Friedrich Rupp

Friedrich "Frieder" Rupp (26 November 1917 – 15 May 1943) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Rupp was shot down on 15 May 1943 over the North Sea, he was posthumously promoted to Oberleutnant. During his career he was credited with 52 victories, 50 over the Eastern Front and 2 over the Western Front.

Aerial victory claims
Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 51 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim, all but one four-engined heavy bomber were claimed on the Eastern Front.

Awards

 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
 * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
 * Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 1 July 1942 as Leutnant and pilot
 * German Cross in Gold on 27 October 1942 as Leutnant in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 24 January 1943 as Leutnant and pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54