Friedrich Rupp Explained

Friedrich Rupp
Birth Date:	26 November 1917
Birth Place:	Freiburg im Breisgau
Death Place:	North Sea
Nickname:	"Frieder"
Serviceyears:	1939-43
Rank:	Oberleutnant (Posthumously)
Unit:	JG 54
Battles:	World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Defense of the Reich
Awards:	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Friedrich "Frieder" Rupp (26 November 1917 – 15 May 1943) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Rupp was shot down on 15 May 1943 over the North Sea, he was posthumously promoted to Oberleutnant. During his career he was credited with 52 victories, 50 over the Eastern Front and 2 over the Western Front.

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 51 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim, all but one four-engined heavy bomber were claimed on the Eastern Front.

Awards

Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 1 July 1942 as Leutnant and pilot
German Cross in Gold on 27 October 1942 as Leutnant in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 24 January 1943 as Leutnant and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54

References

Bibliography

Book: Dixon , Jeremy . 2023 . Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945 . Barnsley . . 978-1-39903-073-1.
Book: Fellgiebel , Walther-Peer .
de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel
. 2000 . 1986 . Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile . The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches . de . Friedberg, Germany . Podzun-Pallas . 978-3-7909-0284-6.
Book: Mathews . Andrew Johannes . Foreman . John . 2015 . Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims – Volume 3 M–R . Walton-on-Thames, UK . Red Kite . 978-1-906592-20-2.
Book: Obermaier , Ernst . 1989 . Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 . The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945 . de . Mainz, Germany . Verlag Dieter Hoffmann . 978-3-87341-065-7.
Book: Patzwall . Klaus D. . Scherzer . Veit . 2001 . Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II . The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2 . de . Norderstedt, Germany . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . 978-3-931533-45-8.
Book: Patzwall . Klaus D. . 2008 . Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg . The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War . de . Norderstedt, Germany . Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall . 978-3-931533-08-3.
Book: Scherzer , Veit . 2007 . Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives . The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives . de . Jena, Germany . Scherzers Militaer-Verlag . 978-3-938845-17-2.
Book: Spick , Mike . 1996 . Luftwaffe Fighter Aces . New York . . 978-0-8041-1696-1 . registration .