Rudolf Pflanz

Rudolf "Rudi" Pflanz (1 July 1914 – 31 July 1942) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Pflanz claimed 52 aerial victories, all of them over the Western Front. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Pflanz was born in July 1914 in Ichenheim. He joined the Luftwaffe and by 1938 was serving with JG 131, which was later redesignated Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing). Following the outbreak of war Pflanz recorded his first victory on 30 April 1940 sharing a Potez 63/11 reconnaissance aircraft with two other pilots of 3 staffel. His next victory was on 14 May, when he shot down a Bristol Blenheim bomber.

During the Battle of Britain, Pflanz was wingman to Major Helmut Wick in the Stab I./JG 2, and on 28 November 1940 probably shot down Royal Air Force (RAF) ace F/L John Dundas of No. 609 Squadron just after Dundas had shot down and killed Wick. By the end of 1940 Pflanz had eight victories.

On 23 July 1941 Pflanz claimed five Spitfires and a Hurricane shot down. After recording his 20th victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 August 1941, and by the end of the year his total was 23. Oberleutnant Pflanz was appointed Staffelkapitän of 11./JG 2 in May 1942, a special high-altitude unit equipped with the Bf 109G-1 fitted with pressurised cockpits. On 5 June claimed three Spitfires downed over the Somme. On 31 July 1942 Rudolf Pflanz was killed while engaging Spitfires of No. 121 Squadron over Berck-sur-Mer, France. He shot down one but was then shot down and killed in a Bf 109 G-1. Pflanz is buried on the war cemetery at Bourdon, on the Somme.

He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Hauptmann. Pflanz was credited with 52 victories, all recorded over the Western Front, which included 45 Spitfires.

Awards

 * Flugzeugführerabzeichen
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (24 July 1941)
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 August 1941 as Oberleutnant and pilot 1./Jagdgeschwader 2
 * German Cross in Gold on 16 July 1942 as Oberleutnant in the I./Jagdgeschwader 2