved by three more Hurricanes from 274 Squadron at Gerawla, and then by three more from 73 Squadron at Sidi Haneish. Another three of this unit’s aircraft appeared an hour later, these engaging a Ju88 , which was allowed to escape when the Hurricane pilots reflector sight failed at a crucial moment..
By 18:00 launches of Fulmars could commence from HMS Fomidable.
Formidable arrived at Alexandria the next day, departing via the Suez Canal two months later for more permanent and extensive repairs.
A Ju 87B-2 Trop of 4./StG 2, Tmimi/Libya June 1941, a similar mount to what Jacob would have flown with this unit. 1
1942
1943
14 July 43
Hauptmann Eberhard Jacob and his bordfunker Unteroffizer Johann Schwinghammer are both wounded when their Ju87D (werknummer 312) was damaged by Flak near Kzyn (60% damage). On this same day Hauptmann Jacob is awarded the Verwundeten-Abzeichen in Schwartz (Wound Badge in Black).
1944
29 February 44
23 April 44
Judgement report for Major Jacob. ca. April 44
Image of Major Eberhard Jacob. ca. 1944 2
1. Source: Ju 87 profile by illustrator John Weal from Osprey Combat Aircraft "Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwaders of North Africa and the Mediterranean".
2. Source: Die Ritters Kreuz Trager Der Luftwaffe 1939-1945, Band II Stuka u. Schlachtflieger, Ernst Obermaier, Verlag Dieter Hoffmann
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