DZ
DefZone.Net

Kien thuc cong nghe & giai tri

  1. Trang chủ
  2. Wiki

Alfred Franke
Born20 September 1918
Jena, German Empire
Died9 September 1942(1942-09-09) (aged 23)
Stalingrad, Soviet Union
Cause of deathKilled in action
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
RankLeutnant (posthumously)
UnitJG 53
ConflictsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Alfred Franke (20 September 1918 – 9 September 1942) was a German Luftwaffe ace and a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. As a fighter pilot, he was credited with 60 aerial victories, four on the Western Front and 56 on the Eastern Front.

Early life and career

[edit]

Frank was born on 20 September 1918 in Jena, then in Thuringia within the German Empire.[1] He joined the military service of Luftwaffe and following flight training,[Note 1] he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53—53rd Fighter Wing) where he was assigned to 2. Staffel (1st squadron) in early 1940.[3] At the time, the Staffel was commanded by Hauptmann Rolf Pingel and subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) which was headed by Hauptmann Lothar von Janson and based at Darmstadt-Griesheim Airfield.[4]

World War II

[edit]

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 10 May 1940, the first day of the Battle of France, I. Gruppe moved to Kirchberg. Flying from Kirchberg on 14 May, I. Gruppe flew missions in support of German forces fighting in the Battle of Sedan. That day, the Gruppe claimed 35 aerial victories, including the first two claims filed by Franke. On two separate missions, he claimed a Bloch MB.151 fighter and a Fairey Battle light bomber shot down south of Sedan.[5]

On 6 June, I. Gruppe moved to Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield.[6] Following a maintenance overhaul of the aircraft, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield named Krzewicza located near Międzyrzec Podlaski, approximately 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Brest, from 12 to 14 June.[7]

Operation Barbarossa and Malta

[edit]

On 22 June, the Geschwader crossed into Soviet airspace in support of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, which opened the Eastern Front. I. Gruppe took off on its first mission at 3:40 am, escorting Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers.[8] On 1 July, Franke was shot down in aerial combat behind enemy lines, resulting in a forced landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 12621—factory number). Initially reported as missing in action, he later returned to his unit unhurt.[9] On 16 July, he was shot down in his Bf 109 F-2 (Werknummer 5412) near Zhytomyr and was again reported as missing in action before returning unhurt.[10]

Eastern Front and death

[edit]

In early May 1942, I. Gruppe was transferred back to the Eastern Front. Prior to the relocation, the Gruppe received a full complement of 41 factory new Bf 109 F-4 aircraft at Schwäbisch Hall before heading for Prague Ruzyne Airfield on 28 May. The following day, I. Gruppe flew to Kursk. There, the Gruppe supported the German 4th Panzer Army in its advance towards Voronezh during Case Blue, the 1942 strategic summer offensive in southern Russia between 28 June and 24 November 1942.[11]

On 9 September 1942, Franke was shot down in aerial combat with Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft and anti-aircraft artillery. His Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 13442) north of Stalingrad.[12] His victor may have been Kapitan Pavel S. Vinogradov of the 694 IAP, 228 ShAD.[13][Note 2] Posthumously, Franke was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 29 October 1942 for 59 aerial victories claimed.[14] He was also posthumously promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant).[15]

Summary of career

[edit]

Aerial victory claims

[edit]

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Franke was credited with 60 aerial victories.[16] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 58 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 54 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and four over the Western Allies.[17]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 40773". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[18]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[15]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 14 May 1940 11:20 MB.151 south of Sedan[19] 3 31 May 1940 20:12 DB-7 vicinity of Saint-Quentin[19]
2 14 May 1940 16:20 Battle south of Sedan[19]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[20]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 6 June 1941
4 18 August 1940 15:32 Hurricane[21]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[20]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 7 August 1941
5?[Note 3] 22 June 1941 17:37 Douglas west-southwest of Brest-Litovsk[22] 9 10 July 1941 12:17 DB-3[23]
6 24 June 1941 09:32 SB-3[22] 10 24 July 1941?[Note 4] 14:16?[Note 4] DB-3[24]
7 24 June 1941 09:34 SB-3[22] 11 26 July 1941 10:45 DB-3 east of Bila Tserkva[24]
8 6 July 1941 06:37 DB-3[23] 12 26 July 1941 11:00 (Il-2)[24]
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –[25]
Eastern Front — 28 May 1942 – 9 September 1942
13 10 June 1942 15:37 I-61 (MiG-3)[26] 37 20 August 1942 10:59 Il-2 PQ 40773[27]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Gumrak
14 24 June 1942 03:41 R-10[28] 38 21 August 1942 12:39 U-2 PQ 49881[29]
15 27 June 1942 09:16 MiG-1 10 km (6.2 mi) north-northeast of Schtschigry[28] 39 22 August 1942 09:40 Il-2 PQ 30894[29]
16 28 June 1942 04:06 MiG-1[28] 40 23 August 1942 05:43 I-180 PQ 49153[29]
17 1 July 1942 12:01 P-39[30] 41 24 August 1942 13:02 U-2 PQ 49244[31]
10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Stalingrad
18 1 July 1942 12:08 P-39[30] 42 28 August 1942 14:35?[Note 5] MiG-1 PQ 40891[31]
40 km (25 mi) northeast of Stalingrad
19 26 July 1942 13:43 LaGG-3[32] 43 28 August 1942 14:44 LaGG-3 PQ 50781[31]
60 km (37 mi) east-northeast of Stalingrad
20 31 July 1942 13:59 MiG-1 PQ 39194[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-northwest of Kalach 		44 29 August 1942 12:49 P-40 PQ 49251[31]
21 2 August 1942 12:29 Il-2 PQ 39163[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) south-southwest of Kalach 		45 29 August 1942 12:56 MiG-1 PQ 49243[31]
22 2 August 1942 12:38 MiG-1 PQ 39281[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Kalach 		46 30 August 1942 16:10 I-180 PQ 49562[31]
23 4 August 1942 11:30 MiG-1 PQ 49753[34] 47 1 September 1942 10:45 Il-2 PQ 49253[35]
24 12 August 1942 04:27 Il-2 PQ 29894[36] 48 1 September 1942 10:46 Il-2 PQ 49324[35]
25 12 August 1942 04:33 Il-2 PQ 39773[36] 49 1 September 1942 15:43 Pe-2 PQ 49132[35]
26 12 August 1942 04:39 LaGG-3 PQ 39772[36] 50 3 September 1942 13:46 Yak-1 PQ 40873[35]
27 12 August 1942 10:48 MiG-3 PQ 49882[36] 51 4 September 1942 11:19 I-16 PQ 49361[35]
28 13 August 1942 17:41 Il-2 PQ 39333[36] 52 5 September 1942 05:35 MiG-1 PQ 49431[35]
29 13 August 1942 17:44 MiG-1 PQ 39194[36] 53 7 September 1942 13:30 Il-2 PQ 49283[35]
30 13 August 1942 17:51 Il-2 northeast of Kalach[36] 54 7 September 1942 17:16 I-153 PQ 49272[37]
31 14 August 1942 10:44 Il-2[27] 55 8 September 1942 06:44 Il-2 PQ 49391[37]
32 18 August 1942 05:33 MiG-3 PQ 49164[27] 56 8 September 1942 06:46 Il-2 PQ 49412[37]
33 18 August 1942 12:48 Il-2 PQ 40771[27]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Gumrak 		57 8 September 1942 06:49 Il-2 PQ 49332[37]
34 18 August 1942 12:53 MiG-3 PQ 40772[27]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Gumrak 		58 9 September 1942 13:48 Il-2 PQ 49182[37]
35 19 August 1942 15:42 Er-2 PQ 40774[27]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Gumrak 		59 9 September 1942 13:57 Il-2 PQ 49161[37]
36 20 August 1942 10:56 Il-2 PQ 30894[27]

Awards

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[2]
  2. ^ IAP—Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk (Fighter Aviation Regiment—Истребительный Авиационный Полк)
  3. ^ This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[20]
  4. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:40 on 25 July 1941.[20]
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:38.[20]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 112.
  2. ^ Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 277.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2001a, pp. 363–364.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2001b, pp. 318, 327.
  6. ^ Prien 1997, p. 244.
  7. ^ Prien 1997, p. 252.
  8. ^ Prien 1997, p. 260.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 114.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 115.
  11. ^ Prien 1998, p. 410.
  12. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 13, 42.
  13. ^ Bergström et al. 2006, p. 46.
  14. ^ Weal 2007, p. 122.
  15. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 331.
  16. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1617.
  17. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 331–333.
  18. ^ Planquadrat.
  19. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2001b, p. 327.
  20. ^ a b c d e Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 332.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 201.
  22. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 107.
  23. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 108.
  24. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 110.
  25. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 332–333.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 21.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 29.
  28. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 22.
  29. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 30.
  30. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 23.
  31. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 31.
  32. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 24.
  33. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 25.
  34. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 26.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 32.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 28.
  37. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 33.
  38. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 79.
  39. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 119.
  40. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 185.
  41. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 316.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]; Dikov, Andrey; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2006). Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume 3, Everything for Stalingrad. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9761034-4-8.
  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen (1997). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader March 1937 – May 1942. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0175-9.
  • Prien, Jochen (1998). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader May 1942 – January 1944. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-0292-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001a). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 2—Der "Sitzkrieg"—1.9.1939 bis 9.5.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 2—The "Phoney War"—1 September 1939 to 9 May 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-59-5.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001b). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen—9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen—10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 3—Action in Denmark and Norway—9 April to 30 November 1940—The Campaign in the West—10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/II—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/II—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-70-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/III—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/III—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-78-6.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Weal, John (2007). Jagdgeschwader 53 "Pik-As". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 25. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-204-2.
  • Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.