Introduction
Rolf Kaldrack (25 June 1913 – 3 February 1942) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. Kaldrack is credited with at least 24 aerial victories, 3 of which claimed during the Spanish Civil War flying with Aufklärungsgruppe 88 of the Condor Legion.
Rolf Kaldrack and his aerial gunner Unteroffizier Enke were killed in action on 3 February 1942 south of Toropets. Kaldrack flying a Messerschmitt Bf 110 E-1 "S9+IC" (Werksnummer 4057 — factory number), collided with a Mig-1 he had just shot down. Posthumously he received the 70th Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Awards
- Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (19 December 1939)
- 1st Class (9 June 1940)
- German Cross in Gold on 5 February 1942 (posthumously) as Hauptmann in the II./SKG 210
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 2 November 1940 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of III./ZG 76
- 70th Oak Leaves on 9 February 1942 (posthumously) as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of II./SKG 210
- ^ Thomas 1997, p. 344.
- Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 217.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 429.