Karl-Heinz Krahl

Karl-Heinz Krahl (25 September 1914 – 14 April 1942) 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, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Krahl was shot down 14 April 1942, by anti-aircraft fire from the defenses at RAF Luqa during the Siege of Malta. During his career he is credited with between 19 - 24 aerial victories, all against Western forces.

Career On 5 September 1940, Krahl succeeded Oberleutnant Helmut Wick as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 2. Wick had been appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 2. When Wick was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 2 on 20 October, Krahl succeeded him as Gruppenkommandeur of I. Gruppe.

Mediterranean theater and death Krahl was transferred and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) on 21 November 1941. He succeeded Hauptmann Gordon Gollob who was transferred. Command of I. Gruppe of JG 2 was passed to Hauptmann Ignaz Prestele. At the time, the Gruppe was based at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Airfield and preparing for deployment to Mediterranean theater. In early January 1942, II. Gruppe received orders to relocate to Sicily where the II. Fliegerkorps (2nd Air Corps) concentrated forces during the Siege of Malta. On 18 January, the first elements of II. Gruppe arrived at Comiso Airfield.

On 14 April 1942, he was shot down and killed in action in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummber 8784—factory number) by anti-aircraft artillery near Luqa, Malta. The next day, he was replaced by Major Kurt Brändle as commander of II. Gruppe. Following World War II, Krahl was reinterred at the German War Cemetery in Cagliari, the capital of the island of Sardinia.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to Obermaier, Krahl was with 24 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 19 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Western Front.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –"Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940 1 21 April 1940 17:26 M.S.406 south of Saarbrücken – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 2 19 May 1940 12:50 Hurricane Cambrai 4 21 May 1940 19:12 M.S.406 Compiègne 3 20 May 1940 18:35 Blenheim Péronne 5 26 May 1940 17:00 Spitfire Calais – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –At the Channel and over England — 26 June – 20 October 1940 6 30 August 1940 12:45 Hurricane 10 28 September 1940 15:44 Hurricane Selsey Bill 7 31 August 1940 18:55 Hurricane 11 5 October 1940 14:50 Hurricane south of Bournemouth 8 31 August 1940 19:30 Curtiss Dover 12 15 October 1940 13:40 Hurricane Portsmouth 9 5 September 1940 16:05 Spitfire – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –At the Channel and over England — 20 October 1940 – 21 June 1941 13 29 October 1940 15:45 Hurricane 15 5 November 1940 14:35 Hurricane northeast of Portland 14 5 November 1940 14:35 Hurricane northeast of Portland – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –On the Western Front — 22 June – 20 November 1941 16 24 July 1941 14:23 Spitfire north of Brest 18 24 July 1941 15:25 Wellington north of Brignogan 17 24 July 1941 15:25 Wellington north of Brignogan – Staffel II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –Mediterranean Theater — 7 January – 14 April 1942 19 10 March 1942 17:10 Hurricane

Awards Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 13 November 1940 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"