Rudolf Sinner

Rudolf Sinner
NicknameRudi
Born(1915-12-30)30 December 1915
Austria
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Branch Luftwaffe
Service years1937–1945
RankMajor (major)
UnitJagdgeschwader 3
Jagdgeschwader 27
Jagdgeschwader 54
Jagdgeschwader 7
AwardsGerman Cross in Gold
Other workFire-safety engineer

Rudolf Sinner (30 December 1915 – unknown) was an Austrian-born fighter of the Luftwaffe during World War II. He claimed 40 aerial victories within 305 missions, including four victories while flying the Me-262.

Military career

Born in 1915, Rudolf Sinner got educated at the University of Innsbruck and the University of Vienna.

At the age of 21, he was drafted into the Austrian Federal Army and trained in the mountain artillery. During the Polish campaign, he served in a horse-drawn flak unit before being transferred to fighter pilot duty in 1940. He absolved his pilot training in Vienna.[1]

Following his training he flew with JG3 on the western front and was then transferred to Jagdgeschwader 27 in North Africa. He was assigned to 2./JG27. On 12 October 1941 he scored his first victory.[2] On 4 June 1942, Sinner was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6. Staffel of JG 27. He succeeded Oberleutnant Emmerich Fluder who had been killed in action on 31 May.[3] He claimed his 30th victory on 3 September 1942.[2]

Group commander

On 1 June 1943, Sinner was appointed as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of newly formed IV. Gruppe of JG 27 based at Kalamaki, Greece. In consequence, command of 6. Staffel of JG 27 was passed on to Oberleutnant Willy Kientsch.[4] On 14 September 1943, Sinner was transferred to take command of IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) which was based on the Eastern Front. He succeeded Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer who had been transferred on 1 August. Intermittently, the Gruppe had been led by Oberleutnant Alfred Teumer and Oberleutnant Siguurd Hala.[5]

On 11 February 1944, Sinner and Hauptmann Siegfried Schnell, the commander of III. Gruppe of JG 54, exchanged roles with Sinner taking command of III. Gruppe on the Western Front and Schnell leading IV. Gruppe in the east.[6] On 6 March, Sinner managed to shoot down a B-17 bomber, but got wounded in the process and had to bail out near Bassum, southerly of Bremen. After his recovery, on 12 June 1944 he got assigned to I./JG27 to the invasion front in France.

With his current total victories at 36, Sinner was transferred to III./JG7, on 1 January 1945. He would add four more victories to his total, including two B-24 bomber.

On 4 April 1945, Sinner led a formation of seven ME-262s off from Rechlin. Shortly after emerging from the clouds the aircraft were attacked by P-51 Mustangs of the USAAF's 339th Fighter Group. In the ensuing combat, Sinner's aircraft was hit. He bailed out at low altitude, with badly burned face and hands. His parachute deployed only partially and he struck the ground heavily before getting dragged into a barbed-wire fence. Sinner later reported that the P-51s attempted to strafe him, but he feigned death till they withdrew. His injuries were severe enough to keep him out of the rest of the war.[7][8]

Later life

After the war he worked as a fire-safety engineer in a chemical works in Linz/ Donau, Austria.[1]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 40 aerial victory claims plus one further unconfirmed claim. This figure includes three claims on the Eastern Front and 37 in the western theatre of operations, including three heavy bombers. He claimed four victories flying the Me 262.[9]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unwitnessed aerial victory claims for which Sinner did not receive credit.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[10]
In North Africa — October 1941 – April 1942
1 12 October 1941 09:05 P-40 Sidi Omar[11] 4 23 February 1942 15:23 P-40 southeast of Umm al Rizam[12]
2 17 December 1941 11:10 Hurricane southeast of Martuba[13] 5 23 February 1942 15:25 P-40 southeast of Umm al Rizam[12]
3 13 February 1942 09:23 Hurricane east-southeast of Tobruk[12]
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[10]
In North Africa — May 1942
6 30 May 1942 14:05 P-40 Bir-el-Harmat[14]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 –[10]
In North Africa — 4 June – 6 December 1942
7 24 June 1942 10:00 Hurricane 20 km (12 mi) south of Bir el Tholata[15] 21 28 July 1942 18:25 Hurricane 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Deir-el-Taqa[16]
8 26 June 1942 18:40 Hurricane southeast of Marsa Matrouh[15] 22 3 August 1942 17:55 Hurricane southeast of El Dabaa[16]
9 10 July 1942 06:15 Hurricane southwest of El Alamein[15] 23 3 August 1942 18:00 Hurricane Bir Ibrahim[16]
10 13 July 1942 12:25 P-40 east-northeast of El Dakar[17]
—
 14 August 1942 06:25 P-40 northwest of El Alamein[18]
11 17 July 1942 06:37 Spitfire El Dakar[17] 24 14 August 1942 06:30 P-40 northwest of El Alamein[18]
12 17 July 1942 13:22 Hurricane Haggag el Qasaba[17] 25 27 August 1942 14:10 Hurricane 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Kharita[19]
13 17 July 1942 13:27 Hurricane south of Haggag el Qasaba[17] 26 31 August 1942 10:30 Hurricane 3 km (1.9 mi) northwest Deir-el-Raghil[19]
14 19 July 1942 09:15 Hurricane Bir el Themta[17] 27 31 August 1942 18:30 Spitfire 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Imayid[19]
15 19 July 1942 09:19 Hurricane south of El Alamein[17] 28 1 September 1942 06:59 P-40 15 km (9.3 mi) east-northeast of Deir-el-Taqa[19]
16 20 July 1942 11:19 Hurricane 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Bir-el-Khasa[17] 29 1 September 1942 07:01 P-40 east of Deir-el-Taqa[19]
17 21 July 1942 18:09 P-40 north of Bir-el-Harmat[17] 30 3 September 1942 14:25 P-40 south of El-Hammam[19]
18 21 July 1942 18:16 Hurricane southwest of El Alamein[17] 31 3 September 1942 14:35 Spitfire 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Bir Ibrahim[19]
19 24 July 1942 09:40 P-40 south of Bir el Abd[16] 32 6 September 1942 17:25 American fighter south of Imayid[19]
20 24 July 1942 17:19 Hurricane south of Deir el Raghil[16]
– Stab IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[10]
Eastern Front — 14 September – 31 December 1943
33 11 October 1943 15:08 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 06263, northeast of Usvyaty[20] 35 27 October 1943 13:45 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10714[20]
northeast of Dubrovo
34 18 October 1943 10:04 P-40 southeast of Pushkin[20]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Slutsk
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[10]
Defense of the Reich — 1–10 March 1944
36 6 March 1944 12:06 B-17 PQ 05 Ost FQ-3/FR-2[21]
Essen-Vechta
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 7 "Nowotny" –[10]
Defense of the Reich — November 1944 – March 1945
37 26 November 1944 13:10 P-38[22] vicinity of Munich 39 3 March 1945
—
 B-24[23] vicinity of Rathenow
38 3 March 1945
—
 B-24[23] vicinity of Rathenow 40 7 March 1945 13:00+ P-51[23] vicinity of Jüterbog

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b Constable & Toliver 1968, pp. 345–346.
  2. ^ a b Shores & Ring 1969, p. .
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 255.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2010, pp. 205, 274, 305.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 344.
  6. ^ Weal 2001, pp. 107–108.
  7. ^ Boehme 1992, pp. 146–150.
  8. ^ Makos & Alexander 2012, pp. 515–516.
  9. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1224–1225.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1225.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 372.
  12. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2004, p. 178.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 177.
  14. ^ Prien et al. 2004, p. 180.
  15. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2004, p. 268.
  16. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2004, p. 271.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2004, p. 269.
  18. ^ a b Prien et al. 2004, p. 272.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2004, p. 273.
  20. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 350.
  21. ^ Prien et al. 2019, p. 450.
  22. ^ Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 267.
  23. ^ a b c Heaton & Lewis 2012, p. 269.
  24. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 195.
  25. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 446.

Bibliography

  • Boehme, Manfred (1992). JG 7 The World's First Jet Fighter Unit 1944/1945. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-395-8.
  • Constable, Trevor; Toliver, Raymond (1968). Horrido!: Fighter aces of the Luftwaffe. Bantam Books. OCLC 160484.
  • Heaton, Colin; Lewis, Anne-Marie (2012). The Me 262 Stormbird: From the Pilots Who Flew, Fought, and Survived It. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Zenith Imprint. ISBN 978-0-76034-263-3.
  • Makos, Adam; Alexander, Larry (2012). A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II (1st ed.). New York: Berkley Caliber. ISBN 978-0-425-25286-4.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941–1945 History and Recipients] (in German). Vol. II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2004). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 8/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—November 1941 bis December 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 8/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—November 1941 to December 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-74-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 11/I—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 11/I—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-95-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/III—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/III—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-07-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Balke, Ulf; Stemmer, Gerhard; Bock, Winfried (2019). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 13/V—Einsatz im Reichsverteidigung und im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1944 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 13/V—Action in the Defense of the Reich and in the West—1 January to 31 December 1944] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-942943-21-5.
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  • Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 "Grünherz". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 6. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-286-9.
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