Waldemar Rathke's High Score

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

From Kracker Archives,Waldemar Rathke's score was at least 14 air-to-air night kills on the Eastern Front. For the Luftwaffe Officer's Career Summeries the kills was at least 31. Which one was right? Rathke had served with NJG-5 and NJG -100.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Johannes]

Hi Edward

Unless this pilot flew for some obscure unit pre August 1942(and i'm pretty sure he didn't) His claims are as follows:-

21st July 1943 DB-3 30km NE Karacev 0124 hrs Nr.1
21st July 1943 DB-3 20km E Karacev 0147 hrs Nr.2
8th August 1943 TB-3 7km SE Krassskoje 2332 hrs Nr.3
22nd August 1943 PS-84 2357 hrs Nr.4
7th September 1943 PS-84 E Nevel 1050 hrs Nr.5
8th September 1943 PS-84 NE Nevel 0127 hrs Nr.6
8th September 1943 PS-84 NE Nevel 0157 hrs Nr.7
12th September 1943 R-5 SW Nevel 2400 hrs Nr.8
13th September 1943 R-5 NE Nevel 0016 hrs Nr.9
14th September 1943 PS-84 NE Nevel 0219 hrs Nr.10
20th September 1943 DB-3 SE Nevel 2310 hrs Nr.11
26th September 1943 PS-84 2219 hrs Nr.12
6th October 1943 U-2 near Nevel 1909 hrs Nr.13
16th May 1944 Il-4 2125 hrs Nr.14
16th July 1944 Il-4 2314 hrs Nr.15

First three were recorded with 12./NJG 5, remainder for 1943 with 3./NJG 100, last two with 1./NJG 100. Those for 1943 as a Leutnant, those for 1944 as an Oberleutnant.
Born on 25th May 1920. His death or not is a mystery. Possibly killed in March 1945, in which case as he is likely to still have been flying he may have made some later claims to those listed in the period December 1944 until March 1945, though in my own opinion unlikely. Doesn't seem to have been awarded the DKiG, which would support a total of fifteen. Hopefully somebody can supply the circumstances of his death.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Nick Hector]

The PS-84s he shot down in September and October 1943 may well have belonged to 102 APDD as they lost aircraft of this type during that 2 month period that have been attributed to nightfighters.

Nick

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Waldemar Rathke still kept on flying night fighter missions after July 16,1944. I think it was possible for him to score more night kills before his death on March 1945.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Ian Jewison]

He was still living 2.4.1945 as I have seen his signature in a Flugbuch, he signed Oblt. u. Staffelführer 3/NJG 100.

/Ian

[Juha]

For what it's worth Gebhard Ader gives 10-15 kills to Rathke in his History of the German Night Fighter Force 1917-1945 (1992).

Juha

[Johannes]

Hi Ian

Do you have copies of Rathke's flugbuch or just the one page?

I am intrigued at what he might have been upto during late 1944/1945.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Ian Jewison]

It's not Rathke's Flugbuch, it belonged to a Pilot with 3/NJG 100....Rathke is authorising the entries as Stafu.

/Ian

[Johannes]

Hi Ian

Thanks for that. Looks like he was probably signing of the flugbuch as Staffel was dissolved on 2nd April 1945. Still do not known his fate, but obviously March 1945 death no longer stands-up in court.

Kind Regards

Johannes