Nisha Rathode (Editor)

Reinhold Knacke

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Allegiance
  
Nazi Germany

Name
  
Reinhold Knacke

Service/branch
  
Luftwaffe

Years of service
  
1939–43

Place of burial
  
Ysselsteyn, Netherlands

Unit
  
Nachtjagdgeschwader 1

Reinhold Knacke wwwluftwaffe3945historianombrasesknackejpg
Buried at
  
Ysselsteyn, Netherlands(Block M—Row 4—Grave 80)

Rank
  
Hauptmann (Posthumously)

Battles/wars
  
World War IIBattle of FranceDefense of the Reich †

Died
  
February 3, 1943, Achterveld, Netherlands

Awards
  
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Battles and wars
  
World War II, Battle of France, Defence of the Reich

Reinhold Knacke (1 January 1919 – 3 February 1943) was a German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Knacke claimed 44 aerial victories.

Knacke was shot down in aerial combat with a Halifax bomber on 3 February 1943. His radio operator, Unteroffizier Kurt Bundrock, managed to bail out from the burning aircraft. Knacke was found dead next to his crashed Messerschmitt Bf 110-F4 (Werksnummer 4683—factory number) "G9+DK" 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of Achterveld, Netherlands.

Awards

  • Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe
  • Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
  • Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (15 July 1940)
  • 1st Class (1940)
  • German Cross in Gold on 14 April 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 2./NJG 1
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 1 July 1942 as Oberleutnant and pilot of the 3./NJG 1
  • 190th Oak Leaves on 7 February 1943 as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitan of the 3./NJG 1

    • References

    Reinhold Knacke Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA