Rudolf Trenkel

Infobox Military Person
name=Rudolf Trenkel
born=birth date|1918|1|17|df=y
died=death date and age|2001|4|26|1918|1|17|df=y
placeofbirth= Neudorf
placeofdeath= Vienna


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1936 – 1945
rank=Hauptmann
commands= 2./JG 52
unit= JG 77, JG 52
battles=World War II
awards=Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
laterwork=

Rudolf Trenkel (17 January 1918 – 26 April 2001) was a German World War II Luftwaffe 138 victories Flying ace and recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Rudolf Trenkel served in JG 52 during the Battle of Britain. From February to June 1942 he was assigned to JG 77 only to be transferred back to JG 52, taking command of the 2nd Staffel. In 1944 he was forced to bail out five times within ten days. After the capitulation he was taken prisoner of war by US forces only to be turned over to the Red Army.

Awards

* Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (11 December 1942)
* German Cross in Gold (15 January 1943)
* Iron Cross (1939)
** 2nd Class (12 September 1940)
** 1st Class (18 October 1940)
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (19 August 1943)

References

*cite web|title=Aces of the Luftwaffe|work=Rudolf Trenkel|url=http://www.luftwaffe.cz/trenkel.html|accessdate=5 September|accessyear=2008
*cite web|title=Traditionsgemeinschaft Jagdgeschwader 52 & Luftwaffen - JG 52 - Museum e.V.|work=Rudolf Trenkel|url=http://www.jg52.de/trenkel.htm|accessdate=5 September|accessyear=2008
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.