Researching Erich Rudorffer

[Doug Stankey]

Here is what we have in our files about this fellow:


RUDORFFER, Erich.
(DOB: 01.11.17 in Zwochau/Sachsen).
01.11.39 trf from civil aviation to the Luftwaffe and assigned to 2./JG 2 in the rank of Feldwebel.
1940 Ofw., in I./JG 2.
28.10.40 promo to Lt.
01.05.41 Lt., awarded Ritterkreuz, 6./JG 2.
06.41 Oblt., appt Staka 6./JG 2 (to 06.04.43).
20.12.41 Lt., awarded DKG, 2./JG 2.
02.06.42 Oblt., appt acting Kdr. II./JG 2 (to 15.01.43).
06.04.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. II./JG 2 (to 14.06.43).
c. 01.07.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. IV./JG 54 (to 30.07.43).
01.08.43 Hptm., appt Kdr. II./JG 54 (to c. 14.01.45).
11.04.44 Maj. and Kdr. II./JG 54, awarded the Eichenlaub on achieving 134 victories.
14.01.45 Maj., appt Kdr. I./JG 7 (to 04.04.45).
26.01.45 Maj., awarded the Schwerter to the Ritterkreuz on reaching 212 victories.
Credited with a total of 222 air victories in over 1,000 combat missions.
(n.d.) postwar,worked for the Kraftfahrbundesamt and then served in the Bundesluftwaffe.


Kracker says:

Rudorffer, Erich. - Maj 11/1/1917 Zwochau Sachsen - 222 victories 2./JG-2 ("39), Stafkpt 6./JG-2 (11/42), Kdr II./JG-2(5/43), Kdr II./JG-54 (7/43)S.U.), Kdr I./JG-7(2/45) Bf 109F-4 "Yel 9" Wk# 7650 w/ 6/JG-2, Fw 190A-3 & A-6, Fw 190A-4 "Yel 1" in 6./JG-2, Me 262 RK(5/1/41)-EL(4/11/44)-S(1/25/45), DK-G(12/20/41), EK 1 & 2, Wnd Bdg, Fighter Oper.Clasp w/Pend 11 Bombers. Multiple times, 7 to 11 victories in a day! Over 1000 missions, 302 with aerial combat. 136 victories in the East. One known Soviet victory, a Yak-4 on 9 August, 1943. Two Il-2's on 13 August, 1943. Two DB-3F's, an Il-2 and five La-5's on 24 August, 1943. An Il-2, three La-5's and a Yak-7 on 14 September, 1943. Seven Yak-7's in the Yerenzoy on 11 October, 1943. 13 victories on 6 November, 1943. 12 victories in the Me 262 as Kdr II/JG-7. His first victory, a Hawk-75A southwest of les Sees la Gresn, 14 May, 1940, while in 2/JG-2. His 222nd and last victory, a Tempest of RAF No. 274 Sq. near Wesel on 24 March, 1945. I found a 223rd & 224th victory, both P-51's in the Hamburg area on 30 March, 1945. Obermeier suggests he downed 9 B-17's during March, 1945. Shot down 16 times, Bailed out 9 times. A most remarkable pilot! Germany's 8th ranked fighter Ace. Survived the war. The A-3 above, Werk # 432 "Yellow 1", was flown while he was Stfkpt 6/JG-2 in August, 1942. Flew an Fw 190A-4 "Yellow 1" in Feb., 1943 while in 6/JG-2. He flew the Me 262 & Ar 234 in JG-7 at Remagen Bridge.

We hope that this helps

HLdZ
DGS