Alfred Franke
Alfred Franke | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 September 1918 |
| Died | 9 September 1942 (aged 23) |
| Allegiance | File:Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg Nazi Germany |
| Branch | File:War ensign of Germany (1938–1945).svg Luftwaffe |
| Service years | ?-1942 |
| Rank | Leutnant (posthumously) |
| Unit | JG 53 |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
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Alfred Franke (20 September 1918 – 9 September 1942) was a German 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. On 9 September 1942, Alfred Franke was killed north of Stalingrad after dog-fighting with a Soviet Il-2 Shturmovik flown by Kapitan Pavel S. Vinogradov.[1] He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 29 October 1942 and was also promoted to Lieutenant. During his career he was credited with 60 aerial victories. 4 on the Western Front and 56 on the Eastern Front.
Summary of career
[edit | edit source]According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Franke was credited with 60 aerial victories.[2] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 58 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 54 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and four over the Western Allies.[3]
Awards
[edit | edit source]- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class and 1st Class[4]
- Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot[5]
- German Cross in Gold on 25 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 53[6]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 2./Jagdgeschwader 53[7][8]
References
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ^ Bergström et al. 2006, p. 46.
- ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 331–333.
- ^ Dixon 2023, p. 277.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 79.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 119.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 185.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 316.
Bibliography
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