German
Career Summaries - Luftwaffe Officers 1935 - 1945
Section S - Z
WINNERL, Rudolf. (DOB: 15.03.16 Lugau/Erzgebirge). (R, DKG). 1930 joined the Hitler Youth.
02.06.35 entered the Sächsische Landespolizei, later trf to the Heer. End of 1937 trf to the Luftwaffe from
the Heer and sent to Fl.Ausb.Rgt. 21 in Magdeburg. 02.05.38 began pilot training at FFS A/B 4 in
Zeltweg/Austria. (n.d.) trf to FFS C in Zeltweg. 1938-39 trf to Erg. KGr. 2 in Quedlinburg. 02.10.39 trf
to 2./Grosse KFS Tutow (to 30.12.39). 02.01.40 trf to 9./KG 1. 16.07.40 trf to 4./KG 1. 22.12.40 sent on
furlough. 13.01.41 trf to BFS 2 for night instrument training (to 13.05.41). 23.02.41 awarded
Ehrenpokal. 31.05.41 trf to BFS 2 in Neuburg for blind flying training. 02.06.41 returned to 4./KG 1.
01.10.41 promo to Fw. 23.02.42 Fw., awarded the Ehrenpokal. 27.02.42 flew the 1000th mission of 4./KG
1. 29.03.42 flew his 200th mission. 11.05.42 Fw., awarded DKG, 4./KG 1. 25.07.42 WIA severely with
a head wound by AA vic Leningrad- Ju 88 A-4 (V4+CM) while attacking a tank assembly area E of Urizk.
25.07.42 promo to Ofw. 10.09.42 following an attack on Stalingrad, force-landed behind enemy lines and
spent several days walking back to German lines. 18.04.43 Ofw., awarded Ritterkreuz, 4./KG 1. Summer
1943 with 11./KG 1. End of 09.43 trf back to II./KG 1. 13.11.43 ambushed at the perimeter of Airasca
airfield in Italy and subsequently released from flying duties due to severe wounds after spending over a
year in hospitals (to 02.45) - was totally paralyzed. Credited with 355 missions, 3 ships sunk, 10 tanks and
19 rail lines destroyed. †26.02.91 in Syke near Bremen. For further reading see: Schumann, Ralf.
Ritterkreuzträger Profile Nr. 2 Rudolf Winnerl (Stengelheim: Unitec/Flugzeug Publikations GmbH).
ISBN: - none?
- https://www.ww2.dk/Lw Offz - S-Z Apr 2024.pdf
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