...six original photos of a KG 40 Fw 200 taken on an Atlantic-coast Flugplatz dating from autumn 1941 depicting Focke-Wulf Fw 200 "Condor" coded 'F8+EL' of Kampfgeschwader 40 - pilot was Knight's Cross winner Oblt. Bernhard Jope. Jope's RK was awarded on 30 December 1940 for his attack on one of the biggest ships in the world at the time, the liner the "Empress of Britain" on 26 October 1940.
In his book on the Fw 200 Condor Jean-Louis Roba wrote;
" ..On 21 October, Major Petersen was awarded the Ritterkreuz for his effective command. Another would soon be awarded when, on 26 October, an Fw 200 struck a blow against the Royal Navy, an episode that would forge the reputation of the Condor and make the rounds of the German propaganda outlets. That day, the crew of Oblt Bernhard Jope on patrol spotted an imposing-looking ship off the south-west coast of Ireland. Jope turned towards this potential target while his men went to their battle stations. It was the Canadian Pacific Airline luxury liner Empress of Britain, leased to the British Ministry of Transport. It had left Cape Town several days earlier and was approaching Liverpool, its destination. On board were some four hundred servicemen and twenty-three passengers, as well as seven hundred tonnes of various cargoes (including sugar). Relying on the ship's speed, British officials had neglected to provide an escort (which would probably have had difficulty keeping up). The ship was of very modern design and offered its passengers a high level of comfort (including a swimming pool, sumptuous Renaissance-style lounges and radio in the cabins). Jope wasted no time and, having identified his target as an enemy transport ship, dropped his bombs with precision while his machine gunners emptied magazine after magazine (there was only one bullet wound sustained on board!). When fire broke out in the ship's holds, Jope set course for Mérignac, the nose of his aircraft having been damaged by a defender's return fire. As the Empress of Britain was quickly evacuated, there were few casualties. The wreck (where the fire had been contained) was taken in tow but was finished off the next day by a torpedo fired by U-32 (itself sunk two days later). This loss struck a chord with public opinion on both sides. The daily Völkischer Beobachter, the official organ of the NSDAP, even went so far as to write: "Das Schiff der Plutokraten schwimmt nicht mehr" (The ship of the plutocrats will sail no more). For this action, Jope was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 30 December 1940..."
