Erich Rudorffer
Major

Erich Rudorffer

      Erich Rudorffer was born on 1 November 1917 at Zwochau, near Leipzig, in Saxony. Rudorffer was posted to JG 2 on 1 November 1939. Feldwebel Rudorffer was assigned to 2./JG 2. He recorded his first victory, a French Curtiss Hawk 75 fighter, on 14 May 1940. He went on to score eight additional victories during the Battle of France. By 1 May 1941, Leutnant Rudorffer had achieved 19 victories, which led to the award of the Ritterkreuz. During the British “Non-Stop Offensive” of 1941, Rudorffer recorded 21 victories, including his 40th on 8 December. Rudorffer was particularly successful over the Allied landings at Dieppe on 19 August 1942 when he shot down two Spitfire fighters, his 44th and 45th victory. On 11 November, Rudorffer was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 2. He led the unit when II./JG 2 was transferred to Tunisia. He shot down eight British aircraft in 32 minutes on 9 February 1943 to record his 54th through 61st victories, and seven more in 20 minutes six days later (63-69). Following the hospitalisation of Hauptmann Adolf Dickfeld (136 victories, RK-EL) with injuries received in a landing accident, Oberleutnant Rudorffer assumed temporary command of II./JG 2. After scoring a total of 27 victories in Tunisia, Rudorffer returned to the Channel Front in April 1943. In May 1943, Hauptmann Rudorffer was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 2. He recorded two further victories, his 73rd and 74th, before parting company with JG 2.

Fw 190A-6 <<1, of Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer, Gruppenkommandeur II./JG 54, Immola, June 1944.
Fw 190A-6 "<<1", of Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer, Gruppenkommandeur II./JG 54, Immola, June 1944.

    Rudorffer was given the task of forming IV./JG 54 near Königsberg in June 1943. However, Rudorffer was transferred to the Eastern Front to assume command of II./JG 54 after its Kommandeur, Hauptmann Heinrich Jung (68 victories, RK) failed to return from a mission on 30 July 1943. Once on the Eastern Front, Rudorffer's really successful days again. On 24 August 1943, he shot down five Russian aircraft on the first mission of the day and followed that up with three more victories on a second mission. On 14 September he claimed five victories (91–95).  He scored seven victories in seven minutes on 11 October, including his 100th, but his finest achievement occurred on 6 November when in the course of 17 minutes, 13 Russian aircraft fell to his guns! Only another Grünherzflieger, Emil “Bully” Lang (173 victories, RK-EL, killed in action 3 September 1944) and Hans-Joachim Marseille (158 victories, RK-Br, killed in action 30 September 1942) were to rival Rudorffer's feat. On 7 April 1944, Rudorffer shot down six enemy aircraft 129–134). Major Rudorffer was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 447) on 11 April 1944 for 134 victories. Following a spell of leave, Rudorffer returned to combat duty to claim five victories on 3 July, six on 26 July, including his 150th victory, five on 25 August (168-172), six on 25 September (182-187), seven on 10 October (188-194) and 11 on 28 October. For his exploits, he received the Schwertern (Nr 126) for his 212th victory on 26 January 1945. On 15 January 1945, Major Rudorffer was placed in command of the Me262 jet fighter equipped I./JG 7. He became one of the first jet fighter aces in the world by scoring 12 victories, including 10 four-engined bombers, in the jet. Erich Rudorffer survived the war and continued his aviation career as a member of the Bundesluftwaffe.
    Erich Rudorffer scored a total of 224 victories, placing him 7th on the all time list. This score did not come without a cost: Rudorffer flew over 1,000 missions, entering combat on 302 occasions, was shot down 16 times, and baled out 9 times! Of note are the 58 Il-2 Sturmoviks included in his 138 Eastern Front victories (all while flying the Fw 190) and the 10 four-engined bombers shot down in Reichsverteidigung missions.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location / Comments
1.
14.5.1940
15:08
 Hawk 75 2./JG 2 Sedan-Bouillon-Charleville
2.
17.5.1940
13:28
 LeO 45 2./JG 2 La Capelle-en-Thiérache
3.
19.5.1940
12:30
 Morane 406 2./JG 2 E Guise
4.
25.5.1940
20:35
 Blenheim 2./JG 2  
5.
26.5.1940
9:47
 Spitfire 2./JG 2 Calais-Dunkirk
6.
26.5.1940
9:50~
 Spitfire 2./JG 2 Calais-Dunkirk
7.
6.6.1940
13:10
 Hawk 75 2./JG 2 Soissons
8.
6.6.1940
20:15
 LeO 451 2./JG 2 Roye
9.
6.6.1940
20:45
 Martin MB-7 2./JG 2 Roye
10.
11.8.1940
11:38
 Hurricane 2./JG 2 E Weymouth
11.
11.8.1940
16:30
 Spitfire 2./JG 2 Portland
12.
31.8.1940
9:40
 Hurricane 2./JG 2 Dover
13.
1.9.1940
12:45
 Spitfire 2./JG 2 Dover
14.
2.9.1940
18:20
 Hurricane 2./JG 2 Faversham
15.
4.9.1940
9:58
 Hurricane 2./JG 2 Dover
16.
1940
-
 E/a 2./JG 2  
17.
1940
-
 E/a 2./JG 2  
18.
1940
-
 E/a 2./JG 2  
19.
21.4.1941
15:03
 Blenheim 2./JG 2 50 km S Jersey
20.
7.7.1941
15:35
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
21.
7.7.1941
15:40
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
22.
9.7.1941
13:40
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
23.
9.7.1941
13:45
 Hurricane 6./JG 2  
24.
10.7.1941
12:20
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
25.
11.7.1941
15:00
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
26.
19.7.1941
14:25
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
27.
23.7.1941
13:18
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 Foret d’Eperlecques
28.
5.8.1941
10:05
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 North Gravelines
29.
5.8.1941
19:05
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 Dunkirk
30.
10.8.1941
14:15
 Hurricane 6./JG 2  
31.
19.8.1941
11:59
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
32.
19.8.1941
12:06
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
33.
19.8.1941
12:15
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
34.
21.8.1941
15:10
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
35.
20.9.1941
16:55
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
36.
21.9.1941
16:50
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 Dover Straits
37.
21.9.1941
16:52~
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 Dover Straits
38.
21.9.1941
17:05
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 Dover Straits
39.
27.9.1941
15:40
 Spitfire 6./JG 2  
40.
8.12.1941
12:55
 Hurricane 6./JG 2 W Boulogne
41.
3.6.1942
16:31
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 near Le Havre
42.
3.6.1942
16:31
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 near Le Havre
43.
5.6.1942
15:35
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 near Le Havre
44.
19.8.1942
16:52
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 Dieppe area
45.
19.8.1942
16:53
 Spitfire 6./JG2 Dieppe area
46.
18.12.1942
11:05
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 8km W Mateur: 4500 m / Spitfire Vc of 72 Sqn RAF flown by W/O HW Charnock (8/1/0 victories), crash-landed, wounded
47.
20.12.1942
16:40
 Spitfire 6./JG 2 5km S Béja: 300 m
48.
8.1.1943
10:41
 Boston 6./JG 2 10 km S Pribon: 200 m / A-20
49.
8.1.1943
15:35
 P-38 6./JG 2 50 km SW Kairouan: 100 m / P-38 of 48 FS, 14 FG, USAAF
50.
8.1.1943
15:40
 Mustang 6./JG 2 55 km SW Kairouan: tiefflug
51.
18.1.1943
8:15
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 2 km SW Godara-Mündung: 50 m / Spitfire Vb of 232 Sqn RAF flown by Sqn Ldr AL Winskill (4.833/1/1 victories)
52.
4.2.1943
16:19
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 5 km SW Ousseltia: 1500 m / Spitfire of 52 FG, USAAF
53.
4.2.1943
16:22
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 4 km S Kef el Abied: 1000 m / Spitfire of 52 FG, USAAF
54.
9.2.1943
13:59
 P-40 Stab II./JG 2 5 km SE Djebel Ousseltia: 1500 m
55.
9.2.1943
14:00
 P-40 Stab II./JG 2 S Djebel Ousseltia: 500 m
56.
9.2.1943
14:01
 P-40 Stab II./JG 2 Djebel Ousseltia: 200 m
57.
9.2.1943
14:02
 P-40 Stab II./JG 2 12 km NW Pribon: 200 m
58.
9.2.1943
14:04
 P-40 Stab II./JG 2 10 km SE Kerra: 300 m
59.
9.2.1943
14:06
 P-40 Stab II./JG 2 15 km SE Kerra: tiefflug
60.
9.2.1943
14:21
 P-38 Stab II./JG 2 5 km E Djebel Barbraü: 6000 m
61.
9.2.1943
14:22
 P-38 Stab II./JG 2 5 km W Djebel Barbraü: 6000 m
62.
14.2.1943
16:18
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 10 km W Pribon: 100 m / Spitfire V of 31 FG, USAAF
63.
15.2.1943
15:03
 P-38 Stab II./JG 2 10 km NW Hadjel El Aictu: 5000 m
64.
15.2.1943
15:07
 P-38 Stab II./JG 2 10 km SO Sbeitla: 5000 m
65.
15.2.1943
15:08
 P-38 Stab II./JG 2 8 km NE Sbeitla: 5200 m
66.
15.2.1943
15:15
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 N Djebel El Abeid: 200 m
67.
15.2.1943
15:16
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 N Djebel El Abeid: 200 m
68.
15.2.1943
15:18
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 N Djebel El Abeid: 300 m
69.
15.2.1943
15:58
 P-38 Stab II./JG 2 15 km NW Pribon: 5500 m
70.
11.3.1943
13:12
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 Ousseltia at 20 m / Spitfire of 52 FG, USAAF
71.
11.3.1943
13:13
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 Ousseltia at 20 m / Spitfire of 52 FG, USAAF
72.
12.3.1943
-
 B-17 Stab II./JG 2 near Sousse
73.
15.5.1943
17:00
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 Senarpont
74.
15.5.1943
17:10
 Spitfire Stab II./JG 2 Senarpont
75.
7.8.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
76.-80.
VIII.1943
-
 5 victories Stab II./JG 54  
81.
24.8.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
82.
24.8.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
83.
24.8.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
84.
24.8.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
85.
24.8.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
86.
24.8.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
87.
24.8.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
88.
24.8.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
89.
1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
90.
1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
91.
14.9.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
92.
14.9.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
93.
14.9.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
94.
14.9.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
95.
14.9.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
96.
1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
97.
1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
98.
11.10.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
99.
11.10.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
100.
11.10.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
101.
11.10.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
102.
11.10.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
103.
11.10.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
104.
11.10.1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
105.
1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
106.
1943
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
107.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-7 Stab II./JG 54  
108.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-7 Stab II./JG 54  
109.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-7 Stab II./JG 54  
110.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-7 Stab II./JG 54  
111.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-7 Stab II./JG 54  
112.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-7 Stab II./JG 54  
113.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-9 Stab II./JG 54  
114.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-9 Stab II./JG 54  
115.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-9 Stab II./JG 54  
116.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-9 Stab II./JG 54  
117.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-9 Stab II./JG 54  
118.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-9 Stab II./JG 54  
119.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-9 Stab II./JG 54  
120.
6.11.1943
-
 Yak-9 Stab II./JG 54  
?
11.2.1944
14:30
 Yak-7 Stab II./JG 54  
121.-128.
?
-
 7 victories Stab II./JG 54  
129.
7.4.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
130.
7.4.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
131.
7.4.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
132.
7.4.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
133.
7.4.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
134.
7.4.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
?
1944
-
 10 victories Stab II./JG 54  
?
3.7.1944
7:06
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54 Immola / Leningrad Front 
?
3.7.1944
7:07
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54 Immola / Leningrad Front 
?
3.7.1944
7:08
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54 Immola / Leningrad Front 
?
3.7.1944
7:09
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54 Immola / Leningrad Front 
?
3.7.1944
7:10
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54 Immola / Leningrad Front 
150.
26.7.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
151.
26.7.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
152.
26.7.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
153.
26.7.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
154.
26.7.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
155.
26.7.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
156.-167.
1944
-
 12 victories Stab II./JG 54  
168.
25.8.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
169.
25.8.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
170.
25.8.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
171.
25.8.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
172.
25.8.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
173.-181.
1944
-
 9 victories Stab II./JG 54  
182.
25.9.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
183.
25.9.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
184.
25.9.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
185.
25.9.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
186.
25.9.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
187.
25.9.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
188.
10.10.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
189.
10.10.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
190.
10.10.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
191.
10.10.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
192.
10.10.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
193.
10.10.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
194.
10.10.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
195.
X.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
196.
X.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
197.
X.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
198.
X.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
199.
28.10.1944
-
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
200.
28.10.1944
-
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
201.
28.10.1944
-
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
202.
28.10.1944
-
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
203.
28.10.1944
-
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
204.
28.10.1944
-
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
205.
28.10.1944
-
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
206.
28.10.1944
-
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
207.
28.10.1944
-
 Il-2 Stab II./JG 54  
208.
28.10.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
209.
28.10.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
210.
1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
211.
1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
212.
5.11.1944
-
 E/a Stab II./JG 54  
213.
1945
-
 B-17 Stab I./JG 7  
214.
24.3.1945
-
 Tempest Stab I./JG 7 near Wesel / Tempest of 274 Sqd, RAF flown by Flt Lt JB Stark, killed
215.
27.3.1945
-
 B-17 Stab I./JG 7 Date uncertain. Rudorffer claims 3rd victory while flying Me 262
216.
30.3.1945
-
 P-51 Stab I./JG 7 near Hamburg
217.
30.3.1945
-
 P-51 Stab I./JG 7 near Hamburg
218.
1945
-
 B-17 Stab I./JG 7  
219.
1945
-
 B-17 Stab I./JG 7  
220.
1945
-
 B-17 Stab I./JG 7  
221.
1945
-
 B-17 Stab I./JG 7  
222.
1945
-
 B-17 Stab I./JG 7  
223.
1945
-
 B-17 Stab I./JG 7  
224.
1945
-
 B-17 Stab I./JG 7  

Victories : 224
Awards : Knight`s Cross with Swords
Units : JG 2, JG 54, JG 7

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