Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Knacke claimed 44 aerial victories. Knacke was shot down in aerial combat with a Halifax bomber on 3 February 1943.
His radio operator, Unteroffizier Kurt Bundrock, managed to bail out from the burning aircraft.
Knacke was found dead next to his crashed Messerschmitt Bf 110-F4 (Werksnummer 4683—factory number) "G9+Denmark" 3 kilometres (19 mi) east of Achterveld, Netherlands.
