Rudolf Resch

Rudolf Resch (7 April 1914 – 11 July 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, a fighter ace listed with 94 enemy aircraft shot down.

A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.

He was credited with one aerial during the Spanish Civil War and further 93 on the Eastern Front of World War II.

Resch was born on 7 April 1914 in Kamenz, at the time in the Kingdom of Saxony, part of the German Empire.

His father was a professor of Slavic studies at the Dresden University of Technology.

In early 1938, he joined the Condor Legion and was posted to 2.

On 14 April 1939, he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern), for his service in the Spanish Civil War.

Following his return to Germany, he served as an instructor at the Jagdfliegerschule Schleißheim, the fighter pilot school at Schleißheim.

World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

Resch was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3.

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) in April 1940 during the "Phoney War" period of World War II.

He replaced Oberleutnant Werner Eichel.

On 6 October 1940, Resch was transferred and made Staffelkapitän of 6.

He claimed his first aerial victory of World War II on 22 June 1941, the day German forces launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.

On 15 January 1941, the Gruppe moved to Ypenburg Airfield where they stayed until 10 February.

In preparation of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, II.

On 6 September 1942, Resch was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after 58 aerial victories claimed in World War II.

Resch was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of IV.

Gruppe (4th group) of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) on 1 March 1943.

He was killed in action on 11 July 1943, when he was shot down near Oryol during the Battle of Kursk.

Serving in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, he was then transferred to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing).

Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing).

He replaced Oberleutnant Werner Lederer in this function who was transferred.

The Staffel was subordinated to II.

Gruppe of JG 52 which was headed by Hauptmann Wilhelm Ensslen.

In consequence, command of his former 3.

Staffel of JG 77 passed on to Oberleutnant Karl-Gottfried Nordmann.

At the time, the Gruppe was based at Peuplingues near the English Channel and fighting the RAF during the Battle of Britain.

II.

Gruppe was withdrawn from the Channel Front on 2 November and moved to München Gladbach, present-day Mönchengladbach, on 5 November for a period of rest and replenishment.

The Gruppe had also lost its commanding officer, Ensslen, who was killed in action on 2 November.

Ensslen was replaced by Hauptmann Erich Woitke.

On 22 December, II.

Gruppe was ordered to Leeuwarden Airfield where they were tasked with flying fighter patrols along the Dutch North Sea coast.

Following service in Spain, Resch was posted to Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) and became a Staffelkapitän (squadron leader).

The Staffel belonged to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 77, at the time based in Odendorf, preparing for the upcoming Battle of France.

During the Battle of Britain on 31 August, Resch made a forced landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 (Werknummer 3642—factory number) following aerial combat with the Royal Air Force (RAF) over the Thames Estuary.

Born in Kamenz, Resch volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War where he was assigned to Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group).

Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) as a fighter pilot.

On 17 July, he claimed an aerial victory over a Polikarpov I-15 fighter aircraft.