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Tratt, Eduard

Date of birth:
February 24th, 1919 (Würzburg/Unterfranken, Germany)
Date of death:
February 22nd, 1944 (near Nordhausen/Thuringia, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Flew a total of 350 missions, during which he destroyed 38 aircraft in the air (of which 25 were in the West), 26 aircraft on the ground and 24 tanks. Was the highest scoring German Zerstörer (twin-engined fighter) pilot.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 20th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Flying Officer)
Unit:
Flugzeugführer 6. / Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"
Awarded on:
April 12th, 1942
Awarded after 20 aerial victories.

448th award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant)
Unit:
1. / Zerstörergeschwader 1
Awarded on:
June 25th, 1943

Award 1/196.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Hauptmann (Flight Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandeur II. / Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst wessel"
Awarded on:
March 26th, 1944
Awarded in recognition of his wartime accomplishments (see description).

437th Award.
Awarded postumously.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Leutnant (Pilot Officer)
Awarded on:
September 28th, 1940
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg

Sources

  • Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
  • Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
  • - OBERMAIER, E., Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe, Hoffmann, 1989.
    - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
    - Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
    - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
    - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X

Photo