Walter Wolfrum

Walter Wolfrum (23 May 1923 – 26 August 2010) was a German military aviator who served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he flew 424 combat missions and claimed 137 aerial victories—that is, 137 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. This ties him for 43rd place among highest scoring fighter aces. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Walter Wolfrum
Walter Wolfrum
Born	(1923-05-23)23 May 1923 Schmölz, Küps
Died	26 August 2010(2010-08-26) (aged 87) Schwabach, Germany
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service / branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1940–1945
Rank	Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)
Unit	JG 52
Commands	1./JG 52
Battles / wars	See battles World War II Eastern Front Battle of the Caucasus
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work	Gold leaf business Aerobatics pilot & coach

Military career

On 10 May 1944, Wolfrum was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing), succeeding Oberleutnant Karl-Heinz Plücker who was killed in action.^[1] On 20 May, Wolfrum claimed six aerial victories, an "ace-in-a-day" achievement.^[2] He became a double "ace-in-a-day" following eleven aerial victories on 30 May 1944.^[3] The next day, he again claimed six aircraft shot down, again making him an "ace-in-a-day".^[2] On 1 June 1944, Wolfrum was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 74th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.^[4] On 16 July, Wolfrum again became a double "ace-in-a-day" when he claimed ten aircraft shot down in combat near Kamionka, northeast of Lviv. Following these ten victories, he was severely wounded requiring a lengthy period of convalescence.^[5] In consequence, Oberleutnant Manfred Eberwein was given command of 1. Staffel.^[1]

On 31 August 1944, Oberst (Colonel) Dietrich Hrabak, Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 52 submitted a report, requesting a preferential promotion for Wolfrum to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant). The application was seconded by General Hans Seidemann, commander-in-chief of the VIII. Fliegerkorps, on 8 September. The request was approved and the promotion backdated to 1 September.^[6] Following his convalescence on 4 February 1945, Wolfrum retook command of 1. Staffel of JG 52. Consequently, Eberwein was transferred.^[7] At the time, I. Gruppe was based at Weidengut, present-day Wierzbie in Poland.^[8] At the end of the war, Wolfrum surrendered to the US 90th Infantry Division.^[9]

Later life

Following the end of World War II, according to Wolfrum's own account, he and Hans-Ulrich Rudel were in contact in the first years. The two had briefly met twice during the war. Wolfrum's girlfriend Irene Rühl had a friend who worked for the Americans as a secretary at a hospital in Fürth where Rudel was being treated. With the help of this friend, Rudel's release papers were signed and he was set free.^[10] Wolfrum states that he then periodically aided Rudel as a motorcycle driver and courier. Additionally, Wolfrum's father helped Rudel's father, Johannes Rudel, find a new home and position as a pastor in Gunzenhausen. At the time, Rudel was getting in contact with his former comrades from Schlachtgeschwader 2. With the aid of these comrades, Rudel had set up a smuggling ring across the various zones of Allied-occupied Germany. The official currency in Germany at the time was still the Reichsmark and its exchange rate varied from zone to zone. Rudel and his men built an illegal business, disguised as a haulage company, around this discrepancy in exchange rates by smuggling large sums of money from one zone to another, buying and selling currency with a profitable margin.^[11] Wolfrum states that his contact with Rudel ended in 1948 after Rudel had left for Argentina.^[12]

Wolfrum then became a successful aerobatics pilot, winning the German Championship in 1962 and taking second place in 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1966.^[13] He died on 26 August 210 at the age of 87 in Schwabach, Germany.^[14]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wolfrum was credited with 137 aerial victories.^[15] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Wolfrum was credited with 134 aerial victories, plus sixteen further unconfirmed claims. All of his victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.^[16]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 76891". 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.^[17]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Wolfrum an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.   This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Wolfrum did not receive credit.   This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[18] Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
1	28 May 1943	11:16	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 76891[19] vicinity of Kiyevskoye	11	9 September 1943	06:28	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 51872[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Bohodukhiv
2	21 July 1943	05:16	MiG-1	PQ 34 Ost 88432[21] 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Marienheim (Perekrestovo)	—	3 October 1943	11:00+	LaGG-3[22]	vicinity of Usin
3	22 July 1943	04:20	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88253[21] vicinity of Stepanovka	12	21 October 1943	09:50	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 35 Ost 10121[23] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Pereiaslav
4	24 July 1943	08:03?[Note 2]	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 88432[25] 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Marienheim (Perekrestovo)	13	21 October 1943	14:45	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 11784, south of Jekrownik[23] vicinity of Pereiaslav
5	25 July 1943	11:20	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 88262[25] vicinity of Jalisawehino	14	22 October 1943	09:19	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10134[23] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Pereiaslav
—	25 July 1943	11:30	Yak-1[25]		15	22 October 1943	09:20	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10133[23] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Pereiaslav
6	2 August 1943	11:44	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 88261, 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of Marinowka[25] vicinity of Jalisawehino	16	22 October 1943	09:30	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 10124[23] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Pereiaslav
7	8 August 1943	09:37	Yak-1	7 km (4.3 mi) east of Kiyevskoye[26]	17	3 November 1943	14:32	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 01332[23]
8	24 August 1943	05:25	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 75494[27] Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Gelendzhik	18	6 November 1943	09:22	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 01564[28]
9	5 September 1943	13:40	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 60182[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Merefa	19	6 December 1943	09:29	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	southeast of Eltigen[29]
10	6 September 1943	17:35	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 50262[20] 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Merefa	20	11 December 1943	12:11	P-39	east of Kerch[29]
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[30] Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944
21	7 February 1944	14:15	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66642[31][32] vicinity of Majak	46	22 March 1944	10:45	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66642[33] vicinity of Bulganak[34] east of Bulganak
22	10 February 1944	11:54?[Note 3]	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66592[31][32] vicinity of Kamysh-Burun	47	22 March 1944	13:59	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 66642[33][34] vicinity of Majak
23	12 February 1944	09:06	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66642[31][32] vicinity of Majak	48	26 March 1944	09:16	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 47773[33][34] vicinity of Tachigary
24	12 February 1944	14:19	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66594, east of Kamysh-Burun[31][32]	49	26 March 1944	14:02	Yak-9?[Note 4]	PQ 34 Ost 47784[33][34] 40 km (25 mi) north of Dzhankoy
25	13 February 1944	12:45	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66613[31] Adshin Uschkaj[32]	50	26 March 1944	15:47	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 47741[33] PQ 47771[34] south of Gromovka
26	13 February 1944	13:03	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66641[31] east-northeast of Bulganak[32]	51	26 March 1944	16:06	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 47741[33] 30 km (19 mi) south of Dornburg
27	14 February 1944	08:08?[Note 5]	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 66641[31] vicinity of Bulganak[32] east of Bulganak	52	1 April 1944	14:50	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 65163[36] over sea, southeast of Cape Takyl
28	14 February 1944	08:13	P-40	PQ 34 Ost 66643[31][32] vicinity of Kerch	53	1 April 1944	14:57	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 66872[36] over sea, southeast of Cape Takyl
—	14 February 1944	08:20[32]	P-40[37]		54	3 April 1944	10:01	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 56213[36] Sea of Azov
29	14 February 1944	11:27	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66643[32][37] vicinity of Kerch	—	7 April 1944	08:00+	Yak-7[36]	vicinity of Perekop
—	14 February 1944	15:00+	Yak-1[37]	vicinity of Kerch[38]	—	7 April 1944	16:00+	Yak-7[36]	vicinity of Perekop
30	15 February 1944	06:57	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 66643[37] PQ 66811[38] vicinity of Taman	55	8 April 1944	12:31	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 46112[36] vicinity of Grammatikowo
—	26 February 1944	12:30	Yak-1[37]	vicinity of Kerch[38]	56	8 April 1944	16:29?[Note 6]	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 46112[36] vicinity of Grammatikowo
—	27 February 1944	16:00+	Yak-1	vicinity of Perekop[37][38]	—	8 April 1944	16:30	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1][36]	vicinity of Perekop
31	28 February 1944	14:20?[Note 7]	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66564[37][38] vicinity of Kerch	—	8 April 1944	16:30	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1][36]	vicinity of Perekop
32	2 March 1944	10:26	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66811[37][38] vicinity of Taman	57	9 April 1944	07:02	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 37833, 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Karankij[40] vicinity of An-Najman
33	2 March 1944	10:33	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66732[37][38] vicinity of Tobetschik	58	9 April 1944	07:23	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 47774, 2 km (1.2 mi) east-northeast of Karankij[40] vicinity of Tachigary
34	11 March 1944	12:13	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 66533[37] PQ 66643[38] vicinity of Kerch	59	9 April 1944	14:12	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46152[40] west of Mikhaylovka
35	11 March 1944	12:25	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 66572[37][38] vicinity of Apassnaja	60	9 April 1944	16:40	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46112[40] vicinity of Grammatikowo
—	13 March 1944	13:30	P-39[33]	vicinity of Kerch[34]	—	10 April 1944	13:00+	Yak-7[40]	vicinity of Perekop
36	14 March 1944	07:27?[Note 8]	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 47731[33][34] 25 km (16 mi) west of Gelendzhik	61	10 April 1944	17:50	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46114[40] east of Tomoschewka
37	16 March 1944	15:31	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 37694[33] 35 km (22 mi) west-northwest of Akkerman	62	11 April 1944	10:56	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 46324[40] vicinity of Dzhankoy
38	17 March 1944	06:09	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 47772[33] vicinity of Karankut	63	11 April 1944	15:02	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46172[40] 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Dzhankoy
39♠	19 March 1944	07:28?[Note 9]	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66812[33][34] vicinity of Taman	64	12 April 1944	16:36	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46514[40] 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Tokultschak
40♠	19 March 1944	07:31	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66674, northeast of Kossa Tulsa[33] vicinity of Kossa Tulsa[34]	65	12 April 1944	16:38	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46574[40] 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Tokultschak
41♠	19 March 1944	10:58	Boston	PQ 34 Ost 26281[33] 20 km (12 mi) east-northeast of Novyi Buh	66	13 April 1944	11:08	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46742[40] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Karankut
42♠	19 March 1944	14:50	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 26833[33] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Yartsevo	67	14 April 1944	15:57	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 35422[40] 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Sevastopol
43♠	19 March 1944	14:54	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 36712[33] Black Sea, 20 km (12 mi) west of Yevpatoria	68	15 April 1944	06:40	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 35472[40] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol
44♠	19 March 1944	14:58	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 36572[33] 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Ak-Mechet	69	15 April 1944	06:41	LaGG-3?[Note 10]	PQ 34 Ost 35611[40] Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol
45	22 March 1944	10:39	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66641[33] vicinity of Bulganak[34] east of Bulganak
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[41] Eastern Front — 1 January – April 1945
70	16 May 1944	18:10	Yak-9	15 km (9.3 mi) south of Grigoriopol	102	6 June 1944	16:14	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora
—	16 May 1944	—	Il-2		103	7 July 1944	10:14	Yak-9	15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Kovel
71	17 May 1944	13:13	Yak-9	15 km (9.3 mi) south of Grigoriopol	104	7 July 1944	16:50	Yak-9	10 km (6.2 mi) north of Kovel
72	17 May 1944	18:30	Yak-9	15 km (9.3 mi) south of Grigoriopol	105	7 July 1944	16:54	Yak-9	20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Kovel
73♠	20 May 1944	14:47	Yak-1	vicinity of Grigoriopol	106	7 July 1944	16:55	Yak-9	25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Ternopil
74♠	20 May 1944	14:50	Yak-1	vicinity of Grigoriopol	107	14 July 1944	09:34	P-39	55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lutsk
75♠	20 May 1944	14:52	Yak-9	vicinity of Grigoriopol	108	14 July 1944	14:37	Yak-9	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Ternopil
76♠	20 May 1944	16:55	Yak-9	5 km (3.1 mi) south of Grigoriopol	109	14 July 1944	17:29	La-5	vicinity of Ternopil
77♠	20 May 1944	17:14	La-5	5 km (3.1 mi) south of Grigoriopol	110	15 July 1944	10:53	Il-2	55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lutsk
—	20 May 1944	—	LaGG-3		111	15 July 1944	16:55	P-39	45 km (28 mi) north of Busk
78	22 May 1944	10:37	La-5	vicinity of Grigoriopol	112	15 July 1944	17:02	P-39	55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lutsk
79♠	30 May 1944	04:29	La-5	40 km (25 mi) west of Țuțora	113	15 July 1944	17:14	Yak-9	25 km (16 mi) southeast of Włodzimierz
80♠	30 May 1944	06:30	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	114♠	16 July 1944	07:09	Yak-9	45 km (28 mi) north of Busk
81♠	30 May 1944	09:33	P-39	20 km (12 mi) northeast of Iași	115♠	16 July 1944	07:14	Yak-9	45 km (28 mi) north of Busk
82♠	30 May 1944	09:47	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Țuțora	116♠	16 July 1944	09:07	Yak-9	20 km (12 mi) north of Ternopil
83♠	30 May 1944	11:37	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora	117♠	16 July 1944	09:15	Yak-9	15 km (9.3 mi) east of Zolochiv
84♠	30 May 1944	14:09	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	118♠	16 July 1944	12:15	La-5	25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil
85♠	30 May 1944	14:13	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași	119♠	16 July 1944	12:25	La-5	25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil
86♠	30 May 1944	14:20	P-39	20 km (12 mi) northeast of Iași	120♠	16 July 1944	12:27	La-5	25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil
87♠	30 May 1944	16:07	Yak-9	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	121♠	16 July 1944	12:30	La-5	25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil
88♠	30 May 1944	16:20	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași	122♠	16 July 1944	15:40	Yak-9	15 km (9.3 mi) east of Zolochiv
89♠	30 May 1944	18:07	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora	123♠	16 July 1944	15:52	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Zolochiv
90♠	31 May 1944	12:59	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora	124	10 February 1945	16:00~	Yak-9[42]
91♠	31 May 1944	13:18	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora	125	5 March 1945	14:00~	Yak-9[42]	vicinity of Weidengut
92♠	31 May 1944	13:26	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora	126	7 March 1945	13:00~	Pe-2	vicinity of Weidengut
93♠	31 May 1944	16:12	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) west of Țuțora	—	11 March 1945	16:15~	Yak-9	vicinity of Weidengut
94♠	31 May 1944	18:53	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora	127	15 March 1945	14:10~	Il-2	vicinity of Weidengut
95♠	31 May 1944	19:07	P-39	40 km (25 mi) northeast of Botoșani	128	15 March 1945	17:00~	P-39	vicinity of Weidengut
96	1 June 1944	11:43	LaGG	20 km (12 mi) northeast of Iași	129	15 March 1945	17:00~	P-39	vicinity of Weidengut
97	1 June 1944	11:47	Yak-9	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași	130	15 March 1945	17:00~	P-39	vicinity of Weidengut
98	1 June 1944	14:14	Yak-9	15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Țuțora	131	16 April 1945	11:10~	P-39	vicinity of Weidengut
99	1 June 1944	14:20	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Țuțora	132	16 April 1945	11:10~	P-39	vicinity of Weidengut
—	1 June 1944	—	P-39		133	17 April 1945	10:15~	Yak-9	vicinity of Görlitz
100	4 June 1944	15:07	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	134	17 April 1945	13;10~	Yak-9	vicinity of Görlitz
101	4 June 1944	16:35	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași

Awards

• Eastern Front Medal
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (28 July 1943)^[43]
  • 1st Class (22 September 1943)^[14]
• Wound Badge (1939) in Gold
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots in Gold (22 July 1943)
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 24 April 1944 as Leutnant and pilot^{[44][Note 11]}
• German Cross in Gold on 18 May 1944 as Leutnant in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52^[46]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52^{[47][Note 12]}

Notes

1. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
2. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:04.^[24]
3. According to Barbas claimed at 11:59.^[32]
4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-7.^[35]
5. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:05.^[35]
6. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:28.^[39]
7. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 14:26.^[35]
8. According to Barbas, Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:29.^[34][35]
9. According to Barbas claimed at 07:25.^[34]
10. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Ilyushin Il-2.^[39]
11. According to Obermaier on 20 April 1944.^[45]
12. According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52.^[48]