Rudolf 'Rudi' Rademacher
Rudolf 'Rudi' Rademacher was born on 19 July 1913 at Lüneburg. Unteroffizier Rademacher served with 3./JG 54 on the Eastern front from 1 December 1941. He achieved his first victory on 9 January 1942 on his fifth combat mission. He was awarded the Ehrenpokal on 19 October 1942. By the end of 1942 he had claimed 22 victories. In March 1943, he was transferred to 1./JG 54, the famous “Nowotny Schwarm” led by Walter Nowotny (258 victories, RK-Br, killed in action 8 November 1944) and also including Anton Döbele (94 victories, RK, killed in action 11 November 1943) and Karl “Quax” Schnörrer (46 victories, RK). Together the pilots of the Schwarm were to total over 500 victories between them. He claimed seven enemy aircraft shot down in one day on 5 July 1943 to record his victories 39 through 45. Rademacher was promoted Oberfeldwebel whilst serving with 1./JG 54. On 30 April 1943 he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz. On 30 August 1944 he was transferred to 1./Jagdgruppe Nord, redesignated Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 1 on 4 November 1944, based at Sagan, to undertake instructing duties. Despite his training duties Rademacher was able to engage in aerial combat and claimed five enemy aircraft shot down, including four four-engined bombers and P-47, during his stay with the unit. On 18 September 1944, during an attack on a formation of USAAF bombers, he was badly wounded when he was shot down in Fw 190 A-8 (W.Nr. 350193) “White 13”. On 30 September 1944, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 81 victories.
In January 1945, Leutnant Rademacher transferred to 11./JG 7 where he undertook conversion training on to the Me 262 jet fighter. The training consisted of six flights totalling 150 minutes before he was declared operational. On 1 February 1945, he gained his first victory flying the jet, a RAF Spitfire over Braunschweig. In February 1945, he scored at least seven victories according to some sources. Rademacher was to be credited with at least 16 victories, including several Herausschüsse, flying the Me 262, although sources do differ over his final tally crediting him with scores as low as eight and as high as 24. “Rudi” Rademacher survived the war only to be killed in a glider crash at Lüneburg on 13 June 1953.
Rudolf Rademacher’s final score is a matter of some conjecture. Sources claim his total to be 97, 102 and 126 in more than 500 missions. Some claim he had an additional 23 unconfirmed victories. It is thought he gained 76 victories over the Eastern front with JG 54, including 21 Il-2 Stormoviks and 7 Pe-2, and a further five whilst with JGr. Nord. To this can be added his jet victories, at least 16, including 11 four-engined bombers.
Units: 3./JG54 (12/41), 1./JG54 (3/43), 1/Erg./JG1 (8/44) aka JGr-Nord, 11./JG7 (1/45)
Awards: RK(9/30/44), DK-G(4/30/43), EP(10/19/42), EK 1 & 2, Wnd Bdg, Gldr Bdg, Fighter Oper Clasp w/Pend
Known Aircraft: Bf 109F, Fw 190A-4 'White 6' in 1/JG-54, Fw 190A-8 WNr 350193 'White 13'(lost 9/18/44), Me 262
Remarks: 10 Bombers. 8 at Sagan Germany. Over 500 missions. 90 victories in the East, 25-30 with JG-7. One of the early eastern victories, three Soviet P-40's of 158 IAP in the Lake Ladoga area on 25 February, 1942. An I-153 on 30 July, 1942. A Yak-4 on 8 September, 1942. An Il-2 on 6 November, 1942. Three LaGG-5's and an Il-2 on 15 January, 1943. Two Il-2's on 7 March, 1943. Three LaGG-3's, two La-5's, a P-39, and an Il-2 on 5 July, 1943. On 18 September, 1944, in 'White 13', during an attack on a four-engine bomber, he was shot down and seriously wounded. Two B-24's and a B-17 near Halle on 3 February, 1945. A frequent wingman for Walter Nowotny. He achieved 16 victories in the Me 262, including B-24 # 44-50838 piloted by Robt. Mains of the 448BG on 4 April, 1945. Only one of the crew survived the deadly R4M missile of the Me 262. His final score is a matter of conjecture, ranging from 97 to 126. He was killed 13 June, 1953 in the crash of a glider at Lüneburg. Photo
No Date Time A/c Type Unit Location - Comments 1. 9.1.1942 10:30 Il-2 3./JG 54 ? 25.2.1942 10:57 P-40 3./JG 54 ? 5.3.1942 16:45 P-40 3./JG 54 ? 8.3.1942 16:45 SB-2 3./JG 54 ? 13.3.1942 18:53 I-16 3./JG 54 ? 14.3.1942 10:57 I-16 3./JG 54 ? 15.3.1942 11:36 I-16 3./JG 54 ? 20.3.1942 6:40 I-16 3./JG 54 ? 5.4.1942 14:38 P-40 3./JG 54 ? 18.4.1942 7:02 I-153 3./JG 54 ? 30.4.1942 14:52 MiG-3 3./JG 54 ? 29.5.1942 20:25 Yak-1 3./JG 54 ? 10.7.1942 5:02 P-40 3./JG 54 ? 20.7.1942 15:26 Pe-2 3./JG 54 ? 6.11.1942 11:32 Il-2 3./JG 54 00 152 at 400 m 39. 5.7.1943 7:10 LaGG-3 1./JG 54 63 411 at 3000 m 40. 5.7.1943 9:52 LaGG-3 1./JG 54 63 742 at 2500 m 41. 5.7.1943 9:58 LaGG-3 1./JG 54 53 862 at 1600 m 42. 5.7.1943 15:43 Airacobra 1./JG 54 63 581 at 1500 m 43. 5.7.1943 15:50 La-5 1./JG 54 63 572 at 1000 m 44. 5.7.1943 18:42 Il-2 1./JG 54 63 693 45. 5.7.1943 18:53 La-5 1./JG 54 63 554 at 3000 m ? 7.2.1944 7:45 La-5 1./JG 54 06 733 at 4000 m 77.-81. IX.1944 - Viermot 1./JGr. Nord 77.-81. IX.1944 - Viermot 1./JGr. Nord 77.-81. IX.1944 - Viermot 1./JGr. Nord 77.-81. IX.1944 - Viermot 1./JGr. Nord 77.-81. IX.1944 - P-47 1./JGr. Nord 82. 1.2.1945 - Spitfire 11./JG 7 Braunschweig / Possibly Tempest of 274 Sqn RAF flown by Flt Lt GJ Bruce 83. 3.2.1945 - B-24 11./JG 7 84. 3.2.1945 - B-24 11./JG 7 85. 9.2.1945 - B-17 11./JG 7 Berlin area 86. 9.2.1945 - B-17 11./JG 7 Berlin area 87. 14.2.1945 - B-17 11./JG 7 Lübeck-Neumünster 88. 16.2.1945 - P-51 11./JG 7 Near Hannover / P-51 of 325FG, USAAF flown by 1st Lt BT Crosby, killed 89. 24.2.1945 - B-24 11./JG 7 Possibly B-17 of 94BG, USAAF 90. 27.2.1945 - B-24 11./JG 7 Halle-Leipzig 91. 18.3.1945 11:14 B-17 11./JG 7 Salzwedel / Possibly B-17 of 100BG, USAAF 92. 19.3.1945 - P-51 11./JG 7 Near Chemnitz 93. 24.3.1945 - B-17 11./JG 7 Near Wittenberge 94. 25.3.1945 10:20 B-24 HSS 11./JG 7 W Ulzen 95. 31.3.1945 - P-51 HSS 11./JG 7 96. 4.4.1945 - B-24 11./JG 7 S Bremen 97. 10.4.1945 - P-51 11./JG 7 Victories : 97
Awards : Knight`s Cross
Units : JG 54, JGr. Nord, JG 7Asisbiz database list of 95 aerial victories for Rudolf Rademacher
Date Pilot Name Unit EA Type Height Time Location Friday, January 09, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 10:30 Wednesday, February 25, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 P-40 Kittyhawk 10:57 Thursday, March 05, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 P-40 Kittyhawk 16:45 Friday, March 13, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-16 Rata 18:53 Saturday, March 14, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-16 Rata 10:57 Sunday, March 15, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-16 Rata 11:36 Friday, March 20, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-16 Rata 06:40 Sunday, April 05, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 P-40 Kittyhawk 14:38 Saturday, April 18, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-153 05:07 Thursday, April 30, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 MiG-3 14:52 Friday, May 29, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Yak-1 20:25 Friday, July 10, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 P-40 Kittyhawk 07:05 Monday, July 20, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Pe-2 15:26 Thursday, July 30, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-153 10m 15:07 71 794 Wednesday, August 19, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Pe-2 1800m 18:47 ostwarts Lubroff Friday, August 21, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-16 Rata 400m 06:35 47 562 Sunday, August 23, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-16 Rata 300m 06:25 47 594 Tuesday, August 25, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-16 Rata 150m 17:38 47 542 Wednesday, August 26, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 MiG-3 2000m 06:10 47 852 Tuesday, September 08, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Yak-4 2000m 10:37 01 811 Friday, September 11, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Pe-2 500m 07:30 00 250 Friday, November 06, 1942 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 400m 11:32 00 152 Friday, January 15, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 LaGG-5 2000m 12:47 10 251 Friday, January 15, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 LaGG-5 3500m 09:36 10 242 Friday, January 15, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 100m 13:03 00 264 Friday, January 15, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 LaGG-5 2000m 12:52 10 124 Saturday, January 16, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 200m 12:40 00 293 Monday, January 25, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 200m 10:17 10 144 Tuesday, January 26, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 P-40 Warhawk 1000m 13:30 10 141 Wednesday, January 27, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 LaGG-3 1500m 10:26 10 143 Wednesday, February 10, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 I-153 200m 08:46 00 283 Friday, February 19, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Pe-2 300m 15:25 10 473 Monday, February 22, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 300m 13:40 10 322 Sunday, March 07, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 200m 14:26 18 382 Sunday, March 07, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 300m 14:13 18 354 Monday, March 15, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 LaGG-3 1000m 07:55 18 244 Monday, March 15, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 LaGG-5 1000m 10:53 18 253 Monday, March 22, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 600m 15:27 00 274 Thursday, April 01, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 400m 16:55 10 331 Thursday, April 01, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 3./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 600m 17:31 10 332 Monday, July 05, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 La-5 3000m 18:53 63 554 Monday, July 05, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 LaGG-3 3000m 07:10 63 411 Monday, July 05, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 LaGG-3 2500m 09:52 63 742 Monday, July 05, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 LaGG-3 1600m 09:58 53 862 Monday, July 05, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 P-39 Aircobra 1500m 15:43 63 581 Monday, July 05, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 La-5 1000m 15:50 63 572 Monday, July 05, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik Low Level 18:42 63 693 Tuesday, July 06, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 La-5 1000m 14:07 63 711 Tuesday, July 06, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 La-5 2500m 14:25 63 583 Wednesday, July 07, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Yak-7 2000m 08:40 63 574 Wednesday, July 07, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 LaGG-3 200m 18:11 63 734 Thursday, July 08, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 LaGG-3 1000m 13:17 63 832 Saturday, July 10, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 P-39 Aircobra 100m 10:53 63 521 Sunday, July 11, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 P-39 Aircobra 500m 18:57 63 554 Tuesday, July 13, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 200m 14:02 54 441 Tuesday, July 13, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 200m 14:09 54 442 Tuesday, July 13, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 200m 14:14 54 443 Friday, July 16, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 LaGG-3 1500m 08:16 54 312 Saturday, July 17, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-4 400m 10:42 63 394 Tuesday, July 20, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 600m 13:06 54 872 Thursday, October 14, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 LaGG-3 2000m 08:06 15 542 Thursday, November 11, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 100m 10:34 06 734 Monday, November 29, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 100m 13:16 96 664 Wednesday, December 08, 1943 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Yak-9 1500m 07:10 06 562 Monday, February 07, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 La-5 4000m 07:45 06 733 Saturday, February 12, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 La-5 10m 11:17 05 221 Thursday, February 24, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 La-5 500m 14:50 40 834 Wednesday, March 08, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 300m 16:33 60 614 Tuesday, March 21, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 20m 09:25 70 451 Sunday, March 26, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Pe-2 150m 17:34 70 691 Sunday, March 26, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Pe-2 3500m 17:28 70 484 Saturday, April 01, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 20m 15:16 88 369 Sunday, April 02, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Il-2 Sturmovik 800m 11:48 70 353 Monday, April 03, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Pe-2 3000m 17:10 66 439 Friday, May 26, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 La-5 1500m 18:47 80 315 Thursday, July 27, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Yak-9 3000m 15:54 NF-38 (SE Telshi) Saturday, July 29, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Yak-9 1000m 19:06 ML-84 Saturday, July 29, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 Yak-9 1200m 19:09 NL-22 Sunday, August 06, 1944 Rudolf Rademacher 1./JG54 P-39 Aircobra 4500m 17:50 LK-72 (SE Bausha) Thursday, February 01, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 Spitfire - Braunschweig Saturday, February 03, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-24 Liberator - - Saturday, February 03, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-24 Liberator - - Friday, February 09, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-24 Liberator - Raum Berlin Friday, February 09, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-24 Liberator - Raum Berlin Wednesday, February 14, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-17 Fortress - Kiel Friday, February 16, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 P-51 Mustang - Raum Hanover Saturday, February 24, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-24 Liberator - E. Luneburg Tuesday, February 27, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-17 Fortress - Raum Halle-Leipzig Sunday, March 18, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-17 Fortress 11:14 Raum Nauen-Rathenow-Brandenburg-Potsdam Monday, March 19, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 P-51 Mustang - Raum Chemnitz Saturday, March 24, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-17 Fortress - Raum Dessau Sunday, March 25, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-24 HSS 10:20 Lauenburg Saturday, March 31, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 P-51 Mustang - - Wednesday, April 04, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 B-17 Fortress - S. Bremen Tuesday, April 10, 1945 Rudolf Rademacher 11./JG7 P-51 Mustang - -
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