Gunther Rall/Ostmedaille

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Al Carter
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Gunther Rall/Ostmedaille

#1

Post by Al Carter » 27 May 2002, 16:32

I believe that I have asked for this info before, but I can't seem to find it, nor remember for sure.

Did Gunther Rall earn the Ostmedaille (Winter War Medal) on the Eastern Front? Could someone give me a list of all awards and decorations won my him, or point me in the directions of a web-site.

Thanks in advance.

Al Carter

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USAF1986
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#2

Post by USAF1986 » 27 May 2002, 20:00

Al,

Hello! I just can’t seem to find a decent portrait photo of Rall that shows him displaying all of his decorations! I’m not certain if he received the East Medal. On 28 November 1941 he broke his back in three places after being shot down on the Eastern Front. He spent the next nine months convalescing and returned to combat duty in August 1942. According to John R. Angolia in “For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich,” the period of eligibility for the East Medal was 15 November 1941-15 April 1942 and could be awarded for being wounded if the time requirements were not met. Thus, Rall at least seems to have qualified for the medal.

Rall was later wounded again. On 12 May 1944, Rall led II./JG 11 against a flight of U.S. P-47 fighters that were escorting a bomber formation. The P-47s were led by Colonel Hubert “Hub” Zemke, commander of the famous 56th Fighter Group. Rall quickly shot Zemke’s two wingmen, Lt. Willard Johnson and Lt Col Preston Piper, causing Zemke to escape by diving vertically, barrel rolling all the way. Rall was then pursued and shot down by U.S. P-47 fighters flown by Captain Joe Powers and Flight Officer Vitale of the 47th Fighter Squadron/56th Fighter Group. During this action, Rall had his left thumb shot off but managed to parachute from his crippled Me 109 at low level.

Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross: 3 September 1942, Oberleutnant, Staffelkapitän, 8./JG 52.
Oaklevaes (No.134): 26 October 1942, Oberleutnant, Staffelkapitän, 8./JG 52.
Swords (No. 34): 12 September 1943, Hauptmann, Commander of III./JG 52.
German Cross in Gold: 20 December 1941

Regards,
Shawn


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Al Carter
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Gunther Rall

#3

Post by Al Carter » 28 May 2002, 04:18

Shawn,

Thanks for the info. I to have not found any good photos of Rall, but I also have no books dealing with the Luftwaffe.

Al Carter

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USAF1986
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Joined: 21 Mar 2002, 02:50
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#4

Post by USAF1986 » 28 May 2002, 04:52

Al,

Glad to help! By the way, an error on my part: Captain Joe Powers and Flight Officer Vitale were of the 62nd Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group. I clearly had P-47s on my mind when I made that faux pas!

I found a photo of Rall today in one of my books that shows him wearing the Operational Flying Clasp for Day Fighters in Gold with Pendant. In this photo, the decorations clearly visible are his Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords, German Cross in Gold and Iron Cross, 1st Class. Wouldn't you know it, but unlike the other three pilots in the photo, Rall is the only one not wearing a ribbon bar!

Regards,
Shawn

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