Heinrich Krafft

Heinrich "Gaudi" Krafft (13 August 1914 – 14 December 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. Heinrich Krafft was born on 13 August 1914, the son of an engineer in Bilin, Sudetenland. He joined the Wehrmacht in 1935 and volunteered for the Luftwaffe in 1936. Krafft was killed on 14 December 1942 after being beaten by Soviet troops following a crash landing. During his career he was credited with 78 aerial victories, 4 over the Western Front and 74 over the Eastern Front.

Awards

 * Aviator badge
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Black or Silver
 * German Cross in Gold (25 January 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 March 1942 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"