Years of service ?–19451956–57 Name Waldemar Radener | Commands held II./JG 26II./JG 300 | |
Battles/wars World War IIDefense of the ReichOperation OverlordOperation Bodenplatte | ||
Waldemar Radener (24 January 1921 – 8 January 1957) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
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Career
Radener was born on 24 January 1921 at Luchtrigen and as a Leutnant joined 4 staffel, Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26) in February 1943 following completion of training. Radener claimed his first victory, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Supermarine Spitfire, on 3 May 1943 and two United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Republic P-47 Thunderbolts near Arnhem on 30 July. Radener was appointed Staffelkapitan (squadron leader) of 6 staffel, JG 26 in August. Radener shot down a P-47 on 11 January 1944 to record his 10th claim, and was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 16 April. On 11 May Radener downed a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber but then accidentally rammed a second in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8. He baled out with minor injuries. Radener was again shot down by USAAF North American P-51 Mustang fighters on 15 June and suffered injuries on landing keeping him hospitalised until the end of the month.
In September 1944 Oberleutnant Radener was re-appointed Staffelkapitan, 7./JG 26, and by the end of 1944 had 23 credited victories. Radener was then made Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of II./JG 26 in January 1945, and in February 1945 transferred to command II./Jagdgeschwader 300 (JG 300).
Radener was awarded the Ritterkreuz in March 1945 and survived the war. He joined the Bundesluftwaffe but was killed in a flying accident on 8 January 1957 near Schongau.
Radener was credited with 37 victories and 14 unconfirmed victories, all recorded over the Western Front. These included 12 heavy bombers (10 USAAF, 2 RAF) with another 6 unconfirmed.