Rudolf Klemm

Rudolf Klemm
Born 10 February 1918
Haltingen
Died 5 July 1989 (aged 71)
Germany
Allegiance  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

World War II

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

Notes

  1. According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän in the IV./Jagdgeschwader 54.[2]

References

Citations
  1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 259.
  2. Scherzer 2007, p. 448.
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