Rudolf Frank, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetRudolf Frank
German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
About Rudolf Frank
- 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.
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