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Weigel, Rudolf

Date of birth:
May 10th, 1913 (Ludwigshafen/Baden, Germany)
Date of death:
April 18th, 1945 (Wriezen/Brandenburg, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Flew a total of about 500 sorties with the Ju 87.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Stabsfeldwebel
Unit:
7. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
October 15th, 1941

Name written in Patzwall / Scherzer as Brunhold
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Stabsfeldwebel
Unit:
Flugzeugführer, 7. Staffel, III. Gruppe, Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
April 27th, 1942
The following newspaper excerpt (dated 06.05.1942) describes why Weigel received the Knight’s Cross…

“By now Stabsfeldwebel Rudolf Weigel has achieved outstanding feats over the course of 271 sorties flown. His amazing boldness was evident even as early as the Polish campaign, a time in which he achieved directs hits on 4 railroad bridges and destroyed an ammunition train as well as a troop transport. Stabsfeldwebel Weigel continued to achieve great successes in the West from the commencement of combat. His bombs brought about direct hits on two forts near Lüttich as well as hostile transport trains and truck assemblies. During operations against shipping near Dunkirk he sunk a British destroyer and a medium troop transport despite the presence of heavy AA fire. In the southeastern campaign he likewise achieved several direct hits against a British troop transport.

169 of his sorties have been flown against the Soviet Union, and in this capacity he has destroyed over 10 AA batteries and 20 artillery positions. He has scored hits against bridges, bridgeheads, multiple transport/ammunition trains and tank assembly areas. Such successes have brought significant relief for our own ground troops.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo