Anton-Rudolf Piffer

Anton-Rudolf Piffer (16 May 1918 – 17 June 1944) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Piffer was credited with 35 victories. All his victories were recorded over the Western front and included 26 four-engine bombers.

Career
He joined the Luftwaffe in 1938. He failed to claim any victory during earlier days of World War II. Piffer was posted to JG 1 on 3 April 1942, based in the Netherlands. Feldwebel Piffer was assigned to 11./JG 1. At last he was successful on 19 September, when he shot down a RAF Mosquito twin-engine photo-reconnaissance aircraft over Osnabrück, Germany. The unit was redesignated 2./JG 1 on 1 April 1943. By the end of 1943, Oberfeldwebel Piffer added 17 victories to his tally. However, he was wounded on 18 October 1943 when his Fw 190 A-6 suffered engine and he had to conduct an emergency landing near Terwolde. He was wounded again in aerial combat with USAAF bombers and fighters on 11 November.

On 8 April 1944, Piffer shot down a USAAF B-24 four-engine bomber near Salzwedel but was shot down himself in Fw 190 A-8 "Black 3". He was wounded again in the encounter. Piffer was promoted to the rank of Leutnant and appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 1 on 1 May 1944.

On 16 June, Piffer shot down two RAF Supermarine Spitfire fighters over the Invasion front. On 17 June 1944, Piffer was shot down and killed in his Fw 190 A-8 "White 3" in aerial combat with P-47 fighters of the 354th Fighter Group over La Cordonniere. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 October 1944.

Piffer was credited with total 35 victories.

Awards

 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (24 April 1944)
 * German Cross in Gold (29 March 1944)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 October 1944 (posthumously) as Leutnant and Staffelführer of the 1./JG 1 "Oesau"