Rudolf "Rudi" Pflanz
Oberleutnant
 
 Rudolf Pflanz
 
    Rudolf "Rudi" Pflanz was born on 1 July 1914 at Ichenheim in the Lahr region of Baden. In 1938, Pflanz was serving with JG 131. On 1 May 1939, JG 131 was redesignated JG 2. At the outbreak of World War 2, Pflanz was serving with 3./JG 2. He recorded his first victory over France on 30 April 1940 when he shared a French reconnaisance Potez 63-11 twin-engined reconnaisance aircraft with two colleagues of 3./JG 2. Pflanz recorded his first individual victory on 14 May, when he shot down a RAF Blenheim twin-engined bomber. During the Battle of Britain, Pflanz was to fly with Major Helmut Wick (56 victories, RK-EL) in the Stabschwarme of I./JG 2, and reputedly shot down British ace Flt Lt John Dundas (13.333 confirmed, 2 probable and 4.5 damaged victories) of 609 Sqn, RAF after Dundas had shot down and killed Wick on 28 November 1940. By the end of 1940, Pflanz had recorded eight victories. Pflanz achieved marked success against RAF Spitfire fighters during 1941 and 1942. On 23 July 1941, Pflanz shot down five Spitfires and a RAF Hurricane fighter. After recording his 20th victory, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 1 August 1941. By the end of 1941 his victory total stood at 23.
 
Oblt. Rudi Pflanz (left), Oblt. Kuhtei, Ofw. Josef Wurmheller (102 v.) and StFw. Fritz Stritzel (19 v.)
Oblt. Rudi Pflanz (left), Oblt. Kuhtei, Ofw. Josef Wurmheller (102 v.) and StFw. Fritz Stritzel (19 v.) of JG 2
 
    Oberleutnant Pflanz was appointed Staffelkapitän of 11./JG 2 on 1 May 1942. On 5 June, he shot down three Spitfires over the Somme Estuary. He recorded his 49th and 50th victories when he shot down two further Spitfires on 28 July. On 31 July 1942, Pflanz engaged in combat with Spitfires. He succeeded in shooting down one but was then shot down and killed in Bf 109 G-1 (W.Nr. 10318) “White 1” over Berck-sur-Mer in France. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Hauptmann.
    Rudolf Pflanz was credited with 52 victories. All his victories were recorded over the Western Front and included 45 Spitfires.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location / Comments
1
30.4.1940
19:17
 Potez 63 3./JG 2  E Merzig
2
14.5.1940
20:10~
 Blenheim 3./JG 2 Sedan-Bouillon-Charleville
3
11.8.1940
11:34~
 Hurricane 3./JG 2  
4
7.11.1940
15:25
 Hurricane Stab JG 2 S Portsmouth
5
28.11.1940
17:15
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 S Isle of Wight / possibly Spitfire I (X4586) of 609 Sqn RAF flown by F/L JC Dundas (13.333/2/4.5 victories), killed
6
22.6.1941
16:09
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 St Omer-Gravelines
7
25.6.1941
12:55
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 Near Boulogne
8
3.7.1941
11:50
 Spitfire Stab JG 2  
9
10.7.1941
12:37
 Spitfire Stab JG 2  
10
22.7.1941
14:01
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 Hesdin
11
23.7.1941
13:20
 Spitfire Stab JG 2  
12
23.7.1941
13:27
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 Foret d’Eperlecques
13
23.7.1941
13:29
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 Foret d’Eperlecques
14
23.7.1941
20:38
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 Hesdin-Berck
15
23.7.1941
20:42
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 Hesdin-Berck
16
23.7.1941
20:46
 Hurricane Stab JG 2 20m W Berck
17
19.8.1941
12:24
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 Off Gravelines
18
20.9.1941
16:40
 Spitfire Stab JG 2  
19
21.9.1941
16:40
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 10-15km ESE Dover
20
21.9.1941
16:45
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 15km E Dover
21
13.10.1941
15:36
 Spitfire Stab JG 2 50km W Etaples
22
26.10.1941
13:09
 Spitfire Stab JG 2  
23
26.10.1941
13:12~
 Spitfire Stab JG 2  
24
12.2.1942
15:37
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
25
12.2.1942
15:39
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
26
14.4.1942
12:52
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2 Caen
27
15.4.1942
14:32
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
28
15.4.1942
19:25
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
29
25.4.1942
11:17
 Hurricane Stab I./JG 2  
30
28.4.1942
11:36
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2 Calais-Gravelines
31
28.4.1942
11:38
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2 Gravelines
32
1.5.1942
19:33
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
33
4.5.1942
19:38
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
34
17.5.1942
14:03
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
35
19.5.1942
20:54
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
36
24.5.1942
19:16
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
37
24.5.1942
19:24
 P-40 Stab I./JG 2  
38
31.5.1942
19:42
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
39
2.6.1942
11:01
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2 Off Dieppe-Le Tréport
40
2.6.1942
17:55
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2 Off Dieppe-Le Tréport
41
3.6.1942
16:49
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2 Off Le Havre
42
5.6.1942
15:38
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2 Somme Estuary-Abbeville
43
5.6.1942
15:45
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2 5-10km NNW Le Tréport
44
5.6.1942
15:46
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2 Somme Estuary-Abbeville
45
11.6.1942
18:38
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
46
23.7.1942
-
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
47
23.7.1942
-
 Spitfire Stab I./JG 2  
48
26.7.1942
13:42
 Spitfire 11./JG 2  
49
26.7.1942
13:43
 Spitfire 11./JG 2  
50
28.7.1942
-
 Spitfire 11./JG 2  
51
30.7.1942
19:32
 Spitfire 11./JG 2  
52
31.7.1942
15:02
 Spitfire 11./JG 2 10km S Berck-sur-Mer
 
Victories : 52
Awards : Ehrenpokal (24 July 1941)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (16 July 1942)
                Ritterkreuz (1 August 1941)
Units : JG 2
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