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Slowing the Red Tide by Nicolas Trudgian.
Fw190s of stab JG51 provide support to armour breaking out of the besieged
Festung Konigsberg in East Prussia, February 1945 and are engaged by Yak 3s of
the famed Normandie-Niemen Group. The determined action of the Wehrmacht opened
a life-saving corridor to the Baltic and was one of their last significant
tactical victories on the Eastern Front. |
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Slowing the Red Tide by Nicolas Trudgian
- The Signatures
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 | Franz-Josef Beerenbrock (deceased)
Born in 1920, Franz-Josef Beerenbrock trained as a pilot in 1939, joining JG51 on the eastern front in March 1941. With 46 victories, he was awarded the Knights Cross on 6th October 1941. By the beginning of August 1942, he was the most successful pilot in JG51, with a total of 102 victories. However, he was himself shot down on 9th November 1943, and was captured. With a final score of 117 victories, he was not repatriated until 1949. Sadly, he died on 13th December 2004.
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 | Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob
After success in the Battle of Britain, Hans-Ekkehard Bob took over leadership of 9./JG54 in 1940. The following year he was awarded the Knight's Cross. Transferring to the Eastern Front his victories rose steadily to 50 by September 1942. His Group later transferred back to the West for a short period, where in April 1943, he rammed a B-17 Fortress. Returning to the Eastern Front as Kommander of IV./JG3, he ended the war as Adjutant of Galland's JV44 in the West. In his 700 missions he scored 60 victories.
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Hans-Ekkehard Bob signing the print - JV44 Kette of Swallows - by Graeme Lothian. |
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 | Georg Bose
StuG Platoon leader with Abteilung 177. He served on the eastern front in 1944, being awarded the Knights Cross on 21st September 1944 after an action in July 1944 before being captured by the Russians and held captive until 1948.
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 | Leutnant Hugo Broch
Vital to all fighter units are the pilots who make such superb wingmen that their leaders are loath to part with them. Hugo Broch was one such wingman. Having joined VI./JG54 in January he flew first with Horst Adameit (166 victories), and later with 'Bazi' Sterr (130 victories), but soon demonstrated his own skill in combat. By the end of 1944 he had lifted his personal score to 71 victories. One of JG54's great Fw190 Aces, Hugo Broch saw combat on the Eastern and Baltic Fronts, and completed the war having flown 324 combat missions, and claiming 81 victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross.
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 | Hauptmann Hugo Dahmer
Flying with 6./JG26, Hugo Dahmer was one of II Gruppe's most successful pilots. Transferring to 1./JG77 he was awarded the Knight's Cross during the invasion of Russia. For a short while back with JG26, then III./JG2. He scored 57 victories.
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 | Kurt Dahlmann
Bomber pilot, Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. Commander of I./SKG10 from 1st October 1943 to 20th October 1944.
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 | Adolf Dickfeld (deceased)
A highly successful Ace, Adolf Dickfeld was posted to Russia with III/JG52 in 1941. He was one of the first pilots to score 100 victories. Later with JG2 in North Africa, and JG11 in 'Defence of the Reich', bringing his total to 136 victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross. Sadly, Adolf Dickfeld died 17th May 2009.
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 | Gerhard Fischer
German Army Panzer Tank Ace - Knights Cross. Awarded the Knights Cross.
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 | Oberst Hajo Hermann
A formidable figure in the Luftwaffe, Hajo Hermann was originally awarded the Knight's Cross in 1940 as a bomber pilot. He flew over 320 operations with KG4, and later II./JG30, where he sank 12 ships. In 1942 he was appointed to the Luftwaffe Operational Staff. In July 1943 he was responsible for the formation of JG300 and founded the highly successful Wilde Sau (Wild Boar) tactics of free roaming FW190 night fighters. In December 1943 he was appointed Luftwaffe Inspector of Aerial Defence. At the end of 1944 he led the 9th Flieger division and created the famous Rammkommando Elbe. At the end of the war he was captured by the Russians, spending long years in captivity. He was awarded the Knight's Cross, Oak Leaves and Swords.
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 | Wolf Dieter Huy
Knights Cross winning pilot, with a final tally of 40 victories in over 500 missions.
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 | Albert Kerscher
German Army - Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. Oberfeldwebel Albert Kerscher was, like Otto Carius, a panzer ace from schwere Panzer Abteilung 502. He achieved his 100th kill in defending the Neuhauser Forest near Pillau, East Prussia in April 1945. On 22nd July 1944, 1st Lieutenant Otto Carius with his company of eight Tigers advanced towards the village on Malinava (northern suburb of Dunaburg) in order to halt the Russian advance. Carius and Kerscher took a Kubelwagen in order to check if the village was already in Russian hands. They discovered that Malinava had already been taken by the enemy. Carius recognised that the Russian tanks in the village were only advance troops waiting for the main force to arrive. He decided to recapture the village before the arrival of more Russian tanks. Carius returned to his company for briefing and explained his plan to take the village. He decided to attack the village with only two Tigers because there was only one road leading to the village and it meant very risky business. Six Tigers remained in the reserve while the Tigers of Carius and Kerscher moved towards the village of Malinava. Speed was the essence of the plan to take the Russians by surprise and immobilise their tanks. When they were about to enter the village, they could see two T-34/85 tanks rotating their turrets in their direction. Immediately Kerscher, following Carius at about 150 metres, fired two shots in rapid succession, and destroyed the two enemy tanks. This was the first time that Carius had encountered one of the latest JS-1 heavy tanks. The silhouette of the new heavy Russian tank was somewhat similar to that of the Tiger II, and Carius got confused at first but after a little hesitation, ordered his crew to fire at once, and the JS-1 burst into flames. Afterwards they realised that the entire battle was over in about twenty minutes. In such a short time, the two Tigers of Carius and Kerscher had knocked out 17 Russian tanks including the new JS-1. The Russians were taken by surprise and their quick and accurate perception of the situation were the main factors that led the two Tigers to victory. The achievement of Carius and Kerscher at Malinava is on the same level as the famous action of Michael Wittmann at Villers Bocage. He ended the war with a total score of 107.
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 | Major Franz Kieslich
Franz Kieslich born in Bochum ion 12th March 1913 and served with 7./St.G. 77 in France in 1940, and later serving in Yugoslavia. Transferring to the Russian Front he was promoted Gruppenadjutant III./St.G. 77. And in October 1942 became Staffelkapitan 7./St.G. 77. In February 1944 he was promoted Kommandeur III./SG 77. He fought at Stalingrad, Kursk, Kiev and most of the other major engagements on the Eastern Front. In February1945 he became Kommodore erganzungs-SG148. Awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, he flew over 1000 combat missions, and had been shot down twenty times. His wards were awarded Ritterkreuz on 05.01.1943 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän 7./StukaG 77 and ( 619 ). Eichenlaub on 10.10.1944 as Hauptmann and Kommandeur III./StukaG 77.
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 | Heinrich Kohler (deceased)
Served with StuG Abteilungs 322 and 201, achieving 21 victories. He was awarded the Knights Cross on 20th April 1945. Sadly he died on 25th June 2009.
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 | Erwin Kressmann
Oberleutnant, schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 519. Awarded the Knights Cross in 1944.
| 20.10.1936 |
Eintritt als Freiwilliger 1. Kompanie Pz.Abw.Abt, 32 Kolberg/Ostsee Grundausbildung, Fahrausbildung in allen Klassen, Schirmmeistergehilfenausbildung, Werkstattunterweisung, Lehrgange zum Unteroffizier und besondere Waffenausbildung |
Entrance as a volunteer 1st company Pz. Abw. Abt, 32 Kolberg/Baltic Sea reason education, load education in all
classes, screen master assistant education, workshop instruction, courses to the corporal and special weapon education. |
| 01.10.1937 |
Beforderung zum Gefreiten |
Promoted to Gefreiter |
| 01.09.1938 |
Versetung zur 3. Kompanie Pz.Abw.Abt. 12 Schwerin Mecklenburg als Ausbilder |
Transferred to the 3rd Company Pz. Abw. Abt. 12 Schwerins Meklenburg as an instructor. |
| 01.10.1938 |
Beforderung zum Unteroffizier, Ausbilder vorwiegend Kompanietruppfuhrer und Zugfuhrer |
Promoted to Unteroffizier, instructing predominantly Kompanietruppfuhrer and Zugfuhrer. |
| 01.09.1939 |
Polenfeldzug eingesetzt als Kompanietruppfuhrer und Zugfuhrer, ab Oktober 39 Verlegung der PzAbwAbt ins Rheinland, Lehrgang zum Fahrlehrer, anschliessend Fahrlehrerprufung fur alle Klassen 1,2,3, danach Fahrschulausbildung innerhalb der Kompanie |
Used as Kompanietruppfuhrer and Zugfuhrer on the Poland expeditions. Completed 39 missions with Pz. Abw. Abt into the
Rhineland. before completing a driving instructors course in October. Subsequently became Fahrlehrerprufung for all classes,
I, II and III, before load school education. |
| 10.05.1940 |
Westfeldzug Belgien / Niederlande / Frankreich |
West expedition - Belgium, Netherlands and France. |
| 01.06.1940 |
Beforderung zum Feldwebel, gleiche Funktionen wie vorher, Kustenschutz im Raum Cherbourg, Verlegung als Besatzung in den Niederlanden, Leitung der Ortskormmandantur in Boxtel, Lehrgang an der Panzertruppenschule in Wunstorf bei Berlin |
Promoted to Feldwebel, undertaking similar tasks as before. In action near Cherbourg, placed in a garrison in the
Netherlands, and oversaw the Ortskommandantur course at the tank troop school in Wunstorf in Berlin. |
| 01.06.1941 |
Beforderung zum Oberfeldwebel, Verwendung in gleicher Dienststellung wie vorher |
Promoted to Oberfeldwebel. |
| 22.06.1941 |
Russlandfeldzug, eingesetzt im Nordabschnitt Kessel von Demjansk, Ernennung zum Offiziersanwarter |
Russian expedition - used in the north section, Demjansk, appointment to the
Offiziersanwarter. |
| Mai 1942 |
Versetzung zur PzJgAbt. 24 auf der Krim, Krimfeldzug bis zur Einnahme von Sewastopol |
Transferred to Pz. Jg. Abt 24 in the Crimea, for the capture of Sebastopol. |
| 01.06.1942 |
Beforderung zum Leutnant, Zugfuhrer, stellvertr. Kompaniefuhrer |
Promoted to Leutnant. |
| 22.08.1942 |
Verlegung der PzJgAbt. 24 in den Nordabschnitt Russland, Kampf um Leningrad, Mga und Stellungskrieg am Wolchow, Ernennung zum Kompaniefuhrer |
Went with Pz. Jg. Abt. 24 to north Russia, and the fight for Leningrad, Mga, and the strategic battle at the
Wolchow, appointment to the Kompaniefuhrer. |
| 01.01.1943 |
Beforderung zum Oberleutnant, Ernennung zum Kompaniechef 2.Kompanie PzJgAbt. 24 |
Promoted to Oberleutnant. Appointed commander of 2. Kompanie Pz. Jg. Abt 24. |
| Juli 1943 |
Versetung zur Neuaufstellung sPzJgAbt. 519 (Hornisse 8,8), Chef 1. Kompanie in Spremberg/Niederlausitz, Restaufstellung und Ausbildung, Verlegung zum Truppenubungsplatz Oldebroek/Holland |
Transferred to the newly assembled sPzJgAbt 519 (Hornet 8.8), commanding the 1st Kompanie in Spremberg / Niederlausitz.
Subsequently moved to Oldebroek / Holland. |
| November 1943 |
Verlegung der Abteilung 519 im Eiltransport nach Russland, Mittelabschnitt |
Moved with 519 Abt. in fast carrier to the Russian Central Front. |
| 13.12.1943 bis 18.02.1944 |
2 Schlachten um Witebsk bei der 3. Panzerarmee unter Fuhrung von Generaloberst Reinhard und Chef des Stabes General Heitkamper |
Took part in two battles around Witebsk with the 3rd Army under the leadership of Generaloberst Reinhard and Chef des Stabes General Heitkamper |
| 18.02.1944 |
Beforderung zum Hauptmann |
Promoted to Hauptmann. |
| 22.06.1944 |
3. Schlacht / Ruckzugsschlacht der 3. Panzerarmee bis zur ehemaligen Grenze Polens, Fastzerschlagung der sPzJgAbt. 519 |
3rd battle for the 3rd Army near the former border of Poland, almost leading to the destruction of 519 Abteilung. |
| Aug/Sept. 1944 |
Neuaufstellung der sPzJgAbt. 519 in Milau / Truppenubungsplatz, Umrustung auf Jagdpanther, Abteilungsstab 3 Jagdpanther, 4 Schutzenpanzerwagen, 6 gepanzerte Flugabwehrgeschutze, Versorungskompanie, Werkstattkompanie, Panzerbergezug und 3 18t Zugmaschinen,
1. Kompanie 14 Jagdpanther (8,8)
2. Kompanie 14 Sturmgeschutze III (7,5)
3. Kompanie 14 Sturmgeschutze III (7,5) |
519 sPzJgAbt is reformed at Milau with new vehicles, including - 1st Kompanie : 14 Jagdpanthers (8.8), 2nd Kompanie : 14
Sturmgeschutz III (7.5) and 3rd Kompanie : 14 Sturmgeschutz III (7.5). |
| Anfang Okt. 1944 |
Verlegung an die Westfront, Einsatz im Raum Aachen, Wurselen, Hurtgenwald, Julich, Stolberg, Teilnahme an der Ardennenoffensive im Rahmen der VI. SS-Panzerarmee, weiterer Einsatz um Niedeggen, Inden und Pattern, zwischenzeitlich Kommandeur der Abteilung bis zurn Eintreffen des neuen Kommandeurs Major Rosenthal |
Transferred to the Western Front, in action near Aachen, Wurselen, Hurtgenwald, Julich and Stolberg. Took part in the
Ardennes Offensive with the VI SS-Panzerarmee. In action again around Niedeggen, Inden and Pattern, commanding 519 Abteilung
until the arrival of the new Kommandeurs Major Rosenthal. |
| 15.02.1945 |
Tapferkeitsurlaub nach Verleihung des Ritterkreuzes (09.12.1944), in der Zeit bei dem Besuch der PzJg Ersatzabt. 43 Eingriff des Festungskommandanten von Spremberg, mit sofortiger Wirkung an die Ostfront kommandiert in den Kampfraurn Kustrin, Frankfurt / Oder, hier Verwendung in der Division des General Nickel als Kommandeur einer PzJgAbt. und PzJg Sperrbrigade, wenn ich nicht irre handelte es sich urn die PzJgAbt. 342 |
Went on a courage vacation after being awarded the Knight's Cross on 9th December 1944. Served in the division of General Nickel as
a Kommandeur of a PzJgAbt and PzJg Barrier Brigade. |
| Anfang Mai 1945 |
Nach Zerstorung zweier Sowjetkampfwagen durch T-Minen, schwere Verwundung am Bein durch konzentrierten, starken eschuss durch Granatwerfereinsatz der Sowjets, danach auf abenteuerliche Weise bis zur Elbe durchgeschlagen.Nach langerem Aufenthalt am Elbufer durch ein Sturmboot der Amerikaner abgeholt und in Gefangenschaft genommen. Von hieraus in ein deutsches Lazarett uberfurt. Kurz vor Ubernahme des Lazaretts durch die Russen Flucht in das Reservelazarett in Helmstedt |
After destroying two Soviet tanks using T-mines, Erwin Kressmann was wounded in the leg from concentrated heavy fire of
Russian grenade launchers. Afterwards, he made an eventful passage to the Elbe, where after a long stay he was captured by
an American warship. From here he was taken to a German infirmary, from where he was flown by the Russians to the reserve
infirmary at Helmstedt. |
| Feb. 1946 |
Entlassung aus der Kriegsgefangenschaft |
Released from war captivity. |
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 | Norbert Kujacinski (deceased)
Born 11th July 1920 in Berlin. Called up to the army in August 1939, he served in the Fench campaign before joining the 23rd Panzer Division on the eastern front. Fighting in the southern area of the eastern front, his unit avoided involvement at Stalingrad, but was used to relieve the forces involved there. His unit had just 20 tanks left by January 1943 - Kujacinski himself had earned the Iron Cross I and II. The rest of the year saw the unit re-equip before fighting at Dnieper towards the end of 1943. At this time, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. The panzer division broke out of the fighting at Dnieper, reduced by losses to a Kampfgruppe instead of a Division. Towards the latter part of 1944, the unit had considerable success against the Russians in Poland and Hungary - during the attack on Nyiregyhaza in 7 days in October 1944, 600 Russian armoured vehicles were destroyed or captured. It was for his part in this success that Kujacinski was awarded the Knights Cross on 18th November 1944. His unit were still actively fighting in Austria by the time the war ended, and he was taken into US captivity until July 1945. He rejoined the army after the war and retired as an Oberstleutnant. He died on 2nd May 2009.
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 | Major Heinz Lange (deceased)
At the outbreak of war Heinz Lange was with I./JG21 scoring his first victory in October 1939. He flew 76 missions in the Battle of Britain with 8./JG54, and never lost a wingman. After flying in the Balkan campaign he took part in the invasion of Russia, scoring 7 victories during the first week. In October 1941 he was given command of 1./JG54 and in 1942 command of 3./JG51. In January 1944 Heinz Lange returned to JG54 to command 1.Gruppe and then back to JG51 where he was appointed Kommodore of JG51 Molders, leading IV./JG51 at the same time. Heinz Lange flew over 628 missions and achieved 70 victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross. Born 2nd October 1917, died 26th February 2006.
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Heinz Lange signing the print - Fighter General - by Graeme Lothian |
Heinz Lange with a model of his favourite aircraft. |
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 | Oberfeldwebel Heinz Marquardt (deceased)
In late 1941 Heinz Marquardt was with a training squadron south of Paris. In August 1943 he was posted to join IV./JG51 in Russia, achieving his first victory two months later. Shot down eight times, he once achieved twelve victories in a single day. Awarded the Knight's Cross in November 1944, he flew a total of 320 missions, and scored 121 victories. Sadly, Heinz Marquardt died 19th December 2003, aged 80.
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Heinz Marquardt signing the print - Fighter General - by Graeme Lothian |
Heinz Marquardt showing his war medals. |
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Hermann Neuhoff
Knights Cross winning pilot with a tally of 40 victories in over 450 missions.
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 | Leutnant Wilhelm Noller
Wilhelm Noller joined the Luftwaffe in 1939 and trained as a bomber pilot. In May 1942 he was posted to join 2./StG 2 fighting on the Eastern Front. He took part in the battles of Kursk and Stalingrad, and became one of the most successful pilots of StG 2. By early 1943 his combat mission total passed the 500 mark, rising to over 800 by the end of the year. He was awarded the Knights Cross in April 1944, a few weeks after passing the 1000 mission mark. After a period instructing, he returned to combat in February 1945, flying the Fw190 with 7./SG 10 in Czechoslovakia. Wounded in April 1945, and hospitalised in Prague, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets when they took over the city in May. Transported east by rail towards Russia, he jumped from the moving train and escaped back to Germany. During the war he had flown 1058 missions, destroyed 86 tanks, 2 armoured trains, plus many vehicles, boats and bridges. He also gained 2 victories in aerial combat.
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 | General Gunther Rall (deceased)
A young pilot with III/JG52 at the outbreak of war. He quickly demonstrated his natural ability and leadership qualities, scoring his first air victory early in the Battle of Britain, and by July 1940 was leading 8/JG52. After transfer to the Eastern Front his air victories mounted at an astonishing rate. A crash hospitalised him but within nine months he was back in the cockpit, and, when commanding III/JG52, gained the Wings 500th victory. Gunther fought throughout the war to become the 3rd highest Ace in history with 275 victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.
Gunther Rall was born on March 10, 1918 in the small Bavarian town of Gaggenau, Baden. Immersing himself in Boy Scout activities during the difficult economic times in Germany following WW 1, Rall finished school in 1936 and joined the German Army. Influenced by a friend, who was a young officer in the Luftwaffe, Rall entered pilot's school in 1938. His initial posting was with JG52. He attained his first aerial victory during the Battle of France in May of 1940. During the Battle of Britain JG52 absorbed many casualties, and Rall was promoted to Squadron Commander at the young age of 22. With his fair-hair and smooth complexion the young officer looked even younger than his years. But behind this pleasant exterior was a fierce competitor with the heart of a tiger. Later, Rall's squadron would support the attack on Crete, followed by deployment to the Southern Sector on the Eastern Front. Rall's victory totals began to mount. Following his 37 th victory, GiInther was himself shot down. He was lucky to survive the crash, but with a badly broken back he would spend most of the next year in various hospitals. In Vienna at the University Hospital he would meet his future wife, Hertha. Miraculously, Rall recovered and returned to the Luftwaffe in August of 1942. By November his score exceeded 100 and he was awarded the Oak Leaves to accompany the Knight's Cross he was awarded only weeks earlier. As the War progressed against Russia, Rall began to encounter ever more experienced Soviet pilots flying better performing aircraft. Despite this fact, and being shot down several more times himself, Rall's victory tally kept rising. By March of 1944 the ace had attained 273 aerial victories. With the War now going badly for Germany, Rall was transferred to the Western Front. He was able to attain only two more victories against the swarms of Allied bombers and fighter escorts which now pounded Germany every day and night. In May of 1944 Rall was shot down by a P-47. Losing his thumb in the battle he remained out of combat until later in 1944. Rall's final assignments included flying 190Ds as Kornmodore of JG300, and flying the Me-262 jet. Rall's 275 aerial victories (attained on less than 700 combat sorties) make him the third highest scoring ace of all time. If not for the down time suffered as a result of his broken back, Rall might have actually equaled or exceeded Erich Hartmann's alltime record of 352 aerial victories. Rall was not much for socializing during the War. He was a fierce competitor with a businessman's attitude about flying. He was an excellent marksman, and possibly the best deflection shot expert of the War. He continued to fly with the Bundeslufwaffe following the War, serving as its Commander-In Chief in 1970-74. Sadly Gunther Rall died on 4th October 2009.
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Gunther Rall signing the print - Eagles Over the Steppes - by Graeme Lothian. |
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 | Paule Rossmann (deceased)
One of the most respected leaders in JG52, 'Paule' flew in the Battle of Britain before transferring to Russia. Hartmann began as Rossmann's wingman. In July 1943 he landed behind enemy lines in an attempt to rescue a fellow pilot but was captured by the Russians. He had scored 93 victories, and been awarded the Knight's Cross. Died 4th April 2004.
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 | Major Erich Rudorffer
Erich Rudorffer was born on November 1st 1917 in the town of Zwickau in Saxony. Erich Rudorffer joined the Luftwaffes I./JG2 Richthofen in November 1939, and was soon flying combat patrols in January 1940 and was assigned to I/JG 2 'Richthofen' with the rank of Oberfeldwebel. He took part in the Battle of France, scoring the first of his many victories over a French Hawk 75 on May 14th, 1940. He went on to score eight additional victories during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. Rudorffer recalled an incident in August 1940 when he escorted a badly damaged Hurricane across the Channel - ditching in the English Channel was greatly feared by pilots on both sides. As fate often does, Rudorffer found the roles reversed two weeks later, when he was escorted by an RAF fighter after receiving battle damage. By May 1st 1941 Rudorffer had achieved 19 victories, which led to the award of the Knights Cross. In June 1941 Rodorffer became an Adjutant of II./JG2. In 1942 Rudorffer participated in Operation Cerberus (known as the Channel Dash) and flew over the Allied landings at Dieppe. Erich Rudorffer along with JG2 was transferred to North Africa in December 1942. It was in North Africa that Rudorffer showed his propensity for multiple-victory sorties. He shot down eight British aircraft in 32 minutes on February 9th 1943 and seven more in 20 minutes six days later. After scoring a total of 26 victories in Tunisia, Rudorffer returned to France in April 1943 and was posted to command II./JG54 in Russia, after Hauptmann Heinrich Jung, its Kommodore, failed to return from a mission on July 30th 1943. On August 24th 1943 he shot down 5 Russian aircraft on the first mission of the day and followed that up with three more victories on the second mission. He scored seven victories in seven minutes on October 11th but his finest achievement occurred on November 6th when in the course of 17 minutes, he shot down thirteen Russian aircraft. Rudorffer became known to Russian pilots as the fighter of Libau. On October 28th 1944 while about to land, Rudorffer spotted a large formation of Il-2 Sturmoviks. He quickly aborted the landing and moved to engage the Russian aircraft. In under ten minutes, nine of the of the II-2 Sturmoviks were shot down causing the rest to disperse. Rudorffer would later that day go on and shoot down a further two Russian aircraft. These victories took his total to 113 and he was awarded the Oak Leaves on April 11th 1944. Rudorffer would on the 26th January 1945 on his 210th victory receive the addition of the Swords. In February 1945 Rudorffer took command of I./JG7 flying the Me262. He was one of the first jet fighter aces of the war, scoring 12 victories in the Me262. He shot down ten 4-engine bombers during the Defense of the Reich missions. He was the master of multiple scoring - achieving more multiple victories than any other pilot. Erich Rudorffer never took leave, was shot down 16 times having to bail out 9 times, and ended the war with 222 victories from over 1000 missions. He was awarded the Knight's Cross, with Oak Leaves and Swords.
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Erich Rudorffer signing the print - Fighter General - by Graeme Lothian |
Erich Rudorffer with artist Graeme Lothian and the original painting of Fighter General. |
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 | Oberleutnant Walter Schuck
Initially with JG3, Walter Schuck was posted north to 7./JG5 in April 1942. On 15 June 1944 he chalked up his 100th victory during a day when he shot down 6 aircraft. Two days later he had his most successful day, achieving 12 victories in twenty-four hours, a feat never surpassed in JG5. On 1 August, he assumed command of 10./JG5. Walter Schuck transferred to fly the Me262 as Staffelkapitan of 3./JG7, and achieved 8 further victories flying the new jet. His final tally was 206 air victories. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.
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 | Oberleutnant Franz Woidich (deceased)
Franz Woidich was posted to North Africa to join II./JG27 in July 1941. In April 1942 he transferred to 3./JG52 in Russia. In August 1944 he was selected as one of a group of elite fighter pilots for training on the Me163 Komet, and joined Erganzunstaffel 400 at Gutenfeld, near Breslau. A month later he joined II./JG400 as Staffelkapitan. Franz Woidich served with JG400 until the end of the war. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in June 1944, flew over 1000 combat missions and achieved 110 victories.Franz Woidich passed away on 5th July 2004.
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 | Walter Wolfrum
Walter Wolfrum first saw combat in the Crimea with 5/JG52. He was shot down three times, and wounded twice before scoring his first victory. With his score at 70 he was again wounded, but returned to take command of 1/JG52 in May 1944, taking part in the fiercely fought defence of the Ploesti oilfields. he was again wounded, but returned to command 1/JG52 until the end of the war. he had flown 423 missions, achieved 137 victories, and was awarded the Knight's Cross.
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Walter Wolfrum signs the print - Eagles Over the Steppes - by Graeme Lothian. |
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