Rolf Pingel (1 October 1913 – 4 April 2000) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during Spanish Civil War and World War II. He is credited with six aerial victories during the Spanish Civil War and further 22 aerial victories on the Western Front of World War II. He flew about 550 combat missions, including approximately 200 in Spain. Born in Kiel, Pingel grew up in the Weimar Republic. He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe and was trained as a fighter pilot. During the Spanish Civil War, he volunteered for service in the Condor Legion. In Spain, he claimed his first aerial victory on 5 June 1937. For his service in Spain, he was decorated with the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. During World War II, Pingel claimed his first victory on 10 September 1939 as a squadron leader of 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53–53rd Fighter Wing). In August 1940, Pingel was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) where he became a group commander. There, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 September 1940. On 10 July 1941, his Messerschmitt Bf 109 was damaged in combat, resulting in a forced landing near St Margaret's at Cliffe and was captured by the British Home Guard. He was released in 1947 as a prisoner of war. Pingel died on 4 April 2000 in Lollar, Germany. Early life and career Pingel was born 1 October 1913 in Kiel, at the time in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1935, he began his flight training at Kitzingen Airfield, and was then posted to the Jagdfliegerschule at Schleißheim. After he completed his flight training, he was posted to I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134–134th Fighter Wing) in March 1937. During the Spanish Civil War, Pingel volunteered for service with the Condor Legion, a unit composed of volunteers from the Luftwaffe and from the Army which served with the Nationalists. There, he was assigned to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) under the command of Oberleutnant Günther Lützow. 2. Staffel was the first squadron to be fully equipped with the then new Messerschmitt Bf 109. On 8 July, during the Battle of Brunete, Pingel led a flight three aircraft () from 2. Staffel