Rudi Linz
Rudolf Linz | |
---|---|
JG 5 | |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Rudolf "Rudi" Linz (14 February 1917 – 9 February 1945) was a
Career
Linz was born on 14 February 1917 in
War on the Arctic Front
On 20 April, 8. Staffel moved to an airfield at Petsamo, present-day Pechenga in Murmansk Oblast, Russia.[4] On 25 May, Luftwaffe aerial reconnaissance spotted Convoy PQ 16 heading for Murmansk and Arkhangelsk while Convoy QP 12 left Murmansk. From 25 to 30 May, Luftwaffe units attacked both convoys.[5] In these attacks, Linz claimed his first aerial victory on 30 May.[6] He was presented with the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff on account of his II. and III. Gruppe visit at Pechenga on 19 June.[7]
In 1943, Linz served as a fighter pilot instructor Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe West, a supplementary training unit based in Cazaux, France.[8][9] Back from his tour as an instructor, Linz claimed two Lend-Lease Curtiss P-40 Warhawk on a mission to Murmashi and Warlamowo on 23 September 1943.[10] By then, 8. Staffel was led by Oberleutnant Horst Berger and Scholz had been replaced by Hauptmann Heinrich Ehrler as commander of III. Gruppe of JG 5.[11] The following day, 8. Staffel was scrambled at 08:25 and ordered to intercept a Soviet formation. During this encounter, Linz claimed a P-40 and a Lend-Lease Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter aircraft shot down.[10] These were his last claims in 1943. Linz claimed his next aerial victory on 24 February 1944 over a P-39 fighter. However, prevailing Soviet records do not reveal any matching losses.[12] Linz claimed another P-39 fighter shot down on 8 March. The aircraft shot down may have been a misidentified Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter from the 324 IAD (Istrebitel'naya Aviatsionnaya Diviziya—Fighter Aviation Division) which lost two aircraft in that area of operations that day.[13]
On 7 April, III. Gruppe flew many missions, escorting German shipping. On one of these missions, Linz claimed a Yak-9 fighter shot down.
On 17 June, III. Gruppe was busy flying convoy escort missions. At 07:30, III. Gruppe took off to its largest aerial battle. That day, the
Squadron leader and death
Following completion at the Verbandsführerschule in November 1944, Linz was appointed Staffelkapitän of 12. Staffel of JG 5 on 30 November.
On 9 February 1945, Linz was shot down and
On the morning of 9 February, two
Linz was buried at Bergen and posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 12 March.[40][41] He was replaced by Oberleutnant Fritz Kohrt as commander of 12. Staffel.[30] The Fw 190 A-8 flown by Linz in his last combat still exists, and is displayed in the Cottbus Hangar of the Military Aviation Museum in Pungo, Virginia, USA as of 2014.[42]
Summary of career
Aerial victory claims
According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Linz was credited with 70 aerial victories.[43] Spick also lists with 70 aerial victories claimed, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front in an unknown number combat missions.[44] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 53 aerial victory claims. This figure includes at least 51 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and two over the Western Allies.[45]
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 43 Ost 104557". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15
Chronicle of aerial victories | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This and the ♠ (
ace-in-a-day ", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day. This and the ? (exclamation mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mombeek, Mathews, and Foreman.
| |||||||||||
Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | ||
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –[8] Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — 10 January – 31 December 1942 | |||||||||||
?[Note 1] | 30 May 1942 | —
|
unknown[48] | 3?[Note 2] | 28 June 1942 | 16:40 | Pe-2[47] | PQ 42 Ost 103992[49] | |||
1 | 13 June 1942 | 13:25 | Hurricane | Murmashi[50] | 4 | 7 July 1942 | 17:20 | Hurricane[47] | PQ 43 Ost 104557[49] | ||
2 | 23 June 1942 | 08:15 | Hurricane[50] | ||||||||
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –[45] Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — September 1943 – 15 August 1944 | |||||||||||
5 | 23 September 1943 | 12:52 | P-40[51] | 27♠ | 25 May 1944 | 21:35 | Boston | northwest of Berlevåg[19][52] | |||
6 | 23 September 1943 | 12:57 | P-40[51] | 28♠ | 25 May 1944 | 21:36 | Boston | northwest of Berlevåg[52][53] | |||
7 | 24 September 1943 | 08:45 | P-40[51] | 29♠ | 25 May 1944 | 21:37 | Boston | northwest of Berlevåg[52][53] | |||
8 | 24 September 1943 | 08:55 | P-39[54] | 30♠ | 25 May 1944 | 21:39 | Boston | northwest of Berlevåg[52][53] | |||
9 | 24 February 1944 | 09:40 | P-39[55] | Lake Zog | 31♠ | 25 May 1944 | 21:40 | Boston | north-northwest of Berlevåg[52][53] | ||
10 | 8 March 1944 | 15:52 | P-39[56] | east of Lake Njamosero[57][Note 3] | 32♠ | 26 May 1944 | 04:59 | Boston | north of Vadsø[53][58] | ||
11 | 7 April 1944 | 10:30 | Yak-9[59] | PQ 37 Ost SG-8/7[60] | 33♠ | 26 May 1944 | 05:02 | Boston | northwest of Vadsø[53][58] | ||
12 | 23 April 1944 | 14:49 | P-39[61] | northeast of Berlevåg[52] | 34♠ | 26 May 1944 | 05:03 | Boston | north-northwest of Vadsø[53][58] | ||
13 | 23 April 1944 | 14:51 | P-39[61] | northeast of Berlevåg[52] | 35♠ | 26 May 1944 | 05:05 | P-40 | north of Vadsø[53][58] | ||
14 | 23 April 1944 | 14:54 | P-39[61] | northeast of Berlevåg[52] | 36♠ | 26 May 1944 | 05:20 | Boston | north of Vadsø | ||
15 | 23 April 1944 | 15:00 | P-39[61] | northeast of Berlevåg[52] | 37 | 7 June 1944 | 12:08 | P-39[62] | southwest of Ura-Guba[58] | ||
16 | 10 May 1944 | 01:15 | P-39 | 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Petsamo[61][52] | 38 | 7 June 1944 | 12:11 | P-39[62] | southeast of Ura-Guba[58] | ||
17 | 10 May 1944 | 01:35 | P-39 | 45 km (28 mi) southeast of Petsamo[61][52] | 39 | 7 June 1944 | 12:15 | P-39[62] | south of Ura-Guba[58] | ||
18 | 10 May 1944 | 01:40 | P-39 | 35 km (22 mi) east of Petsamo[61][52] | 40♠ | 17 June 1944 | 07:47 | P-40 | south-southeast of Kiberg[58][62] | ||
19 | 11 May 1944 | 03:18 | Yak-9[61] | PQ 37 Ost QE-9/1[52] | 41♠ | 17 June 1944 | 07:48 | Il-2 | south-southeast of Kiberg[58][62] | ||
20 | 11 May 1944 | 03:20 | Yak-9[19] | PQ 37 Ost RF-4/2[52] | 42♠ | 17 June 1944 | 07:55 | P-39 | southeast of Kiberg[62][63] | ||
21 | 13 May 1944 | 22:59 | P-39[19] | PQ 37 Ost RD-3/1[52] | 43♠ | 17 June 1944 | 07:58 | P-39 | southeast of Kiberg[62][63] | ||
22♠ | 16 May 1944 | 19:00 | Il-2[19] | PQ 37 Ost QB-6/3[52] | 44♠ | 17 June 1944 | 08:02 | Yak-9 | southeast of Kiberg[63][64] | ||
23♠ | 16 May 1944 | 19:01 | Il-2[19] | PQ 37 Ost QB-2/2[52] | 45♠ | 17 June 1944 | 21:31 | P-39 | southeast of Kiberg[63][64] | ||
24♠ | 16 May 1944 | 21:45 | P-40[19] | PQ 37 Ost QB-6/1[52] | 46♠ | 17 June 1944 | 21:32 | P-39 | southeast of Kiberg[63][64] | ||
25♠ | 16 May 1944 | 21:47 | P-40[19] | PQ 37 Ost QB-6/4[52] | 47♠ | 17 June 1944 | 21:34 | P-39 | northeast of Kiberg[63][64] | ||
26♠ | 16 May 1944 | 21:49 | P-39[19] | PQ 37 Ost QB-7/1[52] | 48♠ | 17 June 1944 | 21:36 | Boston | northeast of Kirkenes[63][64] | ||
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –[65] Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — 15 August – 31 December 1944 | |||||||||||
49 | 17 August 1944 | 09:42 | Yak-9 | PQ 37 Ost TB-9, east-northeast of Salmiyarvi[66] vicinity of Salmiyarvi[67] |
51 | 17 August 1944 | 10:00 | P-40[67] | PQ 37 Ost RB-9/3[68] | ||
50 | 17 August 1944 | 09:44 | Yak-9[67] | PQ 37 Ost TB-8[66] | 52 | 3 September 1944 | 09:21 | Pe-2[69] | PQ 37 Ost TD[68] | ||
– 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –[65] Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — December 1944 – 9 February 1945 | |||||||||||
53 | 9 February 1945 | 16:00 | Beaufighter[70] | north of Sogne Fjord | 54 | 9 February 1945 | 16:00 | P-51[70] | near Horstad |
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class[71]
- German Cross in Gold on 1 January 1945 as Oberfeldwebel in the 12./Jagdgeschwader 5[72]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March 1945 (posthumously) as Leutnant and pilot in the 12./Jagdgeschwader 5[73][74]
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ Stennman & Keskinen 2015, p. 8.
- ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 159.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 470.
- ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 161.
- ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 181.
- ^ Mombeek 2003, pp. 185, 187.
- ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 199.
- ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 756.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 44.
- ^ a b Mombeek 2010, p. 71.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 305.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 141.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 149.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 169.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 174.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 176.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 177.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 178.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mombeek 2011, p. 283.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 179.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 180.
- ^ Mombeek 2010, pp. 185–186.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, pp. 285–286.
- ^ Prien et al. 2022, pp. 117, 138.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 91.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 93.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 133.
- ^ Prien et al. 2020, p. 256.
- ^ Prien et al. 2020, p. 253.
- ^ a b Mombeek 2011, p. 150.
- ^ a b Koop & Schmolke 1995, p. 114.
- ^ Roskill 1961, p. 254.
- ^ Parry 2002, p. 47.
- ^ Conyers Nesbit 1995, p. 219.
- ^ Milson 2010, p. 51.
- ^ a b Conyers Nesbit 1995, p. 221.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 148.
- ^ Weal 2007, p. 43.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 149.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 154.
- ^ Weal 2016, p. 46.
- ^ Skaarup 2021.
- ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1616.
- ^ Spick 1996, p. 238.
- ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 756–757.
- ^ Planquadrat.
- ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 478.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 261.
- ^ a b Mombeek 2011, p. 263.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 475.
- ^ a b c Mombeek 2011, p. 274.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Prien et al. 2022, p. 144.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Mombeek 2011, p. 284.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 275.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 278.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 279.
- ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 142.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2022, p. 145.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 281.
- ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 143.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Mombeek 2011, p. 282.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mombeek 2011, p. 285.
- ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2022, p. 146.
- ^ a b c d e Mombeek 2011, p. 286.
- ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 757.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 148.
- ^ a b c Mombeek 2011, p. 290.
- ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 149.
- ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 291.
- ^ a b Mombeek 2011, p. 294.
- ^ Dixon 2023, pp. 205–206.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 281.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 293.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 509.
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