Rudolf Pflanz
Born1 July 1914
Ichenheim, German Empire
Died31 July 1942(1942-07-31) (aged 28)
Berck-sur-Mer, German-occupied France
Buried
Bourdon German war cemetery, France
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1935–1942
RankHauptmann (Posthumously)
UnitJG 2
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Rudolf Pflanz (1 July 1914 – 31 July 1942) was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Pflanz claimed 52 aerial victories, all of them over the Western Front.

Early life and career

Pflanz was born in July 1914 in Ichenheim, present-day part of Neuried, at the time in Grand Duchy of Baden of the German Empire.[1] He joined the Luftwaffe in 1935 and by 1938 was serving with Jagdgeschwader 131 (JG 131—131st Fighter Wing),[2] which on 1 May 1939 was redesignated Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing).[3]

World War II

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Pflanz claimed his first aerial victory on 30 April 1940 during the early Phoney War period over a Potez 63 northwest of Merzig.[4] At the time, Pflanz was serving with 3. Staffel (3rd squadron) of JG 2 which was commanded by Hauptmann Henning Strümpell. The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 2, based in Bassenheim and headed by Hauptmann Jürgen Roth.[5]

During the Battle of Britain, Pflanz was wingman to Major Helmut Wick in the Stab (headquarters unit) of I. Gruppe of JG 2 and later with the Geschwaderstab of JG 2. On 28 November 1940, Pflanz probably shot down Royal Air Force (RAF) ace Flight Lieutenant John Dundas of No. 609 Squadron just after Dundas had shot down and killed Wick.[6][7] By the end of 1940 Pflanz had eight victories.

On 23 July 1941 Pflanz claimed five Supermarine Spitfire fighters and a Hawker Hurricane shot down, and consequently claimed "ace-in-a-day" status.[8] JG 2 claimed 29 RAF fighters that day with a further 10 credited to JG 26. Actual RAF losses amounted to 15 aircraft suggesting a high degree of over-claiming.

After recording his 20th victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 1 August 1941. He received the award from Feldmarschall (Field Marschal) Hugo Sperrle with fellow JG 2 "Richthofen" pilots Leutnant Egon Mayer and Oberleutnant Erich Leie on that day. The triple award presentation was recorded by the Deutsche Wochenschau (German Weekly Review), a newsreel series released in the cinemas.[9]

On 5 October 1941, Oberleutnant Ulrich Adrian, the Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel of JG 2 was killed in action.[10] In consequence, Pflanz was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel in November.[11]

His grave at the Bourdon German war cemetery.

Oberleutnant Pflanz was appointed Staffelkapitän of 11. Staffel of JG 2 in May 1942, a special high-altitude unit equipped with the Bf 109G-1 fitted with pressurized cockpits. On 5 June he claimed three Spitfires downed over the Somme. On 31 July 1942, Pflanz was shot down and killed in action in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-1 (Werknummer 10318—factory number) south of Moncheaux.[12] He was succeeded by Oberleutnant Julius Meimberg as commander of 11. Staffel.[13] His victor may have been Sergeant William P. Kelly, an American pilit with the No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron. Pflanz is buried in the Bourdon German war cemetery, on the Somme.[14]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 52 aerial victory claimsall of which claimed on the Western Front.[15]

Chronicle of aerial victories

  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Pflanz an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.

Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[16]
"Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940
1 30 April 1940 19:20 Potez 63 northwest of Merzig[4]
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[16]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June – September 1940
2 11 August 1940 11:38 Hurricane 25 km (16 mi) off the Isle of Portland[17] 3 5 September 1940 16:10 Spitfire[18]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[16]
At the Channel and over England — September 1940 – 21 June 1941
4 27 September 1940 13:08 Spitfire[18] 5 30 September 1940 12:40 Spitfire[18]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[16]
At the Channel and over England — October 1940 – 21 June 1941
6 29 October 1940 15:30 Hurricane Portsmouth[19] 8 28 November 1940 17:18 Spitfire south of the Isle of Wight[20]
7 29 October 1940 15:25 Hurricane south of Portsmouth[20]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[15]
Western Front — 22 June – November 1941
9 22 June 1941 16:09 Spitfire[21] Saint-Omer-Gravelines 18♠ 23 July 1941 20:42 Spitfire[22] Hesdin-Berck
10 25 June 1941 12:55 Spitfire[21] vicinity of Boulogne-sur-Mer 19♠ 23 July 1941 20:46 Spitfire?[Note 1] 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Berck[22]
11 3 July 1941 11:50 Spitfire[21] 20 19 August 1941 12:20?[Note 2] Spitfire[22] over sea, north of Gravelines
12 10 July 1941 12:37 Spitfire[21] 21 19 August 1941 12:24 Spitfire north of Gravelines[22]
13 22 July 1941 14:01 Spitfire Hesdin[21] 22 20 September 1941 16:40 Spitfire[24]
14♠ 23 July 1941 13:20 Spitfire[22] 23 21 September 1941 16:40 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Dover[24]
15♠ 23 July 1941 13:27 Spitfire[22] vicinity of Forest of Éperlecques 24 21 September 1941 16:45 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Dover[24]
16♠ 23 July 1941 13:29 Spitfire[22] vicinity of Forest of Éperlecques 25 13 October 1941 15:36 Spitfire 50 km (31 mi) west of Étaples[24]
17♠ 23 July 1941 20:38 Spitfire west of Hesdin[22] 26 26 October 1941 13:09 Spitfire[24]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[23]
Western Front — 1 January – 30 June 1942
27 12 February 1942 15:37 Spitfire[25] 38 19 May 1942 20:54 Spitfire[26]
28 12 February 1942 15:39 Spitfire[25] 39 24 May 1942 19:16 Spitfire[26]
29 14 April 1942 12:52 Spitfire[25] vicinity of Caen 40 24 May 1942 19:24 P-40[26]
30 15 April 1942 14:32 Spitfire[25] 41 31 May 1942 19:42 Spitfire[26]
31 15 April 1942 19:25 Spitfire[25] 42 2 June 1942 11:01 Spitfire[26] Dieppe-Le Tréport
32 25 April 1942 11:17 Hurricane[25] 43 2 June 1942 17:55 Spitfire[26] Dieppe-Le Tréport
33 28 April 1942 11:36 Spitfire Gravelines[25] 44 3 June 1942 16:49 Spitfire[26] vicinity of Le Havre
34 28 April 1942 11:36?[Note 3] Spitfire Gravelines[25] 45 5 June 1942 15:38 Spitfire[26] Baie de Somme-Abbeville
35 1 May 1942 19:33 Spitfire[25] 46 5 June 1942 15:45 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) north-northeast of Le Tréport[26]
36 4 May 1942 19:38 Spitfire[26] 47 5 June 1942 15:46 Spitfire[26] Baie de Somme-Abbeville
37 17 May 1942 14:03 Spitfire[26] 48 11 June 1942 18:31?[Note 4] Spitfire[26]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[23]
Western Front — 1–31 July 1942
49 26 July 1942 13:42 Spitfire[27] 51 30 July 1942 19:32 Spitfire[27]
50 26 July 1942 13:43 Spitfire[27] 52 31 July 1942 15:02 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Berck[27]

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Hawker Hurricane.[23]
  2. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:24.[23]
  3. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:38.[23]
  4. ↑ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 18:38.[23]
  5. ↑ According to Scherzer as pilot in the Stab/Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".[29]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 178.
  2. ↑ Dixon 2023, p. 97.
  3. ↑ Prien et al. 2000, p. 107.
  4. 1 2 Prien et al. 2001, p. 61.
  5. ↑ Prien et al. 2001, pp. 57–58.
  6. ↑ Price 1996, p. 68.
  7. ↑ Ziegler 1971, p. 168.
  8. ↑ Weal 1999, p. 20.
  9. ↑ Weal 2000, pp. 78–79.
  10. ↑ Prien et al. 2003, p. 420.
  11. ↑ Prien et al. 2004, p. 230.
  12. ↑ Prien et al. 2004, p. 326.
  13. ↑ Prien et al. 2004, p. 321.
  14. 1 2 3 Dixon 2023, p. 98.
  15. 1 2 Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 957–958.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 957.
  17. ↑ Prien et al. 2002, p. 101.
  18. 1 2 3 Prien et al. 2002, p. 102.
  19. ↑ Prien et al. 2002, p. 79.
  20. 1 2 Prien et al. 2002, p. 80.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2003, p. 410.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Prien et al. 2003, p. 411.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 958.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 Prien et al. 2003, p. 412.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prien et al. 2004, p. 234.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Prien et al. 2004, p. 235.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Prien et al. 2004, p. 325.
  28. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 275.
  29. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 592.
  30. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 350.

Bibliography

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  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
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