Alfred Franke

Alfred Franke (20 September 1918 – 9 September 1942) was a German Luftwaffe ace and 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. On 9 September 1942, Alfred Franke was killed north of Stalingrad after dog-fighting with a Soviet Il-2 Shturmovik flown by Kapitan Pavel S. Vinogradov.^[1] He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 29 October 1942 and was also promoted to Lieutenant. During his career he was credited with 60 aerial victories. 4 on the Western Front and 56 on the Eastern Front.

Alfred Franke
Born	20 September 1918 Jena
Died	9 September 1942(1942-09-09) (aged 23) Stalingrad
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	?-1942
Rank	Leutnant (posthumously)
Unit	JG 53
Battles / wars	World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Summary of career

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Franke was credited with 60 aerial victories.^[2]

Awards

• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class & 1st Class
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 13 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot^[3]
• German Cross in Gold on 25 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 53^[4]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 2./Jagdgeschwader 53^[5][6]