Rudolf Trenkel

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Rudolf Trenkel
JG 52
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Rudolf Trenkel (17 January 1918 – 26 April 2001) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II. As a flying ace, he was credited with 138 victories and was a recipient of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Career

Trenkel served in

ground attack and Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter aircraft.[1] In 1944, he was forced to bail out five times within ten days. On 14 July 1944, Trenkel was credited with his 100th aerial victory.[2] He was the 83rd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[3]

Squadron leader

On 15 August 1944, Trenkel was appointed

Defense of the Reich in early June 1944. There the Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11—11th Fighter Wing) and later became the 12. Staffel of JG 11. Trenkel formed the new 2. Staffel of JG 52 at Kraków from 15 to 26 August.[4]

On 16 October 1944, JG 52 lost six aircraft in combat with the French

Normandie-Niemen fighter regiment serving on the Eastern Front. One of the pilots shot down was Trenkel who survived by bailing out.[5]

Trenkel and other soldiers of JG 52 surrendered to the

90th US Infantry Division near Písek on 8 May 1945 and became a prisoner of war (POW). The soldiers were initially interned at a POW camp at Strakonice where on 14 May, Trenkel married his fiancé Ida Sehnal who was among the civilian refuges. The wedding ceremony was held by Oberst Hermann Graf. The witnesses to the wedding were Major Adolf Borchers and Hauptmann Erich Hartmann. On 15 May, Trenkel and most of the JG 52 personnel were handed over by the American forces to the Soviet Union.[6]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Trenkel was credited with 138 aerial victories.[7] Spick also lists Trenkel with 138 aerial victories claimed in over 500 combat missions, all but one on the Eastern Front.[8] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 138 aerial victory claims, plus three further unconfirmed claims. This figure includes 131 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and one Western Allies four-engined bomber.[9]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 59191". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15

minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[10]

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 – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Trenkel did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 –[11]
Eastern Front — March 1942
1 26 March 1942 15:02 I-153
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[11]
Eastern Front — June 1942
2 2 June 1942 12:37 I-16[12] 3 22 June 1942 11:58 Yak-1[12]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[13]
19 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
4 29 June 1942 18:15 MiG-3[14] 21 2 November 1942 10:32 R-5 PQ 59191[15]
5 1 July 1942 14:23 MiG-3[14] 22 2 November 1942 10:33?[Note 1] R-5 PQ 59191[17]
6 12 July 1942 10:50 LaGG-3[18] 23 30 November 1942 07:15 U-2 PQ 01242[17]
—
[Note 2] 		4 August 1942
—
 LaGG-3 24 11 December 1942 11:10 R-5 PQ 01563[17]
—
[Note 2] 		8 August 1942
—
 Pe-2 25♠[Note 3] 17 December 1942
—
 Il-2[17]
—
[Note 2] 		12 August 1942
—
 Yak-1 26♠[Note 3] 17 December 1942
—
 Il-2[17]
7 27 August 1942 14:23 LaGG-3 PQ 46332[19]
west of Dzhankoi 		27♠[Note 3] 17 December 1942
—
 Il-2[17]
8 2 September 1942 08:30 LaGG-3 PQ 46253[19] 28♠[Note 3] 17 December 1942
—
 Il-2[17]
9 2 September 1942 13:00 LaGG-3 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Karmanovo[19] 29♠[Note 3] 17 December 1942
—
 Il-2[17]
10 10 September 1942 12:13 Il-2 PQ 47763[20]
north of Taganaja 		30♠[Note 3] 17 December 1942
—
 Il-2[17]
11 2 October 1942 11:44 Il-2 PQ 49294
Stalingrad
 31 21 December 1942 13:40 Il-2 PQ 01571[17]
12 9 October 1942 12:50 Il-2 PQ 49124[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Stalingrad 		32 21 December 1942 13:42 Il-2 PQ 01583[17]
13 9 October 1942 12:55 Il-2 PQ 49122[21]
vicinity of Grebenka 		33 21 December 1942 13:43 Il-2 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Kasinko[17]
14 11 October 1942 06:27 Il-2 PQ 49122[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Gumrak 		34 21 December 1942 13:44 Il-2 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Kasinko[17]
15 26 October 1942 14:04 Il-2 PQ 49361[15]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Stalingrad 		35 27 December 1942 06:58 Pe-2 PQ 01754[17]
16 26 October 1942 14:09 Il-2 PQ 49362[15]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Stalingrad 		36 29 December 1942 09:35 LaGG-3 PQ 00314[17]
17 26 October 1942 14:11 Il-2 PQ 49382[15]
25 km (16 mi) south of Bassargino 		37 29 December 1942 12:18 La-5 PQ 01411[17]
18 27 October 1942 08:35 Il-2 PQ 49124[15]
5 km (3.1 mi) east of Stalingrad 		38 26 January 1943 12:30 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 72234[22]
19 27 October 1942 16:21 La-5 PQ 49412[15]
5 km (3.1 mi) east of Stalingrad 		39 29 January 1943 09:15 Il-2 PQ 73752[22]
20 29 October 1942 11:28 LaGG-3 PQ 49282[15]
20–30 km (12–19 mi) east of Stalingrad 		40 29 January 1943 09:17 Il-2 PQ 73733[22]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[13]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
41 26 March 1943 15:25 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 81742[23]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Urazovo 		70 30 May 1943 15:35 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85141, 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Krymskaja[24]
east of Krymsk
42 27 March 1943 16:02 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 62721[23] 71 31 May 1943 08:12 Spitfire PQ 34 Ost 86744[24]
vicinity of Trojzkaja
43 28 March 1943 10:20 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 71851[23]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Valuyki 		72 31 May 1943 11:09 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 75232, north of Krymskaja[24]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Krasnyi Lyman
44 9 April 1943 08:55 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 86574[25]
northwest of Sslaeanskaja 		73 2 June 1943 04:43 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 85112, north of Krymskaja[24]
north of Mertschanskaja
45 11 April 1943 12:35 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 86782[25]
north of Mingrelskaya 		74 2 June 1943 13:27 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 85112, north of Krymskaja[24]
north of Mertschanskaja
46♠ 16 April 1943 07:31?[Note 5] LaGG-3 vicinity of Cholmskaja[25] 75 2 June 1943 13:28 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 85121[24]
vicinity of Sswobodnyj
47♠ 16 April 1943 10:50 LaGG-3 east of Krymskaja[25]
southeast of Tscherkassowski 		76 2 June 1943 17:52 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 75234, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Krymskaja[26]
vicinity of Krymsk
48♠ 16 April 1943 10:54?[Note 6] LaGG-3 east of Krymskaja[25] 77 13 October 1943 10:15 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 58152, 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of
Zaporizhia[27]

northeast of Zaporizhia
49♠ 16 April 1943 11:00 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 8519, 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Achtyrskaja[25] 78 13 October 1943 10:17 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 58153, 1 km (0.62 mi) east of Zaporizhia[27]
northeast of Zaporizhia
50♠ 16 April 1943 11:46 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 76762[25]
vicinity of Bolschoj Rasnokol 		79 13 October 1943 10:18 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 58154, 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Zaporizhia[27]
northeast of Zaporizhia
51 17 April 1943 11:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 7546[25]
southeast of Novorossiysk 		80 14 October 1943 05:19 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 58152, northeast of Zaporizhia[27]
northeast of Zaporizhia
52 26 April 1943 14:01 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85722[25]
vicinity of Sswobodnyj 		81 14 October 1943 11:50 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 58192[27]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Zaporizhia
53 26 April 1943 14:04 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 85761[25]
vicinity of Nowenjkij 		82 15 October 1943 05:55 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 58153, east of Zaporizhia[27]
northeast of Zaporizhia
54 29 April 1943 10:02 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 61394[25]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Bely Kolodez 		83 15 October 1943 10:35 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 58131[27]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Zaporizhia
55 7 May 1943 04:22 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 71714[25]
vicinity of Bely Kolodez 		84 15 October 1943 13:58 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 58351[27]
20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Zaporizhia
56 7 May 1943 18:19 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61723, vicinity of Bely Kolodez[25]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Zolochev 		85 22 October 1943 06:34 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 58534[27]
vicinity of Wassilijewka
57 7 May 1943 18:21 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 60131, vicinity of Bely Kolodez
Kharkov
 86 22 October 1943 06:36 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 58563[27]
Kalinowka
58 7 May 1943 18:24 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 60212, 20 km (12 mi) north of Chuhuiv[25]
25 km (16 mi) east of Kharkov 		87 22 October 1943 14:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 58361[27]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Zaporizhia
59 9 May 1943 06:25 MiG-3 PQ 34 Ost 98872[24]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Azov 		88♠ 23 October 1943 12:05 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 59744[28]
30 km (19 mi) north of Zaporizhia
60 9 May 1943 12:30 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 98731[24]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Azov 		89♠ 23 October 1943 12:07 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 59743[28]
30 km (19 mi) north of Zaporizhia
61 11 May 1943 18:05 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 61495[24]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Belgorod 		90♠ 23 October 1943 14:02 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 59753[28]
35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhia
62 23 May 1943 04:50 MBR-2 PQ 34 Ost 85594[24]
Black Sea, south of Gelendzhik 		91♠ 23 October 1943 15:21 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 59751, 35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhia[28]
63 24 May 1943 16:52 Boston PQ 34 Ost 86822[24]
east of Woronowskaja 		92♠ 23 October 1943 15:24 Il-2 PQ 59754
35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Zaporizhia[28]
64 26 May 1943 05:11 Boston PQ 34 Ost 85123, 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Abinskaja[24]
east of Mertschanskaja 		93 24 October 1943 15:20 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 57152[28]
3 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Melitopol
65 26 May 1943 05:16 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 85172, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Abinskaja[24]
southwest of Abinsk 		94 27 October 1943 06:10 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 57773[28]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Fedorowka
66 26 May 1943 09:42 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 85144[24]
vicinity of Abinsk 		95 27 October 1943 06:15 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 57744[28]
20 km (12 mi) west of Melitopol
67 30 May 1943 15:28 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 75262, 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Krymskaja[24]
south of Krymsk 		96 28 October 1943 08:05 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 47332[28]10 km (6.2 mi) west of Ivanovka
68 30 May 1943 15:30 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 76892, east of Kijewskoje[24]
Sea of Azov, 30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Mariupol 		97 28 October 1943 10:58 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 47328[28]
northeast of Agaiman
69 30 May 1943 15:31 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 75234, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of Krymskaja[24]
vicinity of Krymsk 		98 1 November 1943 10:15 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 34 Ost 66731[28]
east of Elitgen
– I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[29]
Eastern Front — July 1944
99 13 July 1944 17:35 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 51711[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Brody 		107 18 July 1944 20:05 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 42851[30]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Kobryn
100 14 July 1944 05:35 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 51524[30]
30 km (19 mi) south of Lutsk 		108♠ 19 July 1944 13:40 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 42573[30]
25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Liuboml
101 14 July 1944 17:55 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost 50189[30]
25 km (16 mi) east of Zolochiv 		109♠ 19 July 1944 16:44 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 32699[30]
30 km (19 mi) northeast of Chełm
102 15 July 1944 15:14 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 51548[30]
30 km (19 mi) north of Brody 		110♠ 19 July 1944 16:49 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost 42713[30]
vicinity of Liuboml
103 15 July 1944 16:58 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 41414[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Włodzimierz 		111♠ 19 July 1944 19:48 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 42777[30]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Włodzimierz
104 15 July 1944 17:05 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 41447[30]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Włodzimierz 		112♠ 19 July 1944 19:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost 42767[30]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Liuboml
105 16 July 1944 17:45 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 51575[30]
20 km (12 mi) north of Brody 		113 21 July 1944 15:42?[Note 7] P-39 PQ 25 Ost 40432[31]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Lviv
106 17 July 1944 18:05 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 41796[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Busk
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[32]
Eastern Front — September 1944 – April 1945
114 12 September 1944 16:10 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 10361[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Jasło 		127♠ 15 October 1944 14:11 Boston PQ 25 Ost 13347[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Pristina
115 12 September 1944 16:12 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 10391[33]
20 km (12 mi) south of Jasło 		128 16 October 1944 10:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost 13154[34]
30 km (19 mi) south of Pristina
116 13 September 1944 11:35?[Note 8] B-17 PQ 15 Ost 90452[33]
35 km (22 mi) southwest of Kraków 		129 16 October 1944 13:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4]?[Note 9] PQ 25 Ost 13126[34]
20 km (12 mi) east-northeast of Trepca
117 21 September 1944 15:32 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 10696[33]
35 km (22 mi) south-southwest of Sanok 		130 17 October 1944 08:00 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 25444[34]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Turnu Severin
118 21 September 1944 17:54 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 10665[33]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Sanok 		131 27 October 1944 15:10 Yak-3 PQ 25 Ost 25583[35]
25 km (16 mi) east-southeast of Majdanpek
119 22 September 1944 11:30 Yak-4 PQ 25 Ost 10835[33] 132 27 October 1944 15:13 Yak-3 PQ 25 Ost 25581[35]
120 22 September 1944 11:33 Yak-4 PQ 25 Ost 10862[33]
45 km (28 mi) southwest of Sanok 		133 16 February 1945 10:45 Il-2[36]
121 14 October 1944 14:41 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13143[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Trepca 		134 19 February 1945 15:10 Pe-2[36]
122♠ 15 October 1944 08:15 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 13345[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Pristina 		135 19 February 1945 15:15 Pe-2[36]
123♠ 15 October 1944 08:17 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost 13348[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Pristina 		136 20 February 1945 13:05 Yak-9[36]
124♠ 15 October 1944 10:21 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost 13344[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Pristina 		137 25 February 1945 16:05 Yak-9[36]
125♠ 15 October 1944 10:24 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost 13342[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Pristina 		138 11 March 1945
—
 Yak-9[36]
126♠ 15 October 1944 10:26 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 25 Ost 13376[34]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Pristina

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 10:33.[16]
  2. ^ a b c This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[18]
  3. ^ a b c d e f This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[16]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:38 over the Black Sea, southeast of Gelendzhik.[16]
  6. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:39 over the Black Sea, southeast of Gelendzhik.[16]
  7. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 15:45.[29]
  8. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:54.[29]
  9. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[29]
  10. ^ According to Obermaier on 11 December 1942.[39]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 299.
  2. ^ Page 2020, p. 92.
  3. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 244.
  4. ^ Schreier 1990, pp. 135, 144, 187.
  5. ^ Bergström 2008, p. 85.
  6. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, pp. 259–260.
  7. ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
  8. ^ Spick 1996, p. 229.
  9. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1335–1338.
  10. ^ Planquadrat.
  11. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1335.
  12. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 390.
  13. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1335–1336.
  14. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 430.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 437.
  16. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1336.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Prien et al. 2006, p. 438.
  18. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 433.
  19. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 434.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 435.
  21. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 436.
  22. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 439.
  23. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 282.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Prien et al. 2012, p. 284.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien et al. 2012, p. 283.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 285.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2012, p. 291.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2012, p. 292.
  29. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1337.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2022, p. 76.
  31. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 77.
  32. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1337–1338.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2022, p. 79.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2022, p. 80.
  35. ^ a b Prien et al. 2022, p. 81.
  36. ^ a b c d e f Barbas 2006, p. 423.
  37. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 30.
  38. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 206.
  39. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 217.
  40. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 479.
  41. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 52.
  42. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 750.

Bibliography
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