
Rudolf Trenkel was born on 17 January
1918 at Neudorf in the Ballenstedt region of Sachsen. He joined the army
in 1936 but transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1939. On 22 February 1942,
Trenkel was posted to JG 77 based on the southern part of Eastern front.
Unteroffizier Trenkel was assigned to III./JG 77. He flew with 7./JG 77
and on 26 March he claimed his first victory over I-153 biplane fighter.
Trenkel was transferred to JG 52 based on the Eastern front on 1 May 1942.
He was assigned to the Geschwaderstab. He claimed three victories serving
with this unit. On 15 June 1942, Feldwebel Trenkel was transferred to 2./JG
52 based on the Eastern front. Trenkel recorded his 20th victory on 2 November.
On 17 December, Trenkel shot down six enemy aircraft to record his 23rd
through 28th victories. He recorded five victories on 16 April 1943 (46-50)
and four victories on 2 June (73-76). Trenkel was transferred to Ergänzung-Jagdgruppe
Ost in June 1943. Reputedly he claimed three victories with the unit. Oberfeldwebel
Trenkel was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 19 August for 76 victories. In October
1943, Trenkel returned to front line duty with 2./JG 52. He claimed 18
victories during October. However, on 2 November, he was shot down in Bf
109 G-6 (W.Nr. 140 167) “Black 3” by a Russian Yak-9 fighter and badly
wounded. Following his recovery from the wounds received in November 1943,
Trenkel trained as an officer and transferred to Stab/JG 52 with the rank
of Oberleutnant. On 14 July, Trenkel claimed his 100th victory. On 15 August
1944, Trenkel was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2./JG 52. In October, Trenkel
claimed 12 victories in 10 days but was shot down five times. On 15 October,
Trenkel shot down six enemy aircraft (122-127). He was shot down again
on 15 March 1945 by flak. Trenkel baled out of his stricken Bf 109 G-14
(W.Nr. 465 260) “Black 12” wounded. Following the surrender, US troops
handed over Trenkel to the Russians. However, after four weeks, he was
repatriated due to the deterioration of the wounds received in his last
combat. He died on 26 April 2001.
Rudolf Trenkel was credited with 138 victories in
over 500 missions. Of the 138 victories recorded over the Eastern
front, at least 42 were Il-2 Sturmovik
ground attack aircraft
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26.3.1942
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I-153 | 7./JG 77 | - |
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1942
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E/a | Stab/JG 52 | - |
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1942
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E/a | Stab/JG 52 | - |
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1942
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E/a | Stab/JG 52 | - |
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27.8.1942
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 46 332: at 800m |
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2.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 46 253: at 800m |
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2.9.1942
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 46 254: at 200m / confirmation to be later decided |
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10.9.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 47 763: at 200m |
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2.10.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 49 294 at 150m |
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9.10.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 49 241 at 300m |
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9.10.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 49 162 at 200m |
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11.10.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 49 122 at 50m |
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26.10.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 49 361: at 400m |
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26.10.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 49 362: at 300m |
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26.10.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 49 382: at 150m |
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27.10.1942
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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28.10.1942
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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29.10.1942
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 49 282: at 800m |
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2.11.1942
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Yak-1 | 2./JG 52 | 59 191 at 50m |
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2.11.1942
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R-5 | 2./JG 52 | 59 191 at 50m |
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30.11.1942
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U-2 | 2./JG 52 | 01 242 |
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11.12.1942
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R-5 | 2./JG 52 | 01 563 at 10m |
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17.12.1942
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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17.12.1942
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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17.12.1942
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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17.12.1942
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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17.12.1942
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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17.12.1942
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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21.12.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 01 571 at 150m |
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21.12.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 01 583 at 100m |
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21.12.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 01 722 at 50m / confirmation to be later decided |
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21.12.1942
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 01 722 at 50m / confirmation to be later decided |
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27.12.1942
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Pe-2 | 2./JG 52 | 01 754 at 400m |
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29.12.1942
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 00 134 at 1.000m |
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29.12.1942
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La-5 | 2./JG 52 | 01 411 at 1.800m |
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26.1.1943
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Il-7 | 2./JG 52 | 72 234: at 300m |
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29.1.1943
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Il-7 | 2./JG 52 | 73 684: at 500m |
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29.1.1943
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Il-7 | 2./JG 52 | 73 663 |
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29.1.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 73 752: at 1.500m |
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29.1.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 73 752: at 1.500m |
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26.3.1943
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 81 742: at 2.000m |
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27.3.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 362 721 |
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28.3.1943
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 71 851: at 3.000m |
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9.4.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 86 570: at 3.000m |
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11.4.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 86 782: at 300m |
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16.4.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 85 ??? |
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16.4.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 85 ??? / confirmation to be later decided |
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16.4.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 85 ??? |
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16.4.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 85 190 / confirmation to be later decided |
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16.4.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 76 762 |
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17.4.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 75 460: at 600m |
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26.4.1943
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Yak-1 | 2./JG 52 | 85 722: at 3.200m |
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26.4.1943
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Yak-1 | 2./JG 52 | 85 761: at 1.800m |
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29.4.1943
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Pe-2 | 2./JG 52 | 61 894: at 5.000m |
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7.5.1943
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Il-4 | 2./JG 52 | 71 714 |
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7.5.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 61 723: at 2.000m |
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7.5.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 60 131: at 2.000m |
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7.5.1943
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LaGG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 60 212: at 1.000m / confirmation to be later decided |
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9.5.1943
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MiG-3 | 2./JG 52 | 98 872: at 5.000m |
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9.5.1943
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P-39 | 2./JG 52 | 98 731: at 2.000m |
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11.5.1943
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P-39 | 2./JG 52 | 61 995: at 2.500m |
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23.5.1943
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MBR-2 | 2./JG 52 | 85 594 |
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24.5.1943
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Boston | 2./JG 52 | 86 822: at 5.000m |
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26.5.1943
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Boston | 2./JG 52 | 85 123: at 900m / confirmation to be later decided |
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26.5.1943
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Pe-2 | 2./JG 52 | 85 172: at 1.800m / confirmation to be later decided |
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26.5.1943
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P-39 | 2./JG 52 | 85 144: at 3.000m |
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30.5.1943
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Pe-2 | 2./JG 52 | 75 262: at 1.500m |
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30.5.1943
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Pe-2 | 2./JG 52 | 76 892: at 500m |
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30.5.1943
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Il-7 | 2./JG 52 | 75 234: at 20m |
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30.5.1943
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Yak-1 | 2./JG 52 | 85 141: at 800m / confirmation to be later decided |
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31.5.1943
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Spitfire | 2./JG 52 | 86 744: at 3.000m |
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31.5.1943
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P-39 | 2./JG 52 | 75 232: at 4.000m |
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2.6.1943
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 85 112: at 4.000m |
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2.6.1943
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Pe-2 | 2./JG 52 | 85 112: at 600m |
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2.6.1943
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Pe-2 | 2./JG 52 | 85 121: at 500m |
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2.6.1943
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 75 234: at 2.000m / confirmation to be later decided |
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13.10.1943
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Yak-9 | 2./JG 52 | 15 152: at 2.000m / without witness - confirmation to be later decided |
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13.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 15 153: at 1.100m |
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13.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 15 154: at 900m |
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14.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 58 152: at 800m |
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14.10.1943
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Yak-9 | 2./JG 52 | 58 192: at 2.000m |
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15.10.1943
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 58 153: at 2.000m |
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15.10.1943
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 58 131: at 3.000m |
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15.10.1943
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Pe-2 | 2./JG 52 | 58 351: at 3.000m |
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22.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 58 534: at 400m |
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22.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 58 563: at 300m |
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22.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 58 361: at 200m |
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23.10.1943
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 59 744: at 1.200m |
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23.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 59 743: at 300m |
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23.10.1943
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 59 753: at 3.000m |
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23.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 59 751: at 100m / confirmation to be later decided |
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23.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 59 754: at 50m / confirmation to be later decided |
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24.10.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 57 152: at 150m |
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27.10.1943
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 57 773: at 2.500m |
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27.10.1943
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Yak-9 | 2./JG 52 | 57 744: at 600m |
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28.10.1943
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Yak-9 | 2./JG 52 | 47 332: at 200m |
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28.10.1943
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Yak-9 | 2./JG 52 | 47 328 |
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1.11.1943
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 66 731: at 250m |
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13.7.1944
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LaGG-5 | Stab I./JG 52 | 51 711: at 2.500m |
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14.7.1944
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P-39 | Stab I./JG 52 | 51 524: at 2.500m |
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14.7.1944
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Il-2 | Stab I./JG 52 | 50 189 |
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15.7.1944
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Yak-7 | Stab I./JG 52 | 51 548: at 2.000m |
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15.7.1944
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Yak-7 | Stab I./JG 52 | 41 414: at 2.500m |
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15.7.1944
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Il-2 | Stab I./JG 52 | 41 447: at 50m |
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16.7.1944
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P-39 | Stab I./JG 52 | 51 575: at 3.500m |
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17.7.1944
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P-39 | Stab I./JG 52 | 41 796: at 500m |
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18.7.1944
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Yak-7 | Stab I./JG 52 | 42 851: at 1.500m |
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19.7.1944
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Yak-7 | Stab I./JG 52 | 42 573: at 700m |
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19.7.1944
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P-39 | Stab I./JG 52 | 32 699: at 200m |
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19.7.1944
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Il-2 | Stab I./JG 52 | 42 713: at 100m |
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19.7.1944
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Yak-7 | Stab I./JG 52 | 42 777: at 600m |
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19.7.1944
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Il-2 | Stab I./JG 52 | 42 767: at 400m |
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21.7.1944
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P-39 | Stab I./JG 52 | 30 482: at 4.000m |
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12.9.1944
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 10 361: at 1.000m |
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12.9.1944
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 10 391 |
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13.9.1944
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B-17 | 2./JG 52 | 90 452 at 4.000m |
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21.9.1944
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Yak-9 | 2./JG 52 | 10 696: at 1.000m |
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21.9.1944
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 10 665: at 900m |
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22.9.1944
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 10 835: at 3.000m |
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22.9.1944
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 10 862 |
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14.10.1944
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Yak-9 | 2./JG 52 | 13 143: at 1.000m |
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15.10.1944
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Yak-9 | 2./JG 52 | 13 345: at 1.200m |
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15.10.1944
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 13 348: at 400m |
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15.10.1944
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 13 344: at 1.200m |
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15.10.1944
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 13 342: at 1.000m |
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15.10.1944
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 13 376: at 800m |
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15.10.1944
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Boston III | 2./JG 52 | 13 347: at 3.500m |
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16.10.1944
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Il-2 | 2./JG 52 | 13 153: at 100m |
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16.10.1944
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LaGG-5 | 2./JG 52 | 13 126: at 2.000m |
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17.10.1944
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Pe-2 | 2./JG 52 | 25 444: at 500m |
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27.10.1944
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Yak-3 | 2./JG 52 | 25 583: at 800m |
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1944-45
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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1944-45
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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1944-45
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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1944-45
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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1944-45
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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1944-45
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
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1944-45
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E/a | 2./JG 52 | - |
Victories : 138
Awards : Ehrenpokal (11 December 1942)
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (15 January 1943)
Ritterkreuz (19 August 1943)
Units : JG 77, JG 52, JGr Ost