Rudolf Linz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 14 February 1917 Ilmenau, Grand Duchy of Saxony |
| Died | 9 February 1945 (aged 27) Meistad, Norway |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Buried | German war cemetery Bergen-Solheim Block 1—Row 17—Grave 10 |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service | Luftwaffe |
| Rank | Leutnant (second lieutenant) |
| Unit | JG 5 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Rudolf "Rudi" Linz (14 February 1917 – 9 February 1945) was a Luftwaffe (German air force) fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 70 aerial victories achieved in an unknown number of combat missions, becoming an "ace-in-a-day" on four separate occasions. All but two of his aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front. On 9 February 1945, he was shot down and killed in action in defense of the German destroyer Z33 and posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 March.