Rudolf Rademacher | |
|---|---|
 Rudolf Rademacher | |
| Nickname(s) | Rudi |
| Born | 19 June 1913 Lüneburg |
| Died | 13 June 1953 (aged 39) Lüneburg |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service | Luftwaffe |
| Rank | Leutnant (second lieutenant) |
| Unit | JG 54, EJG 1, JG 7 |
| Battles / wars | See battles |
Rudolf "Rudi" Rademacher (19 June 1913 – 13 June 1953) was a German military aviator who served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 97, potentially up to 126, aerial victories—that is, 97 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in over 500 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, with sixteen claims over the Western Front, all of which were achieved while flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.
Rademacher was born on 19 June 1913 in Lüneburg, Province of Hanover, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. He served in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) in 1941, operating on the Eastern Front. He claimed his first aerial victory on 9 January 1942. In March 1943, Rademacher joined Schwarm, flight of four aircraft, headed by Walter Nowotny, the most successful fighter pilot team in the Luftwaffe. In September 1944, he served as a fighter pilot instructor and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1944. In January 1945, Rademacher was posted to Jagdgeschwader 7 "Nowotny" (JG 7—7th Fighter Wing), the first jet fighter wing. Rademacher died in a glider aircraft crash on 13 June 1953 in Lüneburg.