Rudolf Klemm
| Rudolf Klemm | |
|---|---|
| Born |
10 February 1918 Haltingen |
| Died |
5 July 1989 (aged 71) Germany |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1937–45 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit |
JG 54 JG 26 |
| Commands held |
III./JG 54 IV./JG 26 |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Rudolf Klemm (10 February 1918 – 5 July 1989) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career he was credited with 42 aerial victories in 293 missions. Klemm's plane was shot down 4 times and he saved his life twice by parachuting and twice with an emergency landing.
After the war Klemm was an instructor in his own flying school for small aircraft based on the airport of Basel-Mulhouse until his plane crashed mysteriously, when he was on training with a trainee pilot.
Awards
- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (22 February 1943)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Wound Badge (1939)
- in Black
- in Silver
- German Cross in Gold (24 February 1944)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 November 1944 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän in the 10./Jagdgeschwader 54[1][Note 1]
Notes
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1941 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Oberleutnant Rudolf Patzak |
Acting Commander of III. Jagdgeschwader 54 February 1944–March 1944 |
Succeeded by Hauptmann Rudolf Sinner |
| Preceded by Oberleutnant Wilhelm Heilmann |
Commander of III. Jagdgeschwader 54 January 1945–February 1945 |
Succeeded by Absorbed into IV. JG 26 |
| Preceded by Previously III. JG 54 |
Commander of IV. Jagdgeschwader 26 25 February 1945–April 1945 |
Succeeded by None |
