Allegiance Nazi Germany Commands held III./ZG 76 Service/branch Luftwaffe Unit Condor Legion | Years of service 1934–42 Name Rolf Kaldrack Rank Hauptmann | |
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Battles/wars Spanish Civil War
World War II
Battle of the Heligoland Bight
Battle of France
Battle of Britain
Operation Barbarossa
Eastern Front † Died February 3, 1942, Toropets, Russia Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Spanish Civil War, World War II | ||
Rolf Kaldrack (25 June 1913 – 3 February 1942) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. Kaldrack is credited with at least 24 aerial victories, 3 of which claimed during the Spanish Civil War flying with Aufklarungsgruppe 88 of the Condor Legion.
Rolf Kaldrack and his aerial gunner Unteroffizier Enke were killed in action on 3 February 1942 south of Toropets. Kaldrack flying a Messerschmitt Bf 110 E-1 "S9+IC" (Werksnummer 4057 — factory number), collided with a Mig-1 he had just shot down. Posthumously he received the 70th Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.