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Walter KrupinskiGerman Luftwaffe ace of World War II
Date of Birth: 11.11.1920
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Biography of Walter Krupinski
- Early Life and Military Service
- Ace Pilot and Leadership Roles
- Post-War Career
- Walter Krupinski passed away in Neunkirchen-Zeltingen in 2000.
Biography of Walter Krupinski
Walter Krupinski, a German Luftwaffe ace of World War II, was one of the most successful pilots of the Luftwaffe, with 197 aerial victories to his name. His fellow servicemen gave him the nickname "Graf Punski," alluding to his Prussian heritage. Krupinski was one of the first to fly the Me.262 jet fighter as part of the JV 44 squadron under the command of Adolf Galland.
Early Life and Military Service
Walter Krupinski was born on November 11, 1920, in Domnau, East Prussia (now Domnovo, Pravdinsky District, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russian Federation). He grew up in Braunsberg (Branewo), where he had two younger brothers, Paul and Gunter. Paul joined the Kriegsmarine and served on a submarine. He lost his life on November 11, 1944, when the German submarine U-771 was sunk by the British submarine "Venturer" (HMS Venturer) near Anne Fjord, close to Harstad.
Krupinski enlisted in the Luftwaffe in September 1939. From November 1939 to October 1940, he underwent basic pilot training before being assigned to a fighter pilot school. After completing his training, Lieutenant Krupinski was assigned to JG 52 and joined the 6th Group (6.JG 52) in November 1940. Krupinski saw action in the Battle of Britain but did not achieve any notable successes on that front.
Ace Pilot and Leadership Roles
Krupinski scored his first aerial victory during the early stages of Operation "Barbarossa". By December 1941, he had confirmed seven kills, and by August 1942, he had reached 50, earning him the German Cross in Gold. After shooting down six more enemy aircraft, Krupinski was awarded the Knight's Cross. In March 1943, he was appointed as the commander of the 7th Group (7.JG 52).
During this time, Erich Hartmann, who would become the highest-scoring ace of World War II, served as Krupinski's wingman. Hartmann credited Krupinski with teaching him many tactics for attacking enemy aircraft. After achieving his 174th victory, Krupinski was awarded Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross.
Krupinski's 177th aerial victory became his last on the Eastern Front, and he was transferred to Germany to take command of the 1st Group of JG 5. In May 1944, he was promoted to Hauptmann and became the commander of the 2nd Group of JG 11. Following the Allied invasion of France in June 1944, the group was moved to Normandy to support the German ground forces. Krupinski shot down 10 Allied aircraft during this period but was then shot down himself on August 12th, suffering severe burns to his hands and face.
In September, Krupinski was appointed as the commander of the 3rd JG 26. Two months before the end of the war, he was transferred to JV 44, where he flew the Me 262 jet fighter. On April 24, 1945, Krupinski participated in a mission to intercept American B-26 Marauders, but his wingman, Gunter Lutzow, did not return, and his fate remains unknown.
On May 5, 1945, Walter Krupinski surrendered to the American forces. During the war, he shot down 197 enemy aircraft (177 on the Eastern Front and an additional 20 in the West), completing approximately 1100 combat missions. Krupinski had parachuted four times and had been wounded five times.
Post-War Career
After being released from the prisoner-of-war camp in September 1952, Krupinski joined the newly established Ministry of Defense of Germany in November. In 1957, he was promoted to Major and traveled to England to take command of the first post-war wing of German jet fighters. In 1966, Walter Krupinski assumed the position of commanding the German Air Force Training Command in Texas, with a promotion to Brigadier General.
In July 1969, Krupinski became the commander of the 3rd Division of the Bundesluftwaffe. In 1971, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the 2nd Tactical Air Force Group of NATO. In October 1974, Krupinski became the commander of the German Tactical Command of the Air Force. On November 8, 1976, he was honorably discharged from the Armed Forces with the rank of Lieutenant General.
