Nickname(s) "Kuddel" Rank Major Name Kurt Ubben | Years of service 1931–44 Allegiance Nazi Germany | |
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Born 18 November 1911
Dorstadt, Harz ( 1911-11-18 ) Service/branch Kriegsmarine (1931–35)
Luftwaffe(1935–44) Commands held 8./JG 77, III./JG 77, JG 2 Battles/wars World War II
Invasion of Poland (1939)
Battle of Britain
North African campaign Died April 27, 1944, Fere-en-Tardenois, France Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars World War II, Invasion of Poland, Battle of Britain, North African Campaign Unit Jagdgeschwader 77, Jagdgeschwader 2 | ||
Bf109E7 1/48 Tamiya model Kit
Kurt Ubben (18 November 1911 – 27 April 1944) was a German fighter pilot during World War II who commanded the JG 2 fighter wing. A fighter ace, he was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.
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In September 1941, Ubben was promoted to group commander of III./JG 77. He achieved 50 kills on 19 October, and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 12 March 1942 for 69 victories. III./JG 77 was then transferred to North Africa, by which time Ubben had 92 victories. He scored his 100th victory on 14 January 1943. He was the 33rd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. In October, Ubben led III./JG 77 into Romania where it provided aerial protection over the Ploiești oilfields. Ubben was next appointed commander of Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2), based in France in March 1944.
By this time he had shot down 110 enemy aircraft in over 500 combat missions. 90 of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front. On 27 April 1944, Ubben engaged United States Army Air Forces fighters near Fère-en-Tardenois. In the ensuing combat, Ubben was shot down. He bailed out but his parachute failed to open killing him.