Rudolf Frank | |
|---|---|
 Frank as Oberfeldwebel | |
| Born | 19 August 1920 Karlsruhe-Grünwinkel, Republic of Baden, Weimar Republic |
| Died | 27 April 1944 (aged 23) Heeze, German-occupied Netherlands |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Buried | Ysselsteyn, Netherlands (Block Z—Row 6—Grave 149) |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service |  Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1939–1944 |
| Rank | Leutnant (posthumously) |
| Unit | NJG 3 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (posthumously) |
Rudolf Frank (19 August 1920 – 27 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a night fighter ace credited with 45 enemy aircraft shot down in 183 combat missions. All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front in nocturnal Defense of the Reich missions against the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command.
Born in Karlsruhe-Grünwinkel, Frank volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1939 after finishing school. Following flight training, he was posted to Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 (NJG 3—3rd Night Fighter Wing) in 1941. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944 following his 42nd aerial victory. Three weeks later, on 27 April 1944, he and his crew attacked an Avro Lancaster, which exploded and fatally damaged their own aircraft. Frank ordered his crew to bail out but was unable to save himself. He received posthumous promotion to Leutnant (second lieutenant) and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.