victors were two Hawker Typhoons of No. 198 Squadron RAF, flown by F/L. (later Colonel) Raymond "Cheval" Lallamont DFC and F/O. George Hardy. His crew of Unteroffizier Rudolf Dunger and Unteroffizier Rudolf Walter were also killed. Their bodies were never recovered. On 25 April 1944, he was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (), the 465th officer or soldier of the Wehrmacht so honored. Vinke was credited with 54 aerial victories, all of them at night, claimed in approximately 150 combat missions operations. Summary of career Aerial victory claims Foreman, Parry and Mathews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 53 nocturnal victory claims Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Vinke with 51 claims. Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (27 February 1942) 1st Class (1 July 1942) Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold for Night Fighter (29 March 1943) in Gold (2 February 1944) Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 29 March 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 2 August 1943 as Feldwebel in the 5./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 19 September 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 11./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 465th Oak Leaves on 25 April 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 11./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 Promotions Notes References Citations Bibliography 1920 births 1944 deaths People from Barby, Germany People from the Province of Saxony Luftwaffe pilots German World War II flying aces Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Aviators killed by being shot down Reich Labour Service members Hitler Youth members Military personnel from Saxony-Anhalt