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The Kracker Luftwaffe Archive: Axis Powers Pilots and Crew

Data derived from many sources. Perfection is our goal: Corrections and Additions are encouraged and requested. Please Email us
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In some cases you can see a pilot's extended record of victories in date order from our Luftwaffe Victories database
To see a list of German WW2 Aces consult German WW2 Aces Database
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We are very keen to receive your Luftwaffe crew images, such as the one below. This is a rare image of a group of unknown Luftwaffe crew members which we rescued from a museum
in Riga, Latvia that was closing down. If you can identify any of the personnel please let us know.



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You searched for: “ruffer”

#PilotRankBornPlaceScoreUnitsAircraftAwardsNotesPhoto
(Click to Expand)		Links
1 Krause, WaltherObstStfkpt 10(Pz)/SG-9 (12/43 to 3/44 repl Oblt Dornemann)Hs 129B-2Assault Operational ClaspHe was a Lt when Stfkpt, and was replaced by Hptm Rudi Ruffer (RK). Later Obst and believed to have survived the war. Found on a SG-9 Personnel list. Source: Colin Fuller.
2 Ruffer, Rudolf HeinzHptm1/7/1920Eisenhammer Schlesien 1/ERG Jagdgruppe Ost, 8(Pz)/Sch.G.-1, 11(Pz)/SG-9, Stfkpt 10(Pz)/SG-9 (3/44 Vinnitsa Ukraine) Bf 109, Hs 129B-2/R-2 Werk# 0364, Hs 129B-2 Werk # 141966 (lost 7/16/44) RK(6/9/44)

Deutsches Kreuz - Gold(3/20/44)

EK 1 & 2
EP (11/8/43), Assault Operational Clasp w/"300" hanger 		KIA 16 July, 1944 at 1930 hours on a low-level mission against a Soviet tank breakthrough between Kovel and Lemberg (Lviv, aka Lemberg) Russia, when his AC took a direct flak hit over the Radekhiv- Stoyaniv railroad, crashing in flames NE of Lviv. Shot down behind Russian Lines in the winter of 42-43 by Russian AA fire, however rescued by German Infantry. At the time, he was serving in "Special Detachment Stepp". 300 missions, 80 tanks destroyed (72 in 80 missions!). Added: The VDK says Hptm Ruffer's remains have not been transferred to a military cemetery because his gravesite has yet to be found (D.Drury).
3 Schulze, WilliUffz10/1/1917BorringhausenI/NJG-3 (Vechta)Bf 110C-2 Werk # 3025 "D5 + ??" (lost 5/21/41) Night Fighter Operational Clasp KIC 21 May, 1941; crash location unknown, buried Görlitz Friedhof, Block 29/2/35. Source: A. Rosseels. Added: Pilot and Prüfmeister Willy Rüffer killed when both engines failed while on a workshop flight in the area of the Vechta airfield (F.Braun).
4 Weber, GebhardLt9/1/1921 Stfkpt 13(Pz)/SG-9 (3/44 Ukraine), Stfkpt 10(Pz)/SG-9 (7/44 to wars end, S.U.) Hs 129B-2Assault Operational Clasp Weber replaced Rudi Ruffer of 10 Staffel after he was killed. He earlier replaced a "Wenzel" who was Stfkpt in 13(PZ)/SG-9 and was wounded in March, 1944. This may be Lt Günter Wenzel, however I had no previous knowledge of his being in SG-9. Source: SG-9 Personnel list via Colin Fuller.

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Wer vor der Vergangenheit die Augen verschließt, wird blind für die Gegenwart. Richard von Weizsäcker

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