Ralph von Rettberg
Ralph von Rettberg (1 March 1911 – 25 February 2004) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander. As a fighter ace, he claimed eight enemy aircraft shot down. Early life and career. On 7 April 1931, he began his pilot training at the "Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule" (DVS—German Air Transport School) at Schleißheim. He and 29 other trainees were part of "Kameradschaft" 31 (camaraderie of 1931), abbreviated "K 31". Among the members of "K 31" were future Luftwaffe staff officers Bernd von Brauchitsch, Günther Radusch, Günther Lützow, Wolfgang Falck and Hannes Trautloft. von Rettberg graduated  from the DVS on 19 February 1932. On 1 March 1937, von Rettberg was appointed adjutant to "Oberst" Kurt-Bertram von Döring, the "Geschwaderkommodore" (wing commander) of "Jagdgeschwader" 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134—134th Fighter Wing). On 1 April 1938, he was appointed "Staffelkapitän" of 1. "Staffel" (1st squadron), a squadron of I. "Gruppe" (1st group) of JG 134, which was based at Dortmund and commanded by "Oberstleutnant" Hermann Frommherz who was succeeded by "Hauptmann" Karl Kaschka on 1 February 1939. On 1 November 1938, I. "Gruppe" was renamed to I. "Gruppe" of "Zerstörergeschwader" 142 (ZG 142—142nd Destroyer Wing), a unit  which became the I. "Gruppe" of "Zerstörergeschwader" 26 (ZG 26—26th Destroyer Wing) on 1 May 1939. In consequence, von Rettberg commanded the 1. "Staffel" of ZG 142, and later the 1. "Staffel" of ZG 26. The "Gruppe" was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1 fighter. During the prelude of World War II in August 1939, I. "Gruppe" of ZG 26 deployed to an airfield at Varel. World War II. On Friday 1 September 1939, German forces invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe. I. "Gruppe" of ZG 26 was tasked with patrolling the North Sea. In October, the  Gruppe began equipping with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 C heavy fighter. In December, I. "Gruppe" was moved to Lippstadt. Von Rettberg was appointed "Gruppenkommandeur" (group commander) of II. "Gruppe" of ZG 26 on 1 April 1940. He let this unit during the Battle of France, Battle of Britain and the Invasion of Yugoslavia. Summary of career. Aerial victory claims. Matthews and Foreman, authors of "Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims", researched the German Federal Archives and state that Rettberg is credited with approximately eight aerial victories. This number includes three claims on the Eastern Front and five on the Western  Front.