# 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. On 20 May, Wolfrum claimed six aerial victories, an "ace-in-a-day" achievement. He became a double "ace-in-a-day" following eleven aerial victories on 30 May 1944. The next day, he again claimed six aircraft shot down, again making him an "ace-in-a-day". On 1 June 1944, Wolfrum was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 74th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. 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. In consequence, Oberleutnant Manfred Eberwein was given command of 1. Staffel.
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. Following his convalescence on 4 February 1945, Wolfrum retook command of 1. Staffel of JG 52. Consequently, Eberwein was transferred. At the time, I. Gruppe was based at Weidengut, present-day Wierzbie in Poland. At the end of the war, Wolfrum surrendered to the US 90th Infantry Division.

## 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. 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. Wolfrum states that his contact with Rudel ended in 1948 after Rudel had left for Argentina.
Wolfrum then became a successful aerobatics pilot, winning the German Championship in 1962 and taking second place in 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1966. He died on 26 August 210 at the age of 87 in Schwabach, Germany.

## Summary of career
### Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Wolfrum was credited with 137 aerial victories. 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.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 76891". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) 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 360 square miles (930 km$^2$). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.
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 – Eastern Front — 4 February – 31 December 1943 ||||||||||
| 1 | 28 May 1943 | 11:16 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 76891 vicinity of Kiyevskoye | 11 | 9 September 1943 | 06:28 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 51872 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Bohodukhiv |
| 2 | 21 July 1943 | 05:16 | MiG-1 | PQ 34 Ost 88432 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Marienheim (Perekrestovo) | — | 3 October 1943 | 11:00+ | LaGG-3 | vicinity of Usin |
| 3 | 22 July 1943 | 04:20 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 88253 vicinity of Stepanovka | 12 | 21 October 1943 | 09:50 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 10121 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Pereiaslav |
| 4 | 24 July 1943 | 08:03? | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 88432 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Marienheim (Perekrestovo) | 13 | 21 October 1943 | 14:45 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 11784, south of Jekrownik vicinity of Pereiaslav |
| 5 | 25 July 1943 | 11:20 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 88262 vicinity of Jalisawehino | 14 | 22 October 1943 | 09:19 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 10134 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Pereiaslav |
| — | 25 July 1943 | 11:30 | Yak-1 | | 15 | 22 October 1943 | 09:20 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 10133 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Pereiaslav |
| 6 | 2 August 1943 | 11:44 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 88261, 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of Marinowka vicinity of Jalisawehino | 16 | 22 October 1943 | 09:30 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 10124 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Pereiaslav |
| 7 | 8 August 1943 | 09:37 | Yak-1 | 7 km (4.3 mi) east of Kiyevskoye | 17 | 3 November 1943 | 14:32 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 01332 |
| 8 | 24 August 1943 | 05:25 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 75494 Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Gelendzhik | 18 | 6 November 1943 | 09:22 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 01564 |
| 9 | 5 September 1943 | 13:40 | Yak-9 | PQ 35 Ost 60182 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Merefa | 19 | 6 December 1943 | 09:29 | Il-2 m.H. | southeast of Eltigen |
| 10 | 6 September 1943 | 17:35 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 50262 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Merefa | 20 | 11 December 1943 | 12:11 | P-39 | east of Kerch |
| – 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944 ||||||||||
| 21 | 7 February 1944 | 14:15 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66642 vicinity of Majak | 46 | 22 March 1944 | 10:45 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66642 vicinity of Bulganak east of Bulganak |
| 22 | 10 February 1944 | 11:54? | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66592 vicinity of Kamysh-Burun | 47 | 22 March 1944 | 13:59 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 66642 vicinity of Majak |
| 23 | 12 February 1944 | 09:06 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66642 vicinity of Majak | 48 | 26 March 1944 | 09:16 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 47773 vicinity of Tachigary |
| 24 | 12 February 1944 | 14:19 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66594, east of Kamysh-Burun | 49 | 26 March 1944 | 14:02 | Yak-9? | PQ 34 Ost 47784 40 km (25 mi) north of Dzhankoy |
| 25 | 13 February 1944 | 12:45 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66613 Adshin Uschkaj | 50 | 26 March 1944 | 15:47 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 47741 PQ 47771 south of Gromovka |
| 26 | 13 February 1944 | 13:03 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66641 east-northeast of Bulganak | 51 | 26 March 1944 | 16:06 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 47741 30 km (19 mi) south of Dornburg |
| 27 | 14 February 1944 | 08:08? | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 66641 vicinity of Bulganak east of Bulganak | 52 | 1 April 1944 | 14:50 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 65163 over sea, southeast of Cape Takyl |
| 28 | 14 February 1944 | 08:13 | P-40 | PQ 34 Ost 66643 vicinity of Kerch | 53 | 1 April 1944 | 14:57 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 66872 over sea, southeast of Cape Takyl |
| — | 14 February 1944 | 08:20 | P-40 | | 54 | 3 April 1944 | 10:01 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 56213 Sea of Azov |
| 29 | 14 February 1944 | 11:27 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66643 vicinity of Kerch | — | 7 April 1944 | 08:00+ | Yak-7 | vicinity of Perekop |
| — | 14 February 1944 | 15:00+ | Yak-1 | vicinity of Kerch | — | 7 April 1944 | 16:00+ | Yak-7 | vicinity of Perekop |
| 30 | 15 February 1944 | 06:57 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 66643 PQ 66811 vicinity of Taman | 55 | 8 April 1944 | 12:31 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 46112 vicinity of Grammatikowo |
| — | 26 February 1944 | 12:30 | Yak-1 | vicinity of Kerch | 56 | 8 April 1944 | 16:29? | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 46112 vicinity of Grammatikowo |
| — | 27 February 1944 | 16:00+ | Yak-1 | vicinity of Perekop | — | 8 April 1944 | 16:30 | Il-2 m.H. | vicinity of Perekop |
| 31 | 28 February 1944 | 14:20? | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66564 vicinity of Kerch | — | 8 April 1944 | 16:30 | Il-2 m.H. | vicinity of Perekop |
| 32 | 2 March 1944 | 10:26 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66811 vicinity of Taman | 57 | 9 April 1944 | 07:02 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 37833, 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Karankij vicinity of An-Najman |
| 33 | 2 March 1944 | 10:33 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66732 vicinity of Tobetschik | 58 | 9 April 1944 | 07:23 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 47774, 2 km (1.2 mi) east-northeast of Karankij vicinity of Tachigary |
| 34 | 11 March 1944 | 12:13 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 66533 PQ 66643 vicinity of Kerch | 59 | 9 April 1944 | 14:12 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 46152 west of Mikhaylovka |
| 35 | 11 March 1944 | 12:25 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 66572 vicinity of Apassnaja | 60 | 9 April 1944 | 16:40 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 46112 vicinity of Grammatikowo |
| — | 13 March 1944 | 13:30 | P-39 | vicinity of Kerch | — | 10 April 1944 | 13:00+ | Yak-7 | vicinity of Perekop |
| 36 | 14 March 1944 | 07:27? | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 47731 25 km (16 mi) west of Gelendzhik | 61 | 10 April 1944 | 17:50 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 46114 east of Tomoschewka |
| 37 | 16 March 1944 | 15:31 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 37694 35 km (22 mi) west-northwest of Akkerman | 62 | 11 April 1944 | 10:56 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 46324 vicinity of Dzhankoy |
| 38 | 17 March 1944 | 06:09 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 47772 vicinity of Karankut | 63 | 11 April 1944 | 15:02 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 46172 25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Dzhankoy |
| 39♠ | 19 March 1944 | 07:28? | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66812 vicinity of Taman | 64 | 12 April 1944 | 16:36 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 46514 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Tokultschak |
| 40♠ | 19 March 1944 | 07:31 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66674, northeast of Kossa Tulsa vicinity of Kossa Tulsa | 65 | 12 April 1944 | 16:38 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 46574 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Tokultschak |
| 41♠ | 19 March 1944 | 10:58 | Boston | PQ 34 Ost 26281 20 km (12 mi) east-northeast of Novyi Buh | 66 | 13 April 1944 | 11:08 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 46742 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Karankut |
| 42♠ | 19 March 1944 | 14:50 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 26833 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Yartsevo | 67 | 14 April 1944 | 15:57 | Yak-7 | PQ 34 Ost 35422 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Sevastopol |
| 43♠ | 19 March 1944 | 14:54 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 36712 Black Sea, 20 km (12 mi) west of Yevpatoria | 68 | 15 April 1944 | 06:40 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 35472 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol |
| 44♠ | 19 March 1944 | 14:58 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 36572 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Ak-Mechet | 69 | 15 April 1944 | 06:41 | LaGG-3? | PQ 34 Ost 35611 Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol |
| 45 | 22 March 1944 | 10:39 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 66641 vicinity of Bulganak east of Bulganak | | | | | |
| – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front — 1 January – April 1945 ||||||||||
| 70 | 16 May 1944 | 18:10 | Yak-9 | 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Grigoriopol | 102 | 6 June 1944 | 16:14 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora |
| — | 16 May 1944 | — | Il-2 | | 103 | 7 July 1944 | 10:14 | Yak-9 | 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Kovel |
| 71 | 17 May 1944 | 13:13 | Yak-9 | 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Grigoriopol | 104 | 7 July 1944 | 16:50 | Yak-9 | 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Kovel |
| 72 | 17 May 1944 | 18:30 | Yak-9 | 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Grigoriopol | 105 | 7 July 1944 | 16:54 | Yak-9 | 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Kovel |
| 73♠ | 20 May 1944 | 14:47 | Yak-1 | vicinity of Grigoriopol | 106 | 7 July 1944 | 16:55 | Yak-9 | 25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Ternopil |
| 74♠ | 20 May 1944 | 14:50 | Yak-1 | vicinity of Grigoriopol | 107 | 14 July 1944 | 09:34 | P-39 | 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lutsk |
| 75♠ | 20 May 1944 | 14:52 | Yak-9 | vicinity of Grigoriopol | 108 | 14 July 1944 | 14:37 | Yak-9 | 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Ternopil |
| 76♠ | 20 May 1944 | 16:55 | Yak-9 | 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Grigoriopol | 109 | 14 July 1944 | 17:29 | La-5 | vicinity of Ternopil |
| 77♠ | 20 May 1944 | 17:14 | La-5 | 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Grigoriopol | 110 | 15 July 1944 | 10:53 | Il-2 | 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lutsk |
| — | 20 May 1944 | — | LaGG-3 | | 111 | 15 July 1944 | 16:55 | P-39 | 45 km (28 mi) north of Busk |
| 78 | 22 May 1944 | 10:37 | La-5 | vicinity of Grigoriopol | 112 | 15 July 1944 | 17:02 | P-39 | 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lutsk |
| 79♠ | 30 May 1944 | 04:29 | La-5 | 40 km (25 mi) west of Țuțora | 113 | 15 July 1944 | 17:14 | Yak-9 | 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Włodzimierz |
| 80♠ | 30 May 1944 | 06:30 | P-39 | 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași | 114♠ | 16 July 1944 | 07:09 | Yak-9 | 45 km (28 mi) north of Busk |
| 81♠ | 30 May 1944 | 09:33 | P-39 | 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Iași | 115♠ | 16 July 1944 | 07:14 | Yak-9 | 45 km (28 mi) north of Busk |
| 82♠ | 30 May 1944 | 09:47 | P-39 | 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Țuțora | 116♠ | 16 July 1944 | 09:07 | Yak-9 | 20 km (12 mi) north of Ternopil |
| 83♠ | 30 May 1944 | 11:37 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora | 117♠ | 16 July 1944 | 09:15 | Yak-9 | 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Zolochiv |
| 84♠ | 30 May 1944 | 14:09 | P-39 | 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași | 118♠ | 16 July 1944 | 12:15 | La-5 | 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil |
| 85♠ | 30 May 1944 | 14:13 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași | 119♠ | 16 July 1944 | 12:25 | La-5 | 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil |
| 86♠ | 30 May 1944 | 14:20 | P-39 | 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Iași | 120♠ | 16 July 1944 | 12:27 | La-5 | 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil |
| 87♠ | 30 May 1944 | 16:07 | Yak-9 | 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași | 121♠ | 16 July 1944 | 12:30 | La-5 | 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil |
| 88♠ | 30 May 1944 | 16:20 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași | 122♠ | 16 July 1944 | 15:40 | Yak-9 | 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Zolochiv |
| 89♠ | 30 May 1944 | 18:07 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora | 123♠ | 16 July 1944 | 15:52 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Zolochiv |
| 90♠ | 31 May 1944 | 12:59 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora | 124 | 10 February 1945 | 16:00~ | Yak-9 | |
| 91♠ | 31 May 1944 | 13:18 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora | 125 | 5 March 1945 | 14:00~ | Yak-9 | vicinity of Weidengut |
| 92♠ | 31 May 1944 | 13:26 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora | 126 | 7 March 1945 | 13:00~ | Pe-2 | vicinity of Weidengut |
| 93♠ | 31 May 1944 | 16:12 | P-39 | 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Țuțora | — | 11 March 1945 | 16:15~ | Yak-9 | vicinity of Weidengut |
| 94♠ | 31 May 1944 | 18:53 | P-39 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Țuțora | 127 | 15 March 1945 | 14:10~ | Il-2 | vicinity of Weidengut |
| 95♠ | 31 May 1944 | 19:07 | P-39 | 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Botoșani | 128 | 15 March 1945 | 17:00~ | P-39 | vicinity of Weidengut |
| 96 | 1 June 1944 | 11:43 | LaGG | 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Iași | 129 | 15 March 1945 | 17:00~ | P-39 | vicinity of Weidengut |
| 97 | 1 June 1944 | 11:47 | Yak-9 | 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași | 130 | 15 March 1945 | 17:00~ | P-39 | vicinity of Weidengut |
| 98 | 1 June 1944 | 14:14 | Yak-9 | 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Țuțora | 131 | 16 April 1945 | 11:10~ | P-39 | vicinity of Weidengut |
| 99 | 1 June 1944 | 14:20 | P-39 | 15 km (9.3 mi) 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 | 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași | 134 | 17 April 1945 | 13;10~ | Yak-9 | vicinity of Görlitz |
| 101 | 4 June 1944 | 16:35 | P-39 | 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași | | | | | |

### Awards

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