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.

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.Template:Sfn On 20 May, Wolfrum claimed six aerial victories, an "ace-in-a-day" achievement.Template:Sfn He became a double "ace-in-a-day" following eleven aerial victories on 30 May 1944.Template:Sfn The next day, he again claimed six aircraft shot down, again making him an "ace-in-a-day".Template:Sfn On 1 June 1944, Wolfrum was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 74th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn In consequence, Oberleutnant Manfred Eberwein was given command of 1. Staffel.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn Following his convalescence on 4 February 1945, Wolfrum retook command of 1. Staffel of JG 52. Consequently, Eberwein was transferred.Template:Sfn At the time, I. Gruppe was based at Weidengut, present-day Wierzbie in Poland.Template:Sfn At the end of the war, Wolfrum surrendered to the US 90th Infantry Division.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn Wolfrum states that his contact with Rudel ended in 1948 after Rudel had left for Argentina.Template:Sfn

Wolfrum then became a successful aerobatics pilot, winning the German Championship in 1962 and taking second place in 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1966.Template:Sfn He died on 26 August 210 at the age of in Schwabach, Germany.Template:Sfn

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wolfrum was credited with 137 aerial victories.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 76891". The Luftwaffe grid map () 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 . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.Template:Sfn

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 –Template:Sfn Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943
1	28 May 1943	11:16	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 76891Template:Sfn vicinity of Kiyevskoye	11	9 September 1943	06:28	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 51872Template:Sfn south of Bohodukhiv
2	21 July 1943	05:16	MiG-1	PQ 34 Ost 88432Template:Sfn southeast of Marienheim (Perekrestovo)	—	3 October 1943	11:00+	LaGG-3Template:Sfn	vicinity of Usin
3	22 July 1943	04:20	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 88253Template:Sfn vicinity of Stepanovka	12	21 October 1943	09:50	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 35 Ost 10121Template:Sfn south of Pereiaslav
4	24 July 1943	08:03?Template:Refn	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 88432Template:Sfn southeast of Marienheim (Perekrestovo)	13	21 October 1943	14:45	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 11784, south of JekrownikTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Pereiaslav
5	25 July 1943	11:20	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 88262Template:Sfn vicinity of Jalisawehino	14	22 October 1943	09:19	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10134Template:Sfn southeast of Pereiaslav
—	25 July 1943	11:30	Yak-1Template:Sfn		15	22 October 1943	09:20	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10133Template:Sfn southeast of Pereiaslav
6	2 August 1943	11:44	Il-2 m.H.Template:Refn	PQ 34 Ost 88261, northeast of MarinowkaTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Jalisawehino	16	22 October 1943	09:30	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 10124Template:Sfn south of Pereiaslav
7	8 August 1943	09:37	Yak-1	east of KiyevskoyeTemplate:Sfn	17	3 November 1943	14:32	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 01332Template:Sfn
8	24 August 1943	05:25	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 75494Template:Sfn Black Sea, southwest of Gelendzhik	18	6 November 1943	09:22	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 01564Template:Sfn
9	5 September 1943	13:40	Yak-9	PQ 35 Ost 60182Template:Sfn east of Merefa	19	6 December 1943	09:29	Il-2 m.H.	southeast of EltigenTemplate:Sfn
10	6 September 1943	17:35	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 50262Template:Sfn northwest of Merefa	20	11 December 1943	12:11	P-39	east of KerchTemplate:Sfn
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Template:Sfn Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944
21	7 February 1944	14:15	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66642Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Majak	46	22 March 1944	10:45	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66642Template:Sfn vicinity of BulganakTemplate:Sfn east of Bulganak
22	10 February 1944	11:54?Template:Refn	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66592Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Kamysh-Burun	47	22 March 1944	13:59	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 66642Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Majak
23	12 February 1944	09:06	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66642Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Majak	48	26 March 1944	09:16	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 47773Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Tachigary
24	12 February 1944	14:19	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66594, east of Kamysh-BurunTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn	49	26 March 1944	14:02	Yak-9?Template:Refn	PQ 34 Ost 47784Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn north of Dzhankoy
25	13 February 1944	12:45	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66613Template:Sfn Adshin UschkajTemplate:Sfn	50	26 March 1944	15:47	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 47741Template:Sfn PQ 47771Template:Sfn south of Gromovka
26	13 February 1944	13:03	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66641Template:Sfn east-northeast of BulganakTemplate:Sfn	51	26 March 1944	16:06	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 47741Template:Sfn south of Dornburg
27	14 February 1944	08:08?Template:Refn	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 66641Template:Sfn vicinity of BulganakTemplate:Sfn east of Bulganak	52	1 April 1944	14:50	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 65163Template:Sfn over sea, southeast of Cape Takyl
28	14 February 1944	08:13	P-40	PQ 34 Ost 66643Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Kerch	53	1 April 1944	14:57	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 66872Template:Sfn over sea, southeast of Cape Takyl
—	14 February 1944	08:20Template:Sfn	P-40Template:Sfn		54	3 April 1944	10:01	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 56213Template:Sfn Sea of Azov
29	14 February 1944	11:27	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66643Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Kerch	—	7 April 1944	08:00+	Yak-7Template:Sfn	vicinity of Perekop
—	14 February 1944	15:00+	Yak-1Template:Sfn	vicinity of KerchTemplate:Sfn	—	7 April 1944	16:00+	Yak-7Template:Sfn	vicinity of Perekop
30	15 February 1944	06:57	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 66643Template:Sfn PQ 66811Template:Sfn vicinity of Taman	55	8 April 1944	12:31	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 46112Template:Sfn vicinity of Grammatikowo
—	26 February 1944	12:30	Yak-1Template:Sfn	vicinity of KerchTemplate:Sfn	56	8 April 1944	16:29?Template:Refn	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 46112Template:Sfn vicinity of Grammatikowo
—	27 February 1944	16:00+	Yak-1	vicinity of PerekopTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn	—	8 April 1944	16:30	Il-2 m.H.Template:Sfn	vicinity of Perekop
31	28 February 1944	14:20?Template:Refn	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66564Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Kerch	—	8 April 1944	16:30	Il-2 m.H.Template:Sfn	vicinity of Perekop
32	2 March 1944	10:26	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66811Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Taman	57	9 April 1944	07:02	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 37833, southwest of KarankijTemplate:Sfn vicinity of An-Najman
33	2 March 1944	10:33	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66732Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Tobetschik	58	9 April 1944	07:23	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 47774, east-northeast of KarankijTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Tachigary
34	11 March 1944	12:13	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 66533Template:Sfn PQ 66643Template:Sfn vicinity of Kerch	59	9 April 1944	14:12	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46152Template:Sfn west of Mikhaylovka
35	11 March 1944	12:25	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 66572Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Apassnaja	60	9 April 1944	16:40	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46112Template:Sfn vicinity of Grammatikowo
—	13 March 1944	13:30	P-39Template:Sfn	vicinity of KerchTemplate:Sfn	—	10 April 1944	13:00+	Yak-7Template:Sfn	vicinity of Perekop
36	14 March 1944	07:27?Template:Refn	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 47731Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn west of Gelendzhik	61	10 April 1944	17:50	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46114Template:Sfn east of Tomoschewka
37	16 March 1944	15:31	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 37694Template:Sfn west-northwest of Akkerman	62	11 April 1944	10:56	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 46324Template:Sfn vicinity of Dzhankoy
38	17 March 1944	06:09	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 47772Template:Sfn vicinity of Karankut	63	11 April 1944	15:02	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46172Template:Sfn west-northwest of Dzhankoy
39♠	19 March 1944	07:28?Template:Refn	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66812Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Taman	64	12 April 1944	16:36	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46514Template:Sfn southeast of Tokultschak
40♠	19 March 1944	07:31	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66674, northeast of Kossa TulsaTemplate:Sfn vicinity of Kossa TulsaTemplate:Sfn	65	12 April 1944	16:38	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46574Template:Sfn southeast of Tokultschak
41♠	19 March 1944	10:58	Boston	PQ 34 Ost 26281Template:Sfn east-northeast of Novyi Buh	66	13 April 1944	11:08	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 46742Template:Sfn southeast of Karankut
42♠	19 March 1944	14:50	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 26833Template:Sfn northeast of Yartsevo	67	14 April 1944	15:57	Yak-7	PQ 34 Ost 35422Template:Sfn northeast of Sevastopol
43♠	19 March 1944	14:54	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 36712Template:Sfn Black Sea, west of Yevpatoria	68	15 April 1944	06:40	Il-2 m.H.	PQ 34 Ost 35472Template:Sfn south of Sevastopol
44♠	19 March 1944	14:58	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 36572Template:Sfn southeast of Ak-Mechet	69	15 April 1944	06:41	LaGG-3?Template:Refn	PQ 34 Ost 35611Template:Sfn Black Sea, south of Sevastopol
45	22 March 1944	10:39	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66641Template:Sfn vicinity of BulganakTemplate:Sfn east of Bulganak
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –Template:Sfn Eastern Front — 1 January – April 1945
70	16 May 1944	18:10	Yak-9	south of Grigoriopol	102	6 June 1944	16:14	P-39	south of Țuțora
—	16 May 1944	—	Il-2		103	7 July 1944	10:14	Yak-9	northeast of Kovel
71	17 May 1944	13:13	Yak-9	south of Grigoriopol	104	7 July 1944	16:50	Yak-9	north of Kovel
72	17 May 1944	18:30	Yak-9	south of Grigoriopol	105	7 July 1944	16:54	Yak-9	south-southwest of Kovel
73♠	20 May 1944	14:47	Yak-1	vicinity of Grigoriopol	106	7 July 1944	16:55	Yak-9	south-southwest of Ternopil
74♠	20 May 1944	14:50	Yak-1	vicinity of Grigoriopol	107	14 July 1944	09:34	P-39	southwest of Lutsk
75♠	20 May 1944	14:52	Yak-9	vicinity of Grigoriopol	108	14 July 1944	14:37	Yak-9	west of Ternopil
76♠	20 May 1944	16:55	Yak-9	south of Grigoriopol	109	14 July 1944	17:29	La-5	vicinity of Ternopil
77♠	20 May 1944	17:14	La-5	south of Grigoriopol	110	15 July 1944	10:53	Il-2	southwest of Lutsk
—	20 May 1944	—	LaGG-3		111	15 July 1944	16:55	P-39	north of Busk
78	22 May 1944	10:37	La-5	vicinity of Grigoriopol	112	15 July 1944	17:02	P-39	southwest of Lutsk
79♠	30 May 1944	04:29	La-5	west of Țuțora	113	15 July 1944	17:14	Yak-9	southeast of Włodzimierz
80♠	30 May 1944	06:30	P-39	north of Iași	114♠	16 July 1944	07:09	Yak-9	north of Busk
81♠	30 May 1944	09:33	P-39	northeast of Iași	115♠	16 July 1944	07:14	Yak-9	north of Busk
82♠	30 May 1944	09:47	P-39	southeast of Țuțora	116♠	16 July 1944	09:07	Yak-9	north of Ternopil
83♠	30 May 1944	11:37	P-39	south of Țuțora	117♠	16 July 1944	09:15	Yak-9	east of Zolochiv
84♠	30 May 1944	14:09	P-39	north of Iași	118♠	16 July 1944	12:15	La-5	east-northeast of Ternopil
85♠	30 May 1944	14:13	P-39	south of Iași	119♠	16 July 1944	12:25	La-5	east-northeast of Ternopil
86♠	30 May 1944	14:20	P-39	northeast of Iași	120♠	16 July 1944	12:27	La-5	east-northeast of Ternopil
87♠	30 May 1944	16:07	Yak-9	north of Iași	121♠	16 July 1944	12:30	La-5	east-northeast of Ternopil
88♠	30 May 1944	16:20	P-39	south of Iași	122♠	16 July 1944	15:40	Yak-9	east of Zolochiv
89♠	30 May 1944	18:07	P-39	south of Țuțora	123♠	16 July 1944	15:52	P-39	west of Zolochiv
90♠	31 May 1944	12:59	P-39	south of Țuțora	124	10 February 1945	16:00~	Yak-9Template:Sfn
91♠	31 May 1944	13:18	P-39	south of Țuțora	125	5 March 1945	14:00~	Yak-9Template:Sfn	vicinity of Weidengut
92♠	31 May 1944	13:26	P-39	south of Țuțora	126	7 March 1945	13:00~	Pe-2	vicinity of Weidengut
93♠	31 May 1944	16:12	P-39	west of Țuțora	—	11 March 1945	16:15~	Yak-9	vicinity of Weidengut
94♠	31 May 1944	18:53	P-39	south of Țuțora	127	15 March 1945	14:10~	Il-2	vicinity of Weidengut
95♠	31 May 1944	19:07	P-39	northeast of Botoșani	128	15 March 1945	17:00~	P-39	vicinity of Weidengut
96	1 June 1944	11:43	LaGG	northeast of Iași	129	15 March 1945	17:00~	P-39	vicinity of Weidengut
97	1 June 1944	11:47	Yak-9	south of Iași	130	15 March 1945	17:00~	P-39	vicinity of Weidengut
98	1 June 1944	14:14	Yak-9	southeast of Țuțora	131	16 April 1945	11:10~	P-39	vicinity of Weidengut
99	1 June 1944	14:20	P-39	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	north of Iași	134	17 April 1945	13;10~	Yak-9	vicinity of Görlitz
101	4 June 1944	16:35	P-39	northwest of Iași

Awards

• Eastern Front Medal
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (28 July 1943)Template:Sfn
  • 1st Class (22 September 1943)Template:Sfn
• 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 pilotTemplate:SfnTemplate:Refn
• German Cross in Gold on 18 May 1944 as Leutnant in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52Template:Sfn
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944 as Leutnant and pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52Template:SfnTemplate:Refn

External links

• Template:DNB portal