Udo Cordes
| Udo Cordes | |
|---|---|
| Born |
22 July 1921 Dortmund |
| Died |
7 March 2007 (aged 85) Dortmund |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe.svg.png){kind=small} German Air Force |
| Years of service | ?–1945 |
| Rank |
Oberleutnant (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant of the Reserves (Bundeswehr) |
| Unit |
KG 3 SG 2 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Udo Cordes (22 July 1921 – 7 March 2007) was a highly decorated Oberleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and a 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.
Cordes was a member of 9 Eisenbahnstaffeln (Train-hunting Squadron), under the command of Kampfgeschwader 3. Aufkälrungsgruppe 100 (Long-range reconnaissance) located the targets for the staffel. Small groups, even single crews, then took off on a strike mission to destroy the train. Cordes' tactics enabled him to destroy 41 locomotives and 19 Armoured trains in only three weeks of action. Along with Herbert Roewer and Ernst Fach, Cordes was among the most successful train-buster pilots of the war.[1]
Awards and decorations
- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- in Bronze
- in Silver
- in Gold
- in Gold with Pennant
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (22 August 1942)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold on 7 November 1942 as Leutnant in the 4./Kampfgeschwader 3[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 June 1943 as Leutnant and pilot in the 9.(Eis)/Kampfgeschwader 3 "Lützow"[3]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. 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.
- 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.