Date of birth:

July 22nd, 1921 (Dortmund/Westphalia, Germany)

Date of death:

March 7th, 2007 (Dortmund/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Udo Cordes was affectionately known as "The Locomotive Killer" and served with KG-3 and then with Stuka Geschwader 2 (SG-2). In total he flew 296 sorties and destroyed 81 locomotives (among other things).

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (Pilot Officer)

Unit:

Flugzeugführer

Awarded on:

September 7th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (Pilot Officer)

Unit:

4. Staffel, II. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 3 "Blitz", Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

November 7th, 1942

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Leutnant (Pilot Officer)

Unit:

Flugzeugführer, 9.(Eis) Staffel, III. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 3 "Blitz", Luftwaffe

Awarded on:

June 12th, 1943

Awarded for his successes over the course of about 150 sorties. His principle successes were as a train buster, and in this capacity he destroyed 41 locomotives and 19 complete trains (including 2 with tank cars and 3 ammunition trains). In addition he had also destroyed 11 tanks, 2 AA batteries and 2 aircraft by this time.

According to several other sources the RK was received on May 25th 1943.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
• Photo 2:
• - OBERMAIER, ERNST, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe, Verlag Dieter Hoffmann, Mainz, 1976.
  - PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
  - PATZWALL, K. D., Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2008.
  - Original Documents