Hans-Ekkehard Bob

Hans-Ekkehard Bob
Hans Ekkehard Bob
Born	24 January 1917 Freiburg, Breisgau
Died	12 August 2013 (aged 96) Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Major
Unit	JG 54, JG 51, JG 3, EJG 2, JV 44
Commands held	IV./JG 51, II./JG 3, II./EJG 2
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	Elmar Bob (son)
Other work	Founder and Chairman of Bohrmaschinen und Geräte GmbH (drilling equipment)

Hans Ekkehard Bob (24 January 1917 – 12 August 2013) was a German fighter pilot, serving with the Luftwaffe. During World War II, Bob flew approximately 700 combat missions, and claimed 60 victories; 37 of which were on the Eastern Front.

Bob joined the Luftwaffe in 1936, at the rank of a Fahnenjunker (officer candidate), and began his flight training on 1 June 1937.

In 1939, prior to the Invasion of Poland, Bob was transferred to the newly formed 3./Jagdgeschwader 21 (JG 21) (later known as the "Devils Squadron"), which was redesignated on 6 June 1940 into 9./Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54). It was equipped with the Bf 109 fighter, an aircraft Bob would become very familiar with over the years – flying every model except the Kurfürst.

During the French campaign on 10 May 1940, Bob claimed his first victory when he shot down a Gloster Gladiator over Tongeren in Belgium. That August, he was promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant. On 10 October 1940, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 54 for a short period; he was soon appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 54.

During the Battle of Britain, 9./JG 54 was activated as a Jabo unit, targeting shipping vessels. By November 1940, Bob had recorded 19 kills, and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring on 7 March 1941.

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