Rudorffer scored the first of many victories over a french hawk 75 on may 14, 1940. Erich rudorffer was born on november 1, 1917, in the town of zwickau in saxony. Rudorffer claimed a total of 222 victories, fighting in all the major german theaters of war, including the european and mediterranean theatre of. By the wars end, erich rudorffer had flown more than sorties, scored 224 victories and was the seventhhighest ace in the history of aerial combat receive your print fully framed and ready to display. Apr 08, 2016 major erich rudorffer 1 november 1917 8 april 2016 was a german luftwaffe fighter ace, one of a handful who served with the luftwaffe through the whole of world war ii. Rudorffer alone shot down eleven bombers, the last of which marked his 206 th victory. Are the tales of wwii ace erich hartmann exaggerated or was. The fading sun makes rudorffer s focke wulf glimmer in golden colors over the icebound. Erich rudorffer, kc with oak leaves and swords having initiated my training as a commercial pilot, i was conscripted into the luftwaffe in 1938 to fly fighters. Of all the fighter aces in history, the first name who usually comes to mind is the red baron and erich bubi hartmann. It is about erich rudorffer and his multiple claims on 09. He drove off the attackers, shooting down nine enemy aircraft within 10 minutes.
Among those aerial victories in courland that had been reported yesterday are eleven aircraft shot down by the recipient of the oak leaves to the knights cross of the iron cross major rudorffer bringing his total to 206 aerial victories. He recorded his first victory, a french curtiss hawk 75 fighter, on 14 may 1940. Published over 30 years ago by the military gallery, this historic limited edition album contains a remarkable collection of profiles of legendary luftwaffe aces of wwii, some of the greatest names in the history of combat aviation. Erich fromm has 251 books on goodreads with 34172 ratings. During his first sortie on 24 august 1943, 5 soviet aircraft were downed in 4 minutes. Top 10 german luftwaffe aces of wwii war history online. Editions sold out on this page may still be available at uk. This training included flying the fw 44 stieglitz, heinkel kadett, bucker jungmann and jungmeister and the ju 52. Rudorffer scored 222 victories, fighting in all the major german theaters of war, including the european and mediterranean theater of operations and the eastern front. Erich rudorffer, a 222 victory ace, and otto kittel, a 267 victory ace, and walter nowotny, a 258 victory ace were the highest scoring fw 190 aces in the luftwaffe. This is not a forum for general discussion of the articles subject put new text under old text. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the erich rudorffer article. This book will be heavy with first person content from the luftwaffes four engine heavy bomber killers, experts at bringing down the b17 flying fortresses, b24 liberators and avro lancaster bombers, from both the day and night fighter forces.
Constructed of silver marked 900 for silver content, as well as the standard crescent moon and crown hallmark also maker marked p. Major erich rudorffer 1 november 1917 8 april 2016. He was the 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare, with 222 victories claimed. On 11 october 1943 erich rudorffer wrote history when during 17 minutes he was victorious times. Major erich rudorffer scored 222 kills and had 12 in the jet, and he shot down 10 heavy bombers.
Men like helmut wick, walter oesau the 3rd fighter pilot in history to score 100. Erich rudorffer ww2 german fighter pilot acepilots. New addition to both the military and history book clubs. Erich rudorffer achieved 224 victories in over operational sorties. Erich fromm, what motivates so many believers, regardless of religious affiliation, is the image of the divine, an image that many believers try to emulate e. He has written several aces volumes, and two books on the ju 87 in the companion series combat aircraft. He flew the bf 109 in the battle of britain in late 1940. Therefore those two are top in our best fighter pilots in history ranking. Erich alfred hartmann 19 april 1922 20 september 1993, nicknamed bubi by his comrades and the black devil by his soviet adversaries, was a german fighter pilot during world war ii and is the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. He had a total of 222 victories, fighting in all the major german theaters of war, including eto, mto and the eastern front. During the war he flew more than combat missions, was engaged in aerial combat over 300 times, was shot down by flak and enemy fighters 16 times and had to take to bail out. Erich rudorffer was born on 1 november 1917 at zwochau, near leipzig, in saxony.
Rudorffer fought in all the major german theaters of war, including the european and mediterranean theater of. Nowotny claimed most of his successes in the fw 190. He is the 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare and, since 2014, both the oldest jet fighter ace and the most successful ace still living, as well as the only living fighter pilot with more than 100. I also thought it unfair that men like rall, barkhorn, kittel, baer and rudorffer. Bundesarchiv bild 101i727029709a, russland, erich rudorffer, ju 87. Erich rudorffer and 1 related entities entities finder. This book will be heavy with first person content from the luftwaffes four engine. Erich rudorffer military wiki fandom military wikia. By the wars end, erich rudorffer had flown more than sorties, scored 224 victories and was the seventhhighest ace in the history of aerial combat. In the winter of 1944, major rudorffer was trained on the messerschmitt me 262 jet fighter. He is the 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare and, as of 2014, both the oldest jet. The seventh highest scoring fighter pilot of all times, erich rudorffer 1 november 1917 8 april 2016, scored 222 victories, flying over combat missions in all major german theaters of war. The art print erich rudorffer tribute by aviation artist nicolas trudgian offers the unique opportunity in the history of aviation art to acquire an original aerial victory confirmation from erich rudorffer s personal property together with the art print.
H e flew over 1,000 missions, with 222 aerial victories, and was shot down 16 times, including 9 bailouts. Major erich rudorffer 1 november 1917 8 april 2016 was a german luftwaffe fighter ace, one. A commemorative ring belonging to high scoring ace, erich rudorffer. Famed for its speed and maneuverability some of the luftwaffes most successful fighter aces from otto kittel to erich rudorffer claimed a great many of their kills while flying it. Each one of the fighter aces included personally wrote their own profile and has then autographed each copy. Erich rudorffer project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Weal has shown that he has a comprehensive grasp of the luftwaffe organizational networks and. Apr 08, 2016 media in category erich rudorffer the following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. Gerhard schopfel hajo herrmann erich rudorffer 4 bomber kills 9 bomber kills at. The most successful of all fighter pilots of the world, hartmann scored 352 confirmed. This addition to the luftwaffe at war series illustrates the different versions of the plane to see service, the theaters in which the plane served and.
Oct 20, 2012 arguably the finest profile artist in the business, john weals love of german aircraft makes his work a treat for students of the subject. Pilot major erich rudorffer 222 kills 12 kills with the me 262 rudorffer went down in history when he claimed kills in 17 minutes,no other pilot in history has as many multiple air to air victories as rudorffer. Erich kastner, german satirist, poet, and novelist who is especially known for his childrens books. While preparing to land he spotted a soviet task force of about 60 close air support aircraft on its way to attack libau airfields. He is the 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare, and currently both the oldest jet fighter ace, and the most successful ace still living. Not exagerated, this is a historical fact accepted by authors from both sides, for instance col. In his last formal interview, erich hartmann discussed specific facts that he. Each limited edition print, except the canvas giclee, is accompanied by a companion pencil print stormbird over berlin portraying erich rudorffer.
Erich rudorffer 1 november 1917 8 april 2016 was a german luftwaffe fighter ace who was one of a handful who served with the luftwaffe through the whole of world war ii. Erich rudorffer academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. Erich rudorffer was a german luftwaffe fighter ace who was one of a handful who. If you are not familiar with the best fighter pilot ever you best start with this video. He is 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare and the most successful ace still living. He is the 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare and, as of 2014, both the oldest jet fighter ace and the most successful ace still living. Ama request erich rudorffer, the greatest living fighter. On 11 october 1943 erich rudorffer wrote history when during 17 minutes he claimed kills. He flew 1,404 combat missions and participated in aerial combat on 825 separate occasions. He joined the luftwaffe in january 1940 and was assigned to ijg 2 richthofen with the rank of oberfeldwebel. Major erich rudorffer born 1 november 1917 is a german former luftwaffe fighter ace, one of a handful who served with the luftwaffe through the whole of world war ii.
See his story, along with komet pilot rolf glogner, and historians barrett. Erich fromms most popular book is the art of loving. A few minutes ago, i finished reading this book and given its scope, found it to be a firstclass treatment of jagdgeschwader 2 richthofen. He was the 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare, with. Resulting in many bad books, written gladly with a strong rightist. He is the 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare. May 29, 2010 rudorffer scored 222 victories, fighting in all the major german theaters of war, including the european and mediterranean theater of operations and the eastern front. Erich rudorffer public figure, local business facebook. The making of a luftwaffe fighter pilot, by mike spick, greenhill books, london, 2006.
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