Rudi Linz
Encyclopedia
Rudi Linz was a Luftwaffe
(German air force) fighter ace
during the Second World war. Linz was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
for a total of 70 aerial victories claimed. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
On 9 February 1945 Linz was shot down and killed in action
flying Focke Wulf Fw 190A-8 (Werknummer 732183—factory number) in defense of the German destroyer Z33
in an operation which was later labeled as Black Friday
by the Allied aircrew. Linz claimed his 70th and final aerial victory in this engagement over a North American P-51 Mustang possibly from No. 65 Squadron RAF
. The Fw 190A-8 flown by Linz in his last combat still exists, and is being restored by the Texas Air Museum in San Antonio, Texas
to at least display status, as of 2011.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
(German air force) fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
during the Second World war. Linz was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
for a total of 70 aerial victories claimed. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
On 9 February 1945 Linz was shot down and killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
flying Focke Wulf Fw 190A-8 (Werknummer 732183—factory number) in defense of the German destroyer Z33
German destroyer Z33
Z33 was a German that saw service during World War II. She was commissioned in the Kriegsmarine in February 1943 and served in Norwegian waters until March 1945. She was decommissioned from the Kriegsmarine in late April 1945 but was handed over to the Soviet Union in December that year...
in an operation which was later labeled as Black Friday
Black Friday (1945)
On 9 February 1945 a force of Allied Bristol Beaufighter aircraft suffered heavy casualties during an unsuccessful attack on German destroyer Z33 and escorting vessels; the operation was labelled "Black Friday" by the surviving Allied aircrew...
by the Allied aircrew. Linz claimed his 70th and final aerial victory in this engagement over a North American P-51 Mustang possibly from No. 65 Squadron RAF
No. 65 Squadron RAF
No. 65 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.-World War I:The squadron was first formed at Wyton on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps with a core provided from the training ground at Norwich. By the end of World War I, it had claimed over 200 victories...
. The Fw 190A-8 flown by Linz in his last combat still exists, and is being restored by the Texas Air Museum in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
to at least display status, as of 2011.
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939) 2nd and 1st Class - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (1 January 1945) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 12 March 1945 (posthumously) as Leutnant and pilot in the 12./JG 5