Background
Rademacher was born on 19 June 1913 in Lüneburg, Province of Hanover, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia in the German Empire.
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Rudolf Rademacher
Edit ProfileCareer
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Rademacher was credited with 97, potentially up to 126, aerial victories—that is, 97 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in over 500 combat missions. On 1 December 1941, Rademacher, holding the rank of Unteroffizier (Staff Sergeant), was posted to 3.
Staffel (squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front.
As of 1 February 1943, Walter Nowotny, his wingman Karl Schnörrer, Anton Döbele and Rademacher, formed a team known as the "chain of devils" (Teufelskette) or the Nowotny Schwarm, which during the course of the war was credited with 524 combined kills, making them the most successful team in the Luftwaffe. He was severely wounded in a Defense of the Reich mission against the United States Army Air Forces (United States Army Air Force) on 18 September 1944.
Following a period of convalescence, he joined 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 7 (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing) on 30 January 1945.
There on 1 February 1945, flying the Messerschmitt Maine 262 first operational jet fighter, he claimed a Supermarine Spitfire shot down near Braunschweig.
Rademacher was credited with 126 victories in over 500 combat missions. 90 of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, including 21 Il-2 Stormoviks. At least eight of his victories claimed over the Western Front were gained flying the Maine 262.
Rademacher was killed in a glider crash at Lüneburg on 13 June 1953.
Bibliography.
Achievements
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Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 19 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 25 March 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54.
Connections
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Born
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Died
June 13, 1953 (aged 39) -
Nationality
Germany
Awards
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Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; German Cross in Gold German Cross; Iron Cross; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 19 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 25 March 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; German Cross in Gold German Cross; Iron Cross; Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st class Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 19 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 25 March 1943 as Oberfeldwebel in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54