Rolf Kaldrack

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.

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 (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern) 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 40000 km. 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 in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

On 21 September, II.

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 (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse).

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 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 20 km 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 (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse) 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.