Siddhesh Joshi (Editor)

Fritz Luddecke

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Nickname(s)
  
"Paul"

Service/branch
  
Luftwaffe

Rank
  
Oberfeldwebel

Allegiance
  
Nazi Germany

Years of service
  
1940–1944

Name
  
Fritz Luddecke

Born
  
23 February 1920 Brakel, Germany (
1920-02-23
)

Died
  
10 August 1944(1944-08-10) (aged 24) Wilkowischken, Lithuania

Fritz Luddecke (23 February 1920 - 10 August 1944) was a Luftwaffe (German air force) fighter ace during the Second World war. He scored 51 victories in over 600 missions, including 150 fighter-bomber missions, all over the Eastern Front.

On 10 August 1944 Luddecke was shot down near Wilkowischken, and killed when his aircraft exploded as he was attempting an emergency landing. Oberfeldwebel Luddecke was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Awards

  • Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe(13 December 1943)
  • German Cross in Gold on 1 October 1944 as Feldwebel in Stabsstaffel/Jagdgeschwader 51
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 November 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the Stabsstaffel/Jagdgeschwader 51 "Molders"

    • References

    Fritz Luddecke Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA