Ernest James Hoppe
Military![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/media/media-50620.jpeg)
Object Number - UPL 50620 - 1st Lt Ernest James Hoppe Jr, 379BG
Assigned to 527BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Hoverkamp crew. 21 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Frankfurt 29-Jan-44; shot down; crashed Chenogne, near Sibret, 7km SW of Bastogne, Belgium. Evaded with Capt Douglas Hoverkamp and 1Lt Frank Paisano. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 287
Awards: AM (OLC), American Campaign and Defense, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395065.jpg?itok=VsAN-sdc)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![The insignia of the 527th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395069.jpg?itok=cn9W_AhU)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-44093.jpeg?itok=nU_boL4Y)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32455301
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12056916 / O-794411
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-44093.jpeg?itok=nU_boL4Y)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39456982
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-50593.jpeg?itok=_8ntloaF)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18068079 / O-739111
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-44093.jpeg?itok=nU_boL4Y)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12158157
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
![Major Walter Fulkerson, also known as "Duffy", watches ground crewman Sergeant Anton Kofman paint the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31040) nicknamed "Duffy's Tavern" that has been named after Fulkerson. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Jan 1944.' [stamp] and '300535.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'CHRISTENING OF "DUFFY'S TAVERN". "Duffy" is the nickname of one of the most widely known and beloved air officers in the ETO. He](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-380024.jpg?itok=ho527BMf)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Duffy's Tavern
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
![Aerial photograph of Kimbolton airfield looking west, the bomb dump and technical site with a T2 hangar is on the left, 10 August 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/635. English Heritage (RAF Photography).](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/eh/eh-81.jpg?itok=ZTVswmUL)
- Site type: Airfield
![Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-456991.jpg?itok=NWOv0Ga_)
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Clinton, MO | 14 November 1922 | Son of Ernest James Sr and Hallie [Marten] Hoppe. |
Enlisted |
Jefferson Barracks, MO | 24 May 1941 | Jefferson Barracks, Missouri |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 29 January 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I. |
Other Baled out POW |
Chenogne, Belgium | 29 January 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Frankfurt 29-Jan-44; Baled out and evaded. |
Died |
4 March 2006 | ||
Buried/ Commemorated |
Fort Custer National Cemetery Augusta, Kalamazoo County, MI | 7 March 2006 | Fort Custer National Cemetery Augusta, Kalamazoo County, Michigan |
Based |
Kimbolton | 29 January 1944 | Assigned to 527BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2873 / MACR 2873, 8th AF Losses / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database