Rudolf Wagner (pilot)

This article is about German World War II fighter pilot. For others with the same name, see Rudolf Wagner.

Leutnant Rudolf Wagner
Born	(1921-10-29)29 October 1921 Essingen (Württemberg), Germany
Died	11 December 1943(1943-12-11) (aged 22) Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine
Buried	Missing in action
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1941–1943
Rank	Leutnant
Unit	JG 51
Commands held	10./JG 51
Battles/wars	World War II Eastern Front
Awards	German Cross Iron Cross x2 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Lt. Rudolf Wagner (29 October 1921 – 11 December 1943) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Rudolf Wagner was credited with 81 arial victories all over the Eastern Front (World War II). He was missing in action over Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine, in 1943 during WWII.

Career

Wagner scored many of his victories while piloting his Messerschmitt Bf 109

Wagner entered the military on May 11, 1941 as an Oberfeldwebel. When he completed his training he was assigned to o IV./JG 51 - Jagdgeschwader 51. In early 1942 and he served as Otto Gaiser's wingman. Wagner scored 81 aerial victories most of then while he was piloting a Messerschmitt Bf 109; he also may have recorded kills while flying a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in 1943.

Wagner was missing in action in 1943 over Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. He is regularly mentioned among the best Ace pilots. Wagner is still considered missing in action.

Awards

• German Cross
• Iron Cross x2
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

See also

• List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (W)
• List of World War II aces from Germany
• List of World War II flying aces

References

Bibliography

• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• 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] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• 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] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.