Rudolf Rademacher
Rudolf Rademacher
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File:Rudolf Rademacher.jpg
Rudolf Rademacher
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Nickname(s) | Rudi |
Born | Lüneburg |
19 June 1913
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Lüneburg |
Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
Service/ |
Luftwaffe |
Rank | Leutnant |
Unit | JG 54, EJG 1, JG 7 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Rudolf "Rudi" Rademacher (19 June 1913 – 13 June 1953) was a German World War II fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Rademacher was credited with 97, potentially up to 126, aerial victories—that is, 97 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in over 500 combat missions.
Career
Rademacher was born on 19 June 1913 in Lüneburg, Province of Hanover, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia in the German Empire. On 1 December 1941, Rademacher, holding the rank of Unteroffizier (Staff Sergeant), was posted to 3. Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front.
As of 1 February 1943, Walter Nowotny, his wingman Karl Schnörrer, Anton Döbele and Rademacher, formed a team known as the "chain of devils" (Teufelskette) or the Nowotny Schwarm, which during the course of the war was credited with 524 combined kills, making them the most successful team in the Luftwaffe.[1]
He was severely wounded in a Defense of the Reich mission against the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on 18 September 1944. Following a period of convalescence, he joined 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing) on 30 January 1945.[2] There on 1 February 1945, flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 first operational jet fighter, he claimed a Supermarine Spitfire shot down near Braunschweig.[Note 1] The Allies reported a Hawker Tempest lost in the vicinity of the action.[3]
Rademacher was credited with 126 victories in over 500 combat missions.[Note 2] 90 of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, including 21 Il-2 Stormoviks. At least eight of his victories claimed over the Western Front were gained flying the Me 262. Rademacher was killed in a glider crash at Lüneburg on 13 June 1953.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class
- Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 19 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot[6]
- German Cross in Gold on 25 March 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54[7]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54[8][9]
Notes
- ↑ For a list of Luftwaffe Jet aces see List of German World War II Jet aces
- ↑ According to Spick, Rademacher is credited with 126 aerial victories, 90 of which claimed over the Eastern Front and 36 in the western theatre of operations, including 10 heavy bombers.[4] According to Obermaier, he is credited with 97 aerial victories, 76 of which claimed over the Eastern Front, including 21 Il-2s and 7 Pe-2s. He also claimed 23 further victories on the Eastern Front without witnesses supporting his claim.[5]
References
Citations
Bibliography
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- Weal, John (1998). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Russian Front. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-518-7.
- Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz'. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-286-5.
External links
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- Pages with broken file links
- 1913 births
- 1953 deaths
- People from Lüneburg
- Luftwaffe pilots
- German World War II flying aces
- Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Germany
- People from the Province of Hanover
- German Air Force personnel stubs
- German World War II stubs