Rolf Kaldrack
Introduction ''' Rolf Kaldrack ''' (25 June 1913 – 3 February 1942) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the  Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. Kaldrack is credited with at least 24 aerial victories, 3 of which claimed during the Spanish Civil War flying with ''Aufklärungsgruppe'' 88 of the Condor Legion.
Early life and career Kaldrack was born on 25 June 1913 in Stargard, at the time in the Province of Pomerania of the German Empire, present-day in northwestern Poland. He was the son of officer Otto Kaldrack who served as a ''Generalmajor'' in the ''Wehrmacht''. Kaldrack volunteered for military service in the ''Kriegsmarine'' of Nazi Germany in 1934 and transferred to the Luftwaffe a year later.In November 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, Kaldrack flew on as an aerial observer on a Heinkel He 70 Blitz aerial reconnaissance aircraft belonging to ''Aufklärungsgruppe'' 88 of the Condor Legion. In March 1937, he flew on as an aerial observer with ''Kampfgruppe'' 88.Kaldrack later claimed three aerial victories in Spain and was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords () on 14 April 1939, for his service in the Spanish Civil War. After he returned from Spain, Kaldrack served on the staff of ''Generaloberst'' Erhard Milch in the ''Reichsluftfahrtministerium'' (RLM—Ministry of Aviation).In early 1939, Kaldrack, together with Wilhelm Balthasar and Anhäuser, flew a Siebel Fh 104 Hallore twin-engined transport aircraft on one of the longest flights to Africa, covering . In July, Kaldrack was posted to II. ''Gruppe'' (2nd group) of ''Zerstörergeschwader'' 1 (ZG 1—1st Destroyer Wing). Here, Kaldrack initial served with 6. ''Staffel'' (6th squadron) of ZG 1 under the command of ''Oberleutnant'' Dietrich Robitzsch.
World War II World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 21 September, II. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 1 was renamed and became ''Jagdgruppe'' 101 (JGr. 101—101st Fighter Group). In consequence, 6. ''Staffel'' of ZG 1 became the 3. ''Staffel'' of JGr. 101.On 31 October, JGr. 101 moved to Neumünster airfield in northern Germany.On 18 December, during the Battle of the Heligoland Bight, Kaldrack claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Royal Air Force (RAF) Vickers Wellington approximately  southwest of Heligoland. During the aerial battle, his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 (''Werknummer'' 3397—factory number) sustained combat damage, resulting in a forced landing at Westerland on the island of Sylt. For this victory, Kaldrack received the Iron Cross 2nd Class () the next day.Later in December, Kaldrack was transferred and appointed ''Staffelkapitän'' (squadron leader) of 1. ''Staffel'' of JGr. 101, replacing ''Hauptmann'' Hans-Otto Winterer. On 1 March 1940, the ''Staffel'' became the 4. ''Staffel'' of ZG 1.Kaldrack claimed his second aerial victory on 24 May during the Battle of France. He claimed his victory over a Westland Lysander aircraft, although it may have been Latécoère 298 aircraft although his Messerschmitt Bf 110 sustained combat damage. During the landing attempt at Trier-Euren Airfield, the aircraft overturned injuring Kaldrack and his radio operator ''Feldwebel'' Eich Hermanski. On 9 June, he was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class ().On 26 June, II. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 1 was renamed and became III. ''Gruppe'' of ''Zerstörergeschwader'' 76 (ZG 76—76th Destroyer Wing). In consequence, Kaldrack commanded 7. ''Staffel'' of ZG 76.On 11 July, during the ''Kanalkampf'' phase of the Battle of Britain, III. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 76 supported Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers in their attack on enemy shipping. The Ju 87 dive bombers sank . In support of this attack, Kaldrack claimed a Hawker Hurricane fighter shot down. On 16 August, Kaldrack was appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 76 after its former commander ''Hauptmann'' Friedrich-Karl Dickoré was killed in action. The ''Gruppe'' was then ordered to Stavanger-Sola Airfield in October. On 27 January 1941, Kaldrack claimed a RAF Lockheed Hudson light bomber from No. 224 Squadron off the coast of Norway. Hudson ''N7358'' was reported missing over the North Sea, all four members of the crew were killed. On 24 April, III. ''Gruppe'' of ZG 76 became II. ''Gruppe'' of ''Schnellkampfgeschwader'' 210 (SKG 210—210th Fast-Bomber Wing).===Operation Barbarossa===In preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, SKG 210 was ordered to airfields close to the German-Soviet demarcation line. Here, SKG 210 was attached to II. ''Fliegerkorps'' (2nd Air Corps), which was subordinated to ''Luftflotte'' 2 (Air Fleet 2), supporting Army Group Centre. Attacking a Soviet airfield at Kozova on 30 June, Kaldrack claimed a Polikarpov I-16 fighter aircraft shot dwon.Kaldrack and his aerial gunner ''Unteroffizier'' Martin Enke were killed in action on 3 February 1942 south of Toropets during the Toropets–Kholm offensive. Kaldrack flying a Bf 110 E-1 "S9+IC" (''Werksnummer'' 4057), collided with a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 fighter he had just shot down. Posthumously, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold () on 5 February and the 70th Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (), the first ''Zerstörer'' pilot to be so honored.
Summary of career ===Aerial victory claims===According to Heaton, Lewis, Olds and Schulze, Kaldrack was credited with 24 aerial victories, including three during the Spanish Civil War. Mathews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the German Federal Archives and state that he was credited with approximately 24 aerial victories. This number includes three claims during the Spanish Civil War, 18 on the Western Front, and eight on the Eastern Front.===Awards===* Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939)* Iron Cross (1939) ** 2nd Class (19 December 1939)** 1st Class (9 June 1940)* German Cross in Gold on 5 February 1942 (posthumously) as ''Hauptmann'' in the II./''Schnellkampfgeschwader'' 210* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves** Knight's Cross on 2 November 1940 as ''Hauptmann'' and ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III./''Zerstörergeschwader'' 76** 70th Oak Leaves on 9 February 1942 (posthumously) as ''Hauptmann'' and ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of II./''Schnellkampfgeschwader'' 210
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