Rudolf Miethig

Rudolf Miethig
Born (1921-10-17)17 October 1921
Zwickau
Died 10 June 1943(1943-06-10) (aged 21)
near Krymskaja
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Luftwaffe
Years of service 1939–43
Rank Hauptmann
Unit JG 52
Commands held 3./JG 52
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Rudolf Miethig (17 October 1921 – 10 June 1943) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Miethig was credited with 101 aerial victories—that is, 101 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—and was killed in action following a midair collision with an enemy aircraft on 10 June 1943.[1]

Career

Miethig volunteered for service in the Luftwaffe in 1939. He was transferred to the 3./Jagdgeschwader 52 (3./JG 52—3rd squadron of the 52nd fighter wing) in the spring of 1941. 3./JG 52 at the time was stationed in the Netherlands. Miethig claimed his first aerial victory, a Supermarine Spitfire, in the fall of 1941.[2] On 8 June 1943, Miethig was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 41st Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[3]

Oberleutnant Miethig, Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 3./JG 52 was killed in a crash following combat with Yakovlev fighters on 10 June 1943 roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-east of Krymskaja, over the Kuban bridgehead. Miethig flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 14 602—factory number) had shot down one of the Yakovlev Yak-1 and collided with his crashing opponent, tearing off one of his wings. Miethig was posthumously awarded the German Cross in Gold as well as posthumously promoted to Hauptmann.[2]

Awards

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Spick 1996, p. 233.
  2. 1 2 3 Obermaier 1989, p. 169.
  3. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  4. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 311.
  5. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 311, 498.
  6. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 544.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • 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. 
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1. 
  • Weal, John (2001). Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-084-1. 
  • Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten (Aviation Elite Units). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4. 
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