Commands held 3./JG 52 Name Rudolf Miethig | Years of service 1939–43 Battles and wars World War II | |
Born 17 October 1921Zwickau ( 1921-10-17 ) Died June 10, 1943, Krymsk, Russia | ||
Rudolf Miethig (17 October 1921 – 10 June 1943) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Miethig was credited with 101 aerial victories—that is, 101 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—and was killed in action following a midair collision with an enemy aircraft on 10 June 1943.
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Career
Miethig volunteered for service in the Luftwaffe in 1939. He was transferred to the 3./Jagdgeschwader 52 (3./JG 52—3rd squadron of the 52nd fighter wing) in the spring of 1941. 3./JG 52 at the time was stationed in the Netherlands. Miethig claimed his first aerial victory, a Supermarine Spitfire, in the fall of 1941. On 8 June 1943, Miethig was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 41st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.
Oberleutnant Miethig, Staffelkapitan (squadron leader) of the 3./JG 52 was killed in a crash following combat with Yakovlev fighters on 10 June 1943 roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-east of Krymskaja, over the Kuban bridgehead. Miethig flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 14 602—factory number) had shot down one of the Yakovlev Yak-1 and collided with his crashing opponent, tearing off one of his wings. Miethig was posthumously awarded the German Cross in Gold as well as posthumously promoted to Hauptmann.